General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam hosted French President Emmanuel Macron at noon on May 26 in Hanoi for a visit to the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first national university and a Hue Royal Court Music performance.
Musicians in traditional attire welcomed the delegation at the main gate with ceremonial music.
During the visit, General Secretary To Lam and his spouse introduced the French guests to Vietnam's rich history and educational heritage.
In the central courtyard of the Temple of Literature, the delegation paused to enjoy a Hue Royal Court Music performance, one of Vietnam's most distinctive examples of intangible cultural heritage.
Originating during the Nguyen dynasty, this genre was traditionally performed during royal ceremonies such as coronations, national rituals, and state banquets. In 2003, UNESCO inscribed it as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The two leaders and their spouses posed for photos with the ensemble of performers following the show.
President Macron also participated in a symbolic Vietnamese tradition by striking the Thunder Drum, an act reserved for ceremonial occasions at the Temple of Literature.
The delegation concluded the visit with a solemn incense offering at the altar of Chu Van An, the first rector of the Imperial Academy and one of six Vietnamese figures honoured by UNESCO as a world cultural celebrity.