The visit to Hoa Lu Ancient Capital and UNESCO-recognized Trang An Landscape Complex has left impressions on a delegation of French officials who came to attend the 12th Vietnam-France Decentralized Cooperation Conference held in Hanoi on April 14-16.

French delegates offer incense at Trang An Landscape Complex. Photo: Bich Hoi/The Hanoi Times

The tour to the northern province of Vietnam is believed to result in investment in other localities in Vietnam in addition to Hanoi, which has decades-long partnerships with several cities and regions of France in some fields, mainly the conservation of cultural and historical relics.  

Spectacular Trang An Landscape 

The French delegation’s tour to Hoa Lu Ancient Capital and Trang An Landscape Complex was held within the conference. During the visit, Catherine Deroche, Chairwoman of France’s Social Affairs Committee and President of the France-Vietnam Friendship Group led the delegation to offer incense at the temples of King Dinh Tien Hoang and King Le Dai Hanh in Ninh Binh.

The tour includes paddling along Tien stream with passes to several caves filled with beautiful stalactites. Paddling along the clear blue stream dotted by flowers and grasses while on either side are steep green mossy mountains.

Many of the delegates did not hide their excitement at the poetic landscape of the area that is called ‘Inland Ha Long Bay’. They took pictures of the splendid landscapes and recorded videos of the site which is a spectacular landscape of limestone karst peaks permeated with valleys. The property also contains temples, pagodas, paddy fields, and small villages.

Catherine Deroche said she was honored to visit the scenic spot. She said emotionally: “Thank you for the warm welcome. I find your Vietnam and Ninh Binh very beautiful. Hoa Lu ancient capital is an ancient and sacred destination.”

Meanwhile, Mayor of Choisy-le-Roi, Tonino Panetta was astonished at Trang An spectacular landscape and destinations in Ninh Binh. He was also touched by the hospitality of local authorities and people. He said the visit brought him great joy and excitement that he wanted to return someday soon to explore two other paths leading to the caves inside the forests.

French visitors enjoy Trang An Landscape. Photo: Bich Hoi/The Hanoi Times

Cooperation prospect 

The visit to Ninh Binh and the participation in the conference held in Hanoi have made French delegates moved for the hospitality of the organizers. They appreciated the success of the conference which has opened up many opportunities for cooperation, investment, and trade.

Koukoui-Adjolohoun from Cités Unies France (CUF) highly appreciated the way that Vietnamese and French localities connect, discuss, and cooperate and she believed that the cooperation would thrive in the future.

She said the decades-long relations and friendship have enabled French investors to have a good vision of cooperation, prompting investment decisions. 

Sharing the same idea, Mayor Tonino Panetta of Choisy-le-Roi said it's a great opportunity to connect localities in Vietnam, the country is rich in cultural values, beautiful landscapes, and a good investment environment.  

After this trip to Vietnam, Choisy le Roi has some plans to cooperate with Hanoi and other Vietnamese localities to promote the relationship between Choisy le Roi and Hanoi’s Dong Da District which has lasted for five decades, Tonino Panetta said.

He said the closed relationship and exchange of visits over the past time have enabled Vietnamese and French authorities to boost French investment in Vietnam and open up Vietnamese investment in France.

Regarding the cooperation with Hanoi, Choisy le Roi will eye technical support, infrastructure, transport, IT, and continue collaboration in education. Ideas on investing in waste treatment are also included in the partnership in the time to come, Panetta noted.

He expected that Vietnam will conduct investment projects in France with the operations of VinFast, a member of Vingroup – the largest private corporation in Vietnam, in Choisy le Roi. As a mayor, he pledged to facilitate the investment of Vietnamese businesses.

It’s obvious that the 12th Vietnam-France Decentralized Cooperation Conference has resulted in various opportunities for partnership and investment in a wide range of fields in different localities in Vietnam, mainly Hanoi.