Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary visit to Vietnam: 1-2 November 2022

[eya]

"From the 1-2. November 2022, D.K.H. The Crown Prince and Crown Princess visit to Vietnam to head a major Danish business delegation.
At the beginning of November, Vietnam's capital Hanoi forms the framework for a green business promotion in the populous country, where the visitor program has a special focus on wind energy and energy efficiency.

The Crown Prince and Crown Princess will lead a business delegation that, together with Your Royal Highnesses, will participate in seminars and debates on the green transition together with Vietnamese business leaders and government representatives.

The Crown Prince Couple's official visit to Vietnam also marks 50 years since Denmark and Vietnam entered into diplomatic relations."


https://www.kongehuset.dk/nyheder/kr...toed-i-vietnam

[Muhler]

In as sense this will be a follow up on the State Visit they took part in some 10-15 years ago - time flies!

Vietnam is one of quiet but growing and busy markets. They are for many reasons also opposing China and may be an interesting alternative in regards to manufacturing products there. A thing Vietnam is most interested in getting a solid part of!

Vietnam at least was, I'm not sure how it is now, a pretty difficult market to gain a foothold in. DK succeeded all those years ago, and now M&F will help cementing that business relationship.

[Izzie]

Originally Posted by Muhler

In as sense this will be a follow up on the State Visit they took part in some 10-15 years ago - time flies!

Vietnam is one of quiet but growing and busy markets. They are for many reasons also opposing China and may be an interesting alternative in regards to manufacturing products there. A thing Vietnam is most interested in getting a solid part of!

Vietnam at least was, I'm not sure how it is now, a pretty difficult market to gain a foothold in. DK succeeded all those years ago, and now M&F will help cementing that business relationship.

Was not expecting another business promotion trip this year. But pleasantly surprised. Per BB: https://www.billedbladet.dk/kongelig...enriks-fodspor - This appears to be a rescheduled trip from one that was supposed to take place in 2021 but was postponed due to Covid.

I remember the state visit from I believe 2009. The preparation for and execution of the trip was featured in the Indefra Kongehuset (I may have spelled that totally wrong) documentary.

[Muhler]

Correct.

It was a very interesting docu.

It was also training and learning on the job for M&F, because AFAIA it was the first state visit M&F went on together with QMII and PH.

[Izzie]

Originally Posted by Muhler

Correct.

It was a very interesting docu.

It was also training and learning on the job for M&F, because AFAIA it was the first state visit M&F went on together with QMII and PH.

It was a very interesting documentary. I am glad I found it on DR with the ability to add English subtitles!

I think this was their first big state visit. They had visited Greenland and Faroe Islands previously but it was not a state visit. Did they not visit Greenland shortly after they married with QMII and PH?

[Muhler]

Originally Posted by Izzie

It was a very interesting documentary. I am glad I found it on DR with the ability to add English subtitles!

I think this was their first big state visit. They had visited Greenland and Faroe Islands previously but it was not a state visit. Did they not visit Greenland shortly after they married with QMII and PH?

They certainly visited Greenland shortly after their marriage. I can't remember off hand whether they went with QMII and PH.

[Izzie]

Originally Posted by Muhler

They certainly visited Greenland shortly after their marriage. I can't remember off hand whether they went with QMII and PH.

They did. It was the four of them for at least part of the trip. I recall seeing videos. You could tell Mary was literally learning on the job by observing and gentle guidance by Frederik. I think it was in one of the videos that someone in the comments section IIRC translated a gentleman saying that they didn't know Mary, but they knew Frederik and if he loved her, they loved her.

[Muhler]

Originally Posted by Izzie

They did. It was the four of them for at least part of the trip. I recall seeing videos. You could tell Mary was literally learning on the job by observing and gentle guidance by Frederik. I think it was in one of the videos that someone in the comments section IIRC translated a gentleman saying that they didn't know Mary, but they knew Frederik and if he loved her, they loved her.

That's correct. I clearly remember that quote. Very sweet - and it said quite a lot about Frederik as well.

[polyesco]

A very busy trip for the Crown Prince Couple. A third day has been added for Frederik.

