French President Francois Hollande arrived at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi at 0.40 on September 6

Hollande is the third French president to visit Vietnam after former presidents François Mitterrand in 1993 and Jacques Chirac in 1997 and 2004.

He was accompanied by Minister for the Economy and Finance, Michel Sapin, Minister of State for Development and Francophonie, Andre Vallini, and Minister of State for Commerce, Small-Scale Industry, Consumer Affairs and Social and Solidarity Economy, Martime Pinville.

After attending a welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi this morning, President Hollande will have meetings with President Tran Dai Quang, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Party Secretary General Nguyen Phu Trong and Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.

 French President Francois Hollande and President Tran Dai Quang reviewed the guard of Honour at the welcoming ceremony in Hanoi on September 6.

French President Francois Hollande will later have a speech at the National University, Hanoi, and then he will have a visit to the Hanoi Old Quarters before leaving for Ho Chi Minh City.

In HCM City, Hollande will meet with the city's Party Secretary Dinh La Thang and chairman of the People's Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong, and with local enterprises on September 7. He will also visit the HCM City Heart Institute which is a symbol of the cooperation between the two countries in the health sector.

During the visit, Vietnamese and French leaders will review their cooperation and seek further political ties and delegation exchanges.

They will also look to improve the efficiency of bilateral cooperation and accelerate joint economic projects, especially in infrastructure, climate change adaptation, science-technology, health and agriculture.

It is expected that the two countries will sign 20 new cooperation agreements in politics, economy, science-technology, agriculture and judicial affairs as well as exchange regional and international issues of mutual concern.