Ms Ho Dac Minh Nguyet, the former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Viet Nam to Ukraine from 2010 - 2013 and Slovakia from 2014 - 2017, was the first-ranking liaison officer accompanying Russian President Vladimir Putin during the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week (AELW) 2017 in Da Nang last November.  In particular, this diplomat has always maintained her time-honoured sentimental attachment to this beautiful city.

Russian President Vladimir Putin shaking hands with Ms Ho Dac Minh Nguyet before leaving the city

On 14 October 2017, Ms Nguyet finished her tenure in Slovakia, and then returned to Ha Noi.  She was assigned to work as the first-ranking liaison officer accompanying President Putin during this large-scale international event.

She said, unlike other Vietnamese liaison officers, she had not attended any training courses and taken field trips to Da Nang prior to the APEC Week at all.  Regardless of this, the former Vietnamese ambassador still decided to take this tough but interesting mission because she had valuable experience of accompanying the top leader of Russia during the APEC 2006 in Ha Noi, and another reason is that she once studied in this foreign country for a long time.

President Putin arrived in Da Nang on 10 November to attend activities within the framework of the AELW 2017.  As the first-ranking liaison officer, Ms Nguyet was in charge of guiding the Russian leader to places for meetings, as well as reporting to the APEC Secretariat and Organising Board any recommendations and requests made by this VIP official.

Former Vietnamese Ambassador to Ukraine and Slovakia Ho Dac Minh Nguyet

Ms Nguyet was very eager to recall the most unforgettable memories of accompanying President Putin during the AELW.  In the afternoon of 11 November, at the Da Nang International Airport, the Russian leader spent some time meeting with a team of local police officers and saying thanks to all of them for doing their utmost to accompanying the Russian delegation during their stay in the city whilst attending the APEC Week. 

In particular, Ms Nguyet was most impressed by President Putin’s special, warm gestures as he took the initiative to shake hands with a female local traffic officer named Do Thi Thu Thuy, and then took for a group photo with the whole police team, and that was the focus of much attention there. 

Witnessing these memorable moments at that time, Ms Nguyen was very moved because the Russia leader’ handshakes were beyond the strict rule of the diplomatic protocol indeed, and what happened was really so exceptional!

Ms Nguyen added that, during his attendance at the APEC Week, President Putin had face-to-face meetings with the leaders of other APEC member economies; therefore, he did not have spare time to paid visits to some city attractions.  Ms Nguyen, however, believed that the image of this beautiful seaside city would have left a deep impression on President Putin, and the whole Russian delegation as a whole, during their stay here. 

Ms Nguyen has always considered Da Nang to be her second home.  In 1977, her parents and siblings started living and working in this city; however, at that time, Ms Nguyet was studying in the former Soviet Republics, and 5 years later she settled down in Ha Noi. 

Despite living far away from Da Nang, Ms Nguyet maintained her special sentimental attachment to this locality.

At Tet and on other special occasions, Ms Nguyet usually returns to Da Nang for gatherings with her parents, and spent much time visiting beaches, and going sightseeing around such Da Nang’s neighbouring localities as Hoi An and Thua Thien-Hue Province. 

She revealed, “I loves Da Nang due to its beautiful beaches along with its clean and spacious streets, and what I like most is the gentle, honest and friendly nature of local residents”. 

In July 2016, Ms Nguyet accompanied Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico during his working trip to Da Nang.  The Slovakian leader was very impressed with warm welcome he received from the city leaders.  Prime Minister Fico promised he would make a return visit to the city soon, and recommend this beautiful destination to his friends.

According to Ms Nguyet, Da Nang’s stature has increase considerably in the Asia-Pacific region. 

In recent years, the city has become more attractive to foreign investors and international visitors.  The comprehensive success of the APEC Week 2017 has inspired Da Nang to be more famous, and this offers the golden opportunity to advertise the city’s great potential and strengths to its international friends and partners. 

Ms Nguyet suggested that, “In addition to boosting the growth of local tourism and holiday resorts, Da Nang should focus on developing hi-tech industries.  She remarked that the city shows off great potential to promote bilateral cooperation with more other cities all over the world in the years ahead.