Thai King and Queen Mark 50 Years of Diplomatic Ties with Vietnam Visit

The King and Queen of Thailand are on an official visit to Vietnam from September 14–16 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations. On Tuesday evening, the second day of their visit, the royal couple attended an official dinner at the historic Tonkin Palace in Hanoi, hosted by To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President of Vietnam, and his wife, Ngo Phuong Ly. The royal couple traveled from their accommodation at the Fairmont Hai Noi to Tonkin Palace for the dinner. The visit aims to further strengthen ties between the two neighboring countries. Prior to the dinner, the King and Queen laid wreaths at the Bac Son Martyrs’ Monument and the mausoleum of former Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh. They later met with To Lam and his wife at the National Assembly Building. The King also granted audiences to Vietnam’s prime minister and National Assembly chairman. Tonkin Palace, also known as Bac Bo Phu or the “Northern Palace,” was built in 1918 in Hanoi’s Hoan Kiem district. It was once used as a residence and workplace by Ho Chi Minh and was registered as a national historical site in 1985. The palace underwent major restoration in 2025 and now houses an office of Vietnam’s president. An adjoining glasshouse serves as a venue for government receptions for foreign guests. On Wednesday, the King and Queen are scheduled to visit Quan Su Pagoda, where senior Vietnamese Buddhist monks will conduct a blessing ceremony. They will then visit the Thai Language and Culture Centre at Hanoi University. The King is also scheduled to present teaching materials to the center, which has offered Thai-language courses since 2009. The post Thai King attends official dinner at Hanoi’s historic Tonkin Palace appeared first on Khaosod English.