French ambassador falls for Hanoi and Vietnamese ao dai

French Ambassador Olivier Brochet left reporters in awe when he appeared for the first time in a traditional Vietnamese ao dai during a press briefing on December 11.

Although Hanoi has just entered the first days of winter, Brochet brought the atmosphere of the Lunar New Year to the French Embassy. Dressed in traditional Vietnamese attire, he warmly welcomed his distinguished guests with tea and traditional snacks, and even decorated the reception room with a peach blossom branch placed in the most beautiful spot.

French Ambassador Olivier Brochet dressed in traditional ao dai. Photos: Viet Anh/The Hanoi Times

"Women in ao dai resemble beautiful images for any visitor to Vietnam, and I am no exception," he said. "However, it was only after living in this country for a long time that I realized it was unisex. So I immediately had a well-known designer create this unique ao dai for me for this momentous occasion."

Despite some struggles with this very new costume, which reminded him of trying on a suit and tie for the first time in his 20s, Mr. Brochet was confident he would fit in "after a few Tet holidays." The French ambassador was also excited to show it off to his family members during their trip to Vietnam this Christmas.

For Vietnam-France relations to be worthy of upgrading

Speaking to The Hanoi Times, Ambassador Brochet enthusiastically shared some significant milestones in Vietnam-France diplomatic relations in 2024, with two major events: the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory and the official visit to France of Vietnamese Communist Party General Secretary To Lam.

The upgrade to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership demonstrates France's commitment to Vietnam's development in energy, rail transport, sustainable agriculture and quality human resources training.

France is also helping Vietnam streamline its political apparatus, reform its administration and develop e-government. Legal and administrative cooperation between the two countries has been ongoing for many years, with the participation of experts and senior officials.

French Ambassador Olivier Brochet personally decorates peach branches.

"Throughout 40 years of renovation, Vietnam has always set ambitious goals and found ways to achieve them. As one of Vietnam's first Western partners since the opening up period, we hope to remain such a companion for the upcoming goals, and we believe that Vietnam has sufficient resources and methods to achieve them," the Ambassador stressed.

Brochet also showed special interest in two major projects with French participation in Hanoi: the Nhon-Hanoi Metro and the Long Bien Bridge Renovation Project. He said that the inauguration of Hanoi's Metro Line 3 has attracted French enterprises, as it not only shows their strength, but also sets a new milestone for Vietnam-France cooperation in urban transport.

Regarding the renovation of the Long Bien Bridge, the Ambassador informed that Artelia, the company in charge of this project, is expected to complete the study of technical parameters and feasibility next fall. France will provide financial and technical support once the Vietnamese authorities have identified the most appropriate option.

A harmony "Old" and "New" Hanoi

Ambassador Brochet was familiar with Hanoi prior to his arrival in Vietnam, and after just over a year in the city, he was quickly captivated by its unique charm, especially its unique blend of old and new elements.

French Ambassador Olivier Brochet treats guests to traditional snacks.

"I am always impressed by Hanoi's culture wherever I go," he said. "The city consists of modern performance venues such as the Ho Guom Theater with a lot of music events that attract young people. On the other hand, Hanoi still retains its unique old features, especially in the central districts."

A deep passion for Hanoi led the French ambassador to reflect on how the city could develop and modernize while maintaining its identity and charm. "I think it is not only a question of maintaining and preserving architectural landscapes, but also of making sure that the people who live in these areas can still live comfortably," he said.

Brochet then pointed out two main issues, one of which was transportation and mobility. The newly commissioned metro may solve this challenge to some extent, but there are still many other transportation issues that both countries need to think about for the time being.

The other major challenge facing Hanoi, which is becoming increasingly serious, is air quality. According to Brochet, France and Vietnam must coordinate and carry out decisive measures to improve air quality and restore clean air to the capital.

Ambassador Brochet never stops thinking about how Hanoi can develop and modernize while maintaining its identity and charm.

The French ambassador also hoped that Hanoi would develop in such a way that its residents would see it not only as a charming and livable city, but also as a city with an extremely rich and diverse cultural life. He also hoped that Hanoi would project itself more on the international stage.