​King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium visited the War Remnants Museum and Vinh Nghiem Pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday afternoon, ​following their stay in Hanoi starting March 31 as part of their five-day state visit to Vietnam. 

At the War Remnants Museum, located in the city’s District 3, the Belgian monarchs were introduced to the museum and the artifacts and paintings on display.

Here, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde also visited the gallery dedicated to the effects of Agent Orange used by the U.S. troops during the war in Vietnam. They met and talked with some of the victims of Agent Orange (AO).

They toured the gallery focusing on the consequences of AO, a toxic defoliant used by U.S. troops during the war in Vietnam, and met with children affected by the harmful substance.

Additionally, they attended an event organized by the museum, where they learned about technologies and achievements in remediating dioxin-contaminated soil in Vietnam.

Also joining the royal couple at the event, Belgian Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Development Cooperation Maxime Prevot affirmed that Belgium always stands with Vietnam, one of the proofs is that the Belgian Parliament has passed a resolution to support Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange.

Before visiting the museum, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde explored Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, a popular Buddhist temple in District 3.

Construction of the pagoda began in 1964 and was completed in 1971. It was designed based on the model of the ancient Vinh Nghiem Pagoda in Bac Giang, an 11th-century temple reflecting traditional Vietnamese architecture.

Spanning approximately 6,000 square meters, the pagoda provides a serene and tranquil space amidst the bustling city.

At the pagoda, the Belgian monarchs listened to monks' introductions to the pagoda's history, architecture, and Vietnamese Buddhist culture.

Earlier in the day, the Belgian royals were received by Nguyen Van Nen, Politburo member and secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, who noted that this visit marks the first state visit by a Belgian king since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Belgium over 50 years ago.

He expressed hope that the visit would open a new chapter in bilateral relations, fostering extensive and effective cooperation. Nen also thanked the Belgian monarchy, parliament, government, and people for their contributions in areas such as healthcare, education, and social welfare in Vietnam.

King Philippe expressed joy at returning to Ho Chi Minh City and witnessing its dynamic development since his first visit in 1994. He emphasized the need for Belgium and Vietnam to strengthen solidarity and promote cooperation amid current global uncertainties.

The king stated that this visit marks a positive milestone in the future-oriented relationship between the two countries.

Regarding Ho Chi Minh City specifically, Belgium plans to further promote social projects aimed not only at investment but also at bringing practical benefits to the local community, contributing to the development of bilateral relations. 

Before visiting Ho Chi Minh City, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde had separate meetings with Party General Secretary To Lam, State President Luong Cuong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man in Hanoi during their state visit to Vietnam from March 31 to April 4. 

These discussions focused on steps to further promote comprehensive cooperation between the two nations, which established diplomatic relations in 1973 and formed a strategic partnership in agriculture in 2018.

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