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 1

7.45- The Crown Prince couple visit Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum
8:00- The Crown Prince couple are officially received by Vietnam's Vice President H.E. Vo Thi Ánh Xuân
8.45- The Crown Prince couple pay a courtesy visit to Vietnam's President H.E. Nguyen Xuan Phuc
9.45- The Crown Prince couple participate in the opening of the Danish Vietnamese business conference
11.00-H.K.H. The Crown Prince participates in the opening of the wind energy conference
11.00-H.K.H. The Crown Princess gives an opening speech at the energy efficiency conference
11.30-The Crown Prince couple attend the Vice President's official lunch
1 p.m- The Crown Prince couple meet the participating Danish companies
2.40- The Crown Prince couple visit Hoàn Kiếm Lake
3 p.m- H.K.H. The Crown Prince attends a water puppet show and is shown Ðông Hồ paintings
6.00- The Crown Prince couple participate in the Grand Dinner
8.30 p.m- The Crown Prince Couple participates in the celebration of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Denmark and Vietnam at the Hanoi Opera


WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 2
8.45-H.K.H. The Crown Prince participates in a courtesy meeting with representatives from Hải Phòng City
9.45-H.K.H. The Crown Prince participates in a network meeting
10:00-H.K.H. The Crown Princess visits the cement factory Xuan Thanh Cement Plan
10.45- H.K.H. The Crown Princess attends a courtesy meeting with representatives from Hà Nam's People's Committee
11.30-H.K.H. The Crown Prince visits a workshop for children on offshore wind energy
2 p.m- H.K.H. The Crown Princess visits a workshop for children with a focus on creativity
14.35- H.K.H. The Crown Prince visits the port area of Haiphong
15.15- H.K.H. The Crown Princess visits the Tam Chúc pagoda complex

THURSDAY 3 NOVEMBER

8.30-H.K.H. The Crown Prince participates in a courtesy meeting with representatives from Ho Chi Minh City
10:00- H.K.H. The Crown Prince breaks ground for LEGO's new factory
11.30 am- H.K.H. The Crown Prince visits the furniture company ScanCom's showroom in Ho Chi Minh City
1:30 p.m- H.K.H. The Crown Prince participates in the inauguration of Vesta's new office in Vietnam
14.20- H.K.H. The Crown Prince participates in Carlsberg's 175th anniversary celebration in Ho Chi Minh City

[Muhler]

An exhausting but very important visit.
That simply cannot be emphasized enough.

Vietnam is a growing production economy and along with a handful of other countries it has quietly snatched a lot of orders from China. - Up to some 15 % of China's total production has been relocated or taken very by a few other countries, Vietnam being one of them.

There are a number of reasons for this. One being that these countries can produce the same products as China to an equal quality and on similar terms in regards to delivery - and cheaper.
It's a typical situation. There are always someone who can produce something cheaper.
Another reason, which is not spoken the loudly about, is that it is in no ones interest but China, that China has such a dominant position in regards to economy and production - and as a consequence of that political influence. It is no secret that China does exercise it's economic and political influence, often in a bullying manner.
So to everyone outside China it's preferable to have several, smaller "Chinas" than one big one.

Hence why Vietnam is and needs to be cultivated.

Historically Vietnam and China are enemies. Vietnam has on several occasions had to fight off Chinese probes in order to include Vietnam into the Chinese empire. Latest around 1980, where Vietnam beat off a major Chinese incursion - with success.

[Izzie]

Yet another jampacked trip for Frederik and Mary! The schedule looks exhausting. As always though they can cover alot of ground because of their ability to split up the appearances easily since they are both so well-versed in the subject matters of the locations they are visiting. It gives them the chance to have more events and both countries get more ROI in a short amount of time as they can handle these hectic and event heavy trips!

Here is a link to the page from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the trip where photos will be posted:
https://mfa-events.dk/danishroyalvisittovietnam2022

I would also search the Asian media outlets as they have been posting articles about the visit, importance of the relations between the countries and improving business connections. I have a feeling the Asian media will provide much more information/reports/photos than the Danish one given the election on 11/1.

[Adda]

When I first found out about the upcoming visit, I immediately thought of Prince Henri, given that he spent his earliest childhood there. Now the DRF's Instagram page has uploaded a photo of the previous visit and a photo of Prince Henri when he was a kiddo! Vincent looks a bit like him.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CkVY9oxA...d=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

[polyesco]

Sweet photos of Henrik to share.
More info on the upcoming trip
https://mobile.twitter.com/thetradec...58409636052994

[Muhler]

Yes, as mentioned in a previous post, this is an important visit for DK.

