US Secretary of State Antony Blinken greets people in Hanoi, September 11, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/ Vo Hai
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his delegation had coffee Monday morning at a store on Hang Bun Street in Hanoi’s Old Quarter.
Five cars carrying the US diplomatic delegation left the JW Marriott Hotel, Do Duc Duc Street, Nam Tu Liem District, heading to the cafe located at 55 Hang Bun Street, Ba Dinh District, at 10 a.m.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his delegation visit a cafe on Hang Bun Street in Hanoi’s Old Quarter on September 11, 2023. Video from Hanoi Television
The delegation was welcomed by Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and Director of the State Protocol Department Nguyen Viet Dung.
They chose a large round table inside to drink coffee and chat together.
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Antony Blinken (center) drinks coffee at a store in Hanoi with senior Vietnamese and U.S. diplomats, September 11, 2023. Photo by VnExpress |
“The US secretary of state ordered a cup of egg coffee,” a source said. VnExpress.
After about 30 minutes, the American diplomatic delegation left the cafe.
Before getting into his car, Blinken smiled and greeted area residents.
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People capture images of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on a street in Hanoi on September 11, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Vo Hai |
Blinken is among senior officials accompanying US President Joe Biden during his state visit to Vietnam on September 10-11.
In April, Blinken visited Vietnam at the invitation of Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son.
During his visit, he walked around Trang Tien Street, listened to jazz music and ate potted rice. He also participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for the US Embassy complex in Hanoi.
This is Blinken’s second visit to Vietnam as US secretary of state. In 2015 and 2016, he visited the country twice as deputy secretary of state, during the administration of President Obama.
