Unlike his first visit at the opening ceremony when he only had a brief look, this time he spent more time touring the exhibition in detail, particularly the display titled “95 Years of the Party Flag Lighting the Way”. His interest was not limited to images and artefacts but also shown through his sincere and impressive remarks.
A “historic” visit by a diplomat
Ambassador Marc Knapper is a seasoned diplomat of the US, with more than 20 years of experience working in many regions around the world. Before coming to Viet Nam, he held important positions at the US Department of State, specialising in East Asian and Pacific Affairs. His posting in Viet Nam, which began in February 2022, has been considered a milestone in Viet Nam-US relations, especially after the historic visit of President Joe Biden in September 2023.
Knapper is known for his deep understanding of the culture and history of countries in the region and has shown special interest in Viet Nam’s history.
With such passion, it is no surprise that Knapper returned for a second visit to the exhibition.
Standing before the display, Knapper could not hide his impression. He found this event truly wonderful, and this was the second time we have returned to the National Exhibition Centre to view and visit the exhibition on your country’s achievements over the past 80 years.
He was particularly intrigued to find an image of himself in a large photo. The photo captured the moment when US President Joe Biden visited Viet Nam and met General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in 2023, a symbolic event marking the elevation of bilateral relations. He smiled and pointed at the photo, expressing delight at seeing himself as part of history, a witness to such a historic moment.
He also shared his impressions of the exhibition and Viet Nam’s history. He said that he was extremely impressed by the organisation as well as the scale of the exhibition. Today, many of his colleagues from the US Embassy and he returned to visit the exhibition so they could learn more about the history of Viet Nam, the history of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, and view the many displays not only from provinces and cities but also from Vietnamese enterprises.
Warm congratulations
Ambassador Knapper especially expressed his honour at living and working in Viet Nam during this historic moment on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of Viet Nam’s National Day. He had the opportunity to visit the house at 48 Hang Ngang Street, where President Ho Chi Minh wrote the Declaration of Independence, and to attend the banquet hosted by General Secretary To Lam.
Finally, on behalf of the United States, Ambassador Marc Knapper extended his heartfelt and warm congratulations to the people and leaders of Viet Nam on this historic and momentous occasion. His words not only reflected his respect for Viet Nam’s history and culture but also demonstrated his particular attention to the relationship between the two nations. This stands as evidence of a strong and growing friendship.
