Carriages and a guard of honour as Frederik and Mary welcomed Vietnam’s presidential couple

President Tô Lâm of Vietnam and his wife Ngô Phương Ly are on a state visit to Denmark from Monday to Wednesday. The King and Queen received them at the airport, and the party travelled by carriage from the Kastellet to Amalienborg. This year marks 55 years of diplomatic relations between Denmark and Vietnam.

President Tô Lâm of Vietnam and his wife Ngô Phương Ly arrived in Denmark on Monday. They are on a state visit until Wednesday, at the invitation of King Frederik and Queen Mary.

The King and Queen received them at the Vilhelm Lauritzen Terminal at Copenhagen Airport.

Queen Mary and King Frederik walking on the red carpet at the airport — The King and Queen on their way to the welcome at the airport. Photo: The Danish Royal House

King Frederik and President Tô Lâm standing side by side in front of the aircraft — King Frederik and President Tô Lâm on arrival. Photo: The Danish Royal House

Guard of honour and national anthem

The Royal Life Guards' music band played the Vietnamese national anthem as the guests arrived. The King and the president then inspected the guard of honour, provided by the Royal Life Guards.

The King and the president walking past soldiers drawn up in line — The King and the president inspect the guard of honour. Photo: The Danish Royal House

Soldiers of the Life Guards drawn up as the two walk past — The guard of honour was provided by the Royal Life Guards. Photo: Sebastian Elias Uth / Ritzau Scanpix

A wreath at the Kastellet, a carriage to Amalienborg

From the airport the party went to the Kastellet in Copenhagen, where the King and Queen and the presidential couple laid a wreath.

From there they travelled on in two horse-drawn carriages, with a mounted escort from the Guard Hussar Regiment, all the way to Christian VII's Palace at Amalienborg, where the official welcome took place.

The royal and presidential couples standing by the wreath at the Kastellet — The wreath-laying at the Kastellet. Photo: Sebastian Elias Uth / Ritzau Scanpix

Mounted guard hussars outside Amalienborg — The Guard Hussar Regiment escorted the carriages to Amalienborg. Photo: The Danish Royal House

55 years of diplomatic relations

Denmark was among the first Western countries to recognise North Vietnam, in 1971. This year marks 55 years since the two countries established diplomatic relations.

The cooperation has been formalised in stages since. In 2013 the countries entered a comprehensive partnership, and in 2023 a green strategic partnership was added, covering energy, food, education and health among other areas.

18,200 Danes with Vietnamese roots

The ties are not only political. More than 18,200 Danish citizens with Vietnamese roots live in Denmark, and around 150 Danish companies are established in Vietnam today.

Prince Henrik grew up in Hanoi

The royal family has its own connection to the country. Prince Henrik, King Frederik's father, spent part of his childhood in Hanoi.

And in 2022 Frederik and Mary themselves were in Vietnam on an official visit, then as Crown Prince and Crown Princess. That was their most recent visit to the country before this one.

Queen Mary, King Frederik, President Tô Lâm and Ngô Phương Ly standing together — The King and Queen with the president and his wife at Amalienborg. Photo: The Danish Royal House

The royal and presidential couples waving from the steps at Amalienborg — From the steps of Christian VII’s Palace. Photo: The Danish Royal House

Gala banquet at Christiansborg

On Monday evening the King and Queen host a gala banquet at Christiansborg Palace in honour of the presidential couple. Crown Prince Christian attends.

The president is accompanied by several ministers, senior officials and a trade delegation. The visit continues on Tuesday and Wednesday, with a business conference and a sailing trip in Copenhagen harbour among the engagements.