- Title: Vietnamese gear up for Obama visit
- Date: 21st May 2016
- Summary: VARIOUS OF A PORTRAIT OF OBAMA AMONG VARIOUS OF OTHER PORTRAITS ON THE WALL OF THE SHOP
- Embargoed: 5th June 2016 11:02
- Keywords: U.S. President Barack Obama visit Vietnam Hanoi preparations
- Location: HANOI,VIETNAM
- City: HANOI,VIETNAM
- Country: Vietnam
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0044IR2LHJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Residents of Vietnam's capital Hanoi expressed their excitement and expectation for U.S. President Barrack Obama 's first visit to the country.
Obama will arrive in Hanoi this Monday (May 23) to meet with Vietnam's newly elected president, Tran Dai Quang, as well as its new prime minister, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, and Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. He will also deliver several speeches to the Vietnamese people.
Most Vietnamese think the visit will bring positive change to Vietnam's economy.
29-year-old environmental worker Nguyen Van Loc was working through his weekend to keep the streets clean ahead of the president's visit.
"I hope President Obama 's visit will help Vietnam to progress more because as I know he comes from a very well developed country", said Loc.
Local trishaw driver Vu Van Manh also welcomed the visit.
"Obama's visit to Vietnam is a closure of the past. What important is the presence. The two countries can bond more to develop both's economies," he said while siting on his 3-wheeled vehicle waiting for customers in Hanoi.
Shops owners hung posters of Obama at their front door to welcome the third visit of a U.S. President to the South East Asian nation.
Kieu Tri Huy takes passport photos for a living at a small shop in a crowded street. He said Obama's portrait would attract more customers.
"I am very happy. If I could meet him once it would be my dream fulfilled", Huy told Reuters.
Ending the three-decades-old arms embargo is something Vietnam has long sought amid increasing tension with China in the East Sea (South China Sea).
"I want the US to lift the arm embargo to Vietnam that would help us to strengthen our security," said 28 year old Ngo Minh Kien, who owns a tailored suit store in Hanoi's old quarter.
The White House said on Thursday (May 19) that the final decision would be linked in part to Vietnam's human rights situation.
"I want to meet with President Obama to urge him to push the Vietnamese government to implement the agreements that they have signed that would develop our democracy and human rights in Vietnam," said singer Mai Khoi, an independent candidate who sought a seat in the parliament but was recently eliminated by the ruling party's strict vetting procedure.
Obama will also visit Ho Chi Minh City as part of his trip.
Obama's visit will come hours after Vietnam would complete a tightly controlled election for representatives of the parliament, an assembly of 500 seats in which only four are currently held by independents not nominated by the Communist Party. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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