We want to buy products in Vietnam, instead of having to rely so much on China.
With almost 100 million inhabitants and a steadily growing middle class as well as a high educational level, Vietnam is also an attractive market for Danish products. Not least design and luxury brands.
But Vietnam is also a competitor to China and they want to get ahead where they can and they are of course looking at China and learning what mistakes they are making and what decision China made that were sound.
Infrastructure and energy supply is vital to any industrialized society and this is where DK comes in with know how and key-ready solutions
Just as in China Danish dairy products are in high demand in Vietnam.
DK being the current 5th largest maritime country in the world is also looking for alternative places for building our ships. So far South Korea has been a major ship-builder, but they are swamped in orders and the prices is up.
China is not particularly attractive as a ship-building partner - it bluntly speaking down to industrial espionage.
But Vietnam, has a long maritime history (albeit mainly coastal) with a long coastline and they are interested in building ships as well as building Danish designed ships for themselves.

DK has a tiny edge in having a direct link between the DRF and Vietnam and you can rest assured that this will be exploited!

It's a positively exhausting schedule!

I look in particular forward to the second day, the workshops with the children.
Frederik has a habit of charming every child in sight.

I also note that the Vietnamese are following the protocol to the letter. M&F are met by the Vice President.

[Izzie]

Originally Posted by Muhler

It's a positively exhausting schedule!

I look in particular forward to the second day, the workshops with the children.
Frederik has a habit of charming every child in sight.

I also note that the Vietnamese are following the protocol to the letter. M&F are met by the Vice President.

The events with the kids should be fun!

I also noticed they are being welcomed by the VP. Then they pay a courtesy visit to the President right after that. Site visits, promoting Danish business/expertise and soft diplomacy. All done in exemplary fashion by M&F.

It is a grueling pace for the visit. Very long non-stop days. Good thing that they are able to cover so much ground on day 2 being able to split the locations with each doing a day full of events in each. Then Frederik on his own on 11/3. Good thing they are in their prime with energy and stamina!!

[iceflower]

Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary have already arrived in Vietnam, shared two photos and the following message:


** instagram post **

Tomorrow we start an official visit and green business promotion in Vietnam 🇩🇰🇻🇳

But what better place to start here in Vietnam than at our father and father-in-law's childhood home in Hanoi.

The Vietnamese culture and especially this city meant so much to him throughout his life, and it was a great experience for both him, the Queen and us, when he was able to show off the beautiful yellow house during the state visit in 2009. Now we stand here again and he will be in our thoughts for the next few days.

It's a pleasure to be back, Vietnam: Đồn tộ vui quật khi 志新 Việt Nam!

✍🏻The Crown Prince Couple.

[polyesco]

How lovely that they visited and shared photos. Must be emotional reflecting on their 2009 visit with both Henrik and the Queen.

Article
https://www.billedbladet.dk/kongelig...al-hemmelighed

And full agenda with more information.
https://www.kongehuset.dk/nyheder/pr...soeg-i-vietnam

[Izzie]

Personally, this makes no sense to me...but to each their own

Mary and Frederik have made a significant decision
However, the royal visit coincides with the Danish parliamentary election on Tuesday 1 November, and in this connection the Crown Prince Couple have made a significant decision out of respect for election day and Danish democracy.

Mary and Frederik will not comment, comment or give short interviews to press broadcasters on election day.

This is according to the Royal Family's communications department, which states that it is out of respect for election day that the crown prince and the crown princess will not make statements tomorrow.

https://www.billedbladet.dk/kongelig...gt-vaere-tavse

[Muhler]

I don't get it either, because there is no way M&F will be able to compete with a general election, so in that sense they won't distract at all.

And their visit is made with the full approval of the Parliament, they are not going to say or do anything that is remotely party-political. Nor are they in any way expected or expected to be asked about the result of the election.

The result of the election has something to do with Monarch in a formal, Constitutional role, but it has nothing whatsoever to do with M&F.

As for showing respect for the democratic process: Yeah, well, whatever.

[Izzie]

Originally Posted by Muhler

I don't get it either, because there is no way M&F will be able to compete with a general election, so in that sense they won't distract at all.

And their visit is made with the full approval of the Parliament, they are not going to say or do anything that is remotely party-political. Nor are they in any way expected or expected to be asked about the result of the election.

The result of the election has something to do with Monarch in a formal, Constitutional role, but it has nothing whatsoever to do with M&F.

As for showing respect for the democratic process: Yeah, well, whatever.

It is just strange. The purpose of Day 1 is to promote the relations w/Vietnam and promote the business delegation they are leading. Why would commenting on that make any difference to the election? Something feels so wonky about what they are doing these days.