“The evening in Hanoi was truly beautiful,” he wrote. “I exchanged warm greetings with the Vietnamese people while walking around Hoan Kiem Lake and the alleys of the Old Quarter. It was especially meaningful to meet in an everyday setting rather than through a formal schedule.”
Kim was seen sharing Thuy Ta ice cream with members of her entourage.
As Vietnam’s oldest ice cream brand, with a history spanning more than 70 years, Thuy Ta is considered an icon of Hanoi’s culinary culture.
South Korea’s First Lady Kim Hae Kyung (L) enjoys an ice-cream bought at Thuy Ta shop along Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi as she walks with President Lee Jae Myung around the lake on April 23, 2026. Photo by Read/Giang Huy |
The couple also purchased durian, with Lee seen sampling the fruit, often referred to as the “king of fruits.”
Durian is primarily grown in Asian tropical countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia. The fruit is distinctive for its large size, strong odor, and thorn-covered rind.
They also tried beef pho at a restaurant on Dinh Liet Street.
Beef pho is made from various cuts of beef, with a broth simmered from bones and oxtail, infused with spices like cinnamon and star anise. The noodles are topped with cuts like brisket, eye-round steak, rare or well-done beef and accompanied by scallions, fried dough sticks, lime, and chili.
The soup was voted one of the 100 best dishes in the world in 2025, curated by international food magazine TasteAtlas.
Lee and his spouse arrived in Hanoi on Tuesday afternoon for a four-day state visit to Vietnam.
The visit is made at the invitation of Vietnam’s Party General Secretary and President To Lam and his spouse.
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