Danish Royals’ First Official Day in Vietnam

Although they arrived yesterday, the two royal couples of Denmark got down to business for their state visit to Vietnam today.

REUTERS/Kham

The day began with the official welcoming ceremony by President Nguyen Minh Triet and his wife, Tran Thi Kim Chi at Hanoi’s Presidential Palace. National anthems were played, and Queen Margrethe II and the President inspected the guard of honor.

Inside the Palace, the royal family posed with President Nguyen and the First Lady in front of a bust of Ho Chi Minh. They later laid a wreath at the late Vietnamese leader’s mausoleum.

Next, the royals split and made different visits around Hanoi. The Crown Princely couple, Frederik and Mary, went to the Bang & Olufson Store. Frederik then made a separate trip to the HABECO Brewery, a partner of Carlsberg, and then to the Climate Change Institute.

Later in the day, Queen Margrethe and her daughter in law visited My Anh flag factory, where Denmark’s red and white flags are made.

In the evening, a state banquet was held in honor of the Danish royal family by President Triet. The Queen wore a simple two-piece dress, while Crown Princess Mary looked stunning in a floral blue bateau necked gown. However, unlike the Queen, Mary did not wear a tiara. The men – Prince Henrik and Frederik – wore suits and ties, instead of tuxedoes.

While Queen Margrethe and her son and heir are out of Denmark, her second son, Prince Joachim, is regent until the Queen and Frederik return.