On the evening of April 23, President Lee Jae Myung and First Lady Kim Hye Kyung took a relaxed walk around Hoan Kiem Lake in central Hanoi, greeting local residents and exploring the capital’s historic streets. They later stopped at a restaurant on Dinh Liet Street for dinner, where they enjoyed pho and fried rice.
The presidential couple appeared at Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square, visited Ngoc Son Temple and walked through the Old Quarter, with many locals and tourists greeting them along the way. They also tried Thuy Ta ice cream by the lake and even wore traditional non la hats in a souvenir shop.
On his personal social media account, which has more than 1.3 million followers, the South Korean president shared remarks that drew wide attention both in South Korea and internationally.
“Hanoi’s evening was truly beautiful. As we walked around Hoan Kiem Lake and the alleys of the Old Quarter, I exchanged warm greetings with Vietnamese people,” he wrote, adding that informal moments outside official schedules often carried deeper meaning.
The president and his wife stroll comfortably around Hoan Kiem Lake, waving warmly to residents (Photo: Manh Quan).
He also joked that he had heard people could walk into any restaurant in Vietnam without fear of disappointment, and after trying pho, he found that to be true.
The South Korean president and his wife enjoy a bowl of pho (Photo: Provided by the restaurant).
Across social media platforms, many international users expressed surprise at how peacefully the South Korean leader could walk through Hanoi at night with limited visible security, describing the city as calm, welcoming and safe.
One user named Beyond commented that Hanoi remained beautiful and peaceful at night, noting that the South Korean delegation could walk comfortably and interact freely with local residents.
Vietnam has consistently ranked highly in international safety and peace indexes. According to the 2025 Global Peace Index published by the Institute for Economics and Peace, Vietnam ranked 38th out of 163 countries and territories, placing it among nations with a high level of peace.
This put Vietnam ahead of several regional countries including South Korea, Indonesia and the Philippines, while also reflecting its stable social and security environment.
Data platform Numbeo also ranked Vietnam among countries with relatively high safety levels. In 2025, Vietnam was placed fourth in Southeast Asia for safety, ahead of several popular destinations such as the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia.
US travel publication Travel Off Path previously named Vietnam the safest destination in Asia for the 2024 travel season, while Gallup’s Global Law and Order Index ranked Vietnam as the most peaceful country in Asia and seventh globally in late 2023.
Experts say that alongside political and social stability, Vietnam’s close-knit communities and lively street life from early morning until late at night help create a distinctive sense of safety for both residents and visitors.
Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife also spent time walking through Hanoi at night during their visit to Vietnam in May 2025.
Despite arriving late in the day, the French president appeared enthusiastic as he immersed himself in Hanoi’s street life, enjoying the scenery and the friendliness of local people.
Macron shakes hands with residents gathered to welcome him during his visit to Hanoi in 2025 (Photo: Thanh Dong).
On his official social media account, Macron also shared a video about Vietnam with the message: “Thank you very much, thank you for your wonderful welcome,” written in both Vietnamese and French.
