Provisions on reception of the Head of State on a state visit in Vietnam

Provisions on reception of the Head of State on a state visit in Vietnam (Image from the Internet)

1. Provisions on reception of the Head of State on State Visits

According to Article 6 Decree 18/2022/ND-CP, the provisions on reception of the Head of State on state visits are as follows:

* Receiving the delegation at the airport:

- Composition: Chief of the Office of the President or accompanying Minister, Vietnamese Ambassador to the guest country, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chairman of Hanoi People’s Committee, Director of the Department of State Protocol, Head of the External Relations Department of the Office of the President and Regional Department Heads of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;

- Protocol:

Red carpet from the aircraft stairs to the vehicle parking of the Head of State of the guest country;

Honor guard formation standing on both sides of the red carpet from the aircraft stairs to the vehicle parking of the Head of State of the guest country;

Offering flowers to the Head of State of the guest country and Spouse;

Allowing representatives of the guest community to greet the delegation at the airport if requested by the foreign representative agency.

* State-level welcoming ceremony:

- The President presides over the welcoming ceremony;

- Composition: Spouse of the President (if the Spouse of the Head of State of the guest country accompanies), Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Chief of the Office of the President or accompanying Minister, Chairman of Hanoi People’s Committee, Vietnamese Ambassador to the guest country; leaders of corresponding ministries and central authorities with the guest delegation and reception requirements;

- Welcoming protocol:

The President and Spouse welcome the Head of State of the guest country and Spouse at the vehicle parking of the Head of State of the guest country;

Children present flowers to the Head of State of the guest country and Spouse;

Children wave the flags of both countries;

- Honor Guard Ceremony of the Vietnam People’s Army:

The President and the Head of State of the guest country step onto the honor podium; the Spouse of the President and the Spouse of the Head of State of the guest country are invited to the position ahead of the Vietnamese officials;

Military band plays the national anthems of the guest country and Vietnam; a 21-gun salute is fired during the national anthems of both countries based on the principle of reciprocity or according to the approved plan;

The Commander of the Honor Guard of the Vietnam People’s Army salutes, reports, and invites the Head of State of the guest country to review the Honor Guard;

The President and the Head of State of the guest country review the Honor Guard;

The Honor Guard extends good health wishes to the Head of State of the guest country;

The President introduces the Vietnamese officials present at the welcoming ceremony to the Head of State of the guest country and Spouse. The Head of State of the guest country introduces the official delegation members to the President and Spouse;

The Director of the Department of State Protocol introduces some Ambassadors (if invited) to the two Heads of State and Spouses;

The President and the Head of State of the guest country return to the honor podium. The Spouse of the President and the Spouse of the Head of State of the guest country are invited behind the honor podium;

The Honor Guard parades;

- After the welcoming ceremony, the President and Spouse along with the Head of State of the guest country and Spouse take commemorative photos;

The President and the Head of State of the guest country enter a private discussion room or state-level meeting room. The Spouse of the President holds a private reception for the Spouse of the Head of State of the guest country;

Honor guard formation is arranged at the main hall;

- In case of unfavorable weather, the official welcoming ceremony is held at the National Assembly Building. No gun salute is fired during the national anthems of both countries. No parade after the Honor Guard review.

* Private Meeting and State-level Talks:

- The President and the Head of State of the guest country have a private meeting before talks as agreed upon by both sides;

- The President and the Head of State of the guest country co-chair the talks;

- The composition of the Vietnamese delegation corresponds to the official delegation of the guest country and the requirements of the talks content;

- During the private meeting and talks, the honor guard is arranged.

* High-level Contacts:

Arrange high-level contacts between the Head of State of the guest country with the General Secretary, Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam, Speaker of the National Assembly, and other leaders based on specific visit conditions and requirements.

* State-level Banquet:

- The President hosts the banquet;

- Red carpet from the banquet room door to the vehicle parking of the Head of State of the guest country. Arrange honor guard formation in the hall; honor guard post;

- Composition:

Vietnamese side: Spouse of the President (if the Spouse of the Head of State of the guest country accompanies), Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam, Speaker of the National Assembly, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court, Director of the Supreme People’s Procuracy, members of the Government of Vietnam, Chairman of Hanoi People’s Committee, Chairman of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, Chairman of the Vietnam-guest Friendship Association, Chairman of the Vietnam-guest Parliamentary Friendship Group, members attending the welcoming ceremony, state-level talks, former Vietnamese Ambassadors to the guest country, some scholars, intellectuals, and business representatives with extensive cooperation with the guest country;

The invitation to the Vietnamese delegation to attend the state banquet is based on the corresponding composition of the guest delegation and the political requirements of the visit;

Guest side: official delegation members, some aides, business representatives (if any), and diplomats from the guest country's diplomatic representative body;

- Protocol:

Military band plays the national anthems of the guest country and Vietnam at the beginning of the banquet;

The President gives a welcoming speech;

The Head of State of the guest country responds;

- Organize a cultural performance to welcome during the banquet.

* Seeing off the delegation at the airport: Composition and protocol are performed as when receiving.

* Other special measures can be implemented according to the reception plan, such as mobilizing the public to participate in the welcoming ceremony at the airport or Presidential Palace; inviting the President and Spouse to attend some official activities with the Head of State of the guest country and Spouse; inviting some Ambassadors to attend the state-level welcoming ceremony and banquet; organizing a cultural performance at the Hanoi Opera House.

2. Principles for implementing foreign affairs protocols in Vietnam

According to Article 4 Decree 18/2022/ND-CP, the principles for implementing foreign affairs protocols are as follows:

- The agency presiding over the implementation of foreign affairs protocols must comply with the provisions of the 2013 Constitution and Vietnamese laws as well as international laws and customs.

- The organization of foreign affairs protocols must be unified across the entire political system, including Communist Party and State agencies, serving the political and foreign affairs requirements of the Communist Party and the State, affirming the position and leadership role of the Communist Party of Vietnam over the Vietnamese political system.

- The presiding agency proposes foreign affairs protocol measures based on reciprocity; paying attention to handling differences between the political system, customs, and culture of Vietnam and the guest country.

- Special cases are implemented according to a separate proposal and reported to competent authorities for decision.

To Quoc Trinh

>> CLICK HERE TO READ THIS ARTICLE IN VIETNAMESE