What a welcome! On Thursday, September 10, Brigitte Macron and Emmanuel Macron received the Vietnamese presidential couple, To Lam and Ngo Phuong Ly, at the Élysée Palace. From the very early hours of this state visit, an exceptional gift marked the exchanges: the restitution of a 2,500-year-old Dông Sơn bronze drum.
In short: the official handover, carried out in the presence of the Minister of Culture, echoes the agreements signed during the summit at the Grand Palais and illustrates the depth of France-Vietnam diplomatic relations and the presidential protocol implemented for this bilateral meeting.
An exceptional gift returned in the heart of the Élysée
The ceremonial Dông Sơn drum, reported to be 2,500 years old, was presented as a strong symbol of cultural reciprocity. Seized in August 2014 at Rennes airport, it had been entrusted to the Fine Arts Museum in November 2015 for restoration. The official handover, announced on September 10, emphasizes the coordination among customs, the Ministry of Culture, and diplomacy.
Trade agreements and bilateral meeting
Beyond the symbolic gesture, the day was marked by concrete signatures: a protocol for the acquisition of Airbus A350 by Vietnam Airlines and letters of intent for 20 A220 and 30 A321neo for Vietravel Airlines. These announcements, arising from the discussions at the palace, illustrate the industrial alliance that accompanies cultural cooperation between Paris and Hanoi.
For a detailed photo report of the evening, the report from Figaro Madame reflects on the protocol atmosphere and key moments.
The visible role of the First Lady and the presidential protocol
The reception also highlighted the role of Brigitte Macron in the protocol welcome: a neat outfit and presence alongside the president to underline the symbolic importance of the event. Ngo Phuong Ly wore a traditional blue velvet dress embroidered with a crane, a gesture of cultural respect highly noted by the Élysée teams.
Trafficking of artworks and cultural diplomacy
The restitution of the Dông Sơn drum is presented by the French authorities as a success in the fight against the illicit trafficking of cultural goods. Seized in 2014 and then preserved and restored in 2015, the artwork is now returning to Vietnam, reinforcing mutual trust and the judicial and cultural cooperation engaged between the two countries.
The context of this visit and the stakes were covered by several agencies, including AFP, which details the institutional aspects of the meeting.
Do you want to learn more about the behind-the-scenes of this official welcome, the role of the Macron family, and the connections with close ones like Sébastien Auzière? Discover detailed analyses and reports on the state dinner file and explore the archives and dedicated posts on sebastien-auziere.fr to delve into the France-Vietnam saga and the protocol presence at the palace.
