Mrs. Bokova was very busy with her full schedule right from the time her flight landed at Noi Bai Airport. During her working meetings with Vietnamese leaders she expressed her pleasure with the achievements and efforts made by Vietnam during its process of international integration. She said that she had the honour of being assigned to go to Vietnam to sign a co-operation agreement between Vietnam and UNESCO for the 2010-2015 period, at the time Vietnam was preparing to celebrate the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long – Hanoi.

Mrs. Bokova walks around Hoan Kiem Lake on the morning of the opening ceremony
of the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long – Hanoi (October 10th, 2010).

Mrs. Bokova attends the opening ceremony of the exhibition “Ho Chi Minh and Lifelong Study”
held at Ho Chi Minh Museum.

Irina Bokova congratulates Deputy Prime Minister cum Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem
on the occasion Vietnam welcomes the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long – Hanoi.

With children at Ho Chi Minh Museum in Hanoi.

Visiting Trung Vuong Primary School in Hanoi and enjoying the children’s artistic performance.

On the day of the opening ceremony of Thang Long – Hanoi millennial anniversary Mrs. Bokova wore a red Ao dai, which was the most meaningful and emotional compliment to Hanoians. On behalf of UNESCO she presented the Hanoi City People’s Committee a certificate recognizing the Imperial City of Thang Long – Hanoi as a World Cultural Heritage Site. Addressing the opening ceremony she said: “It is a great honour for me to dress today according to the Vietnamese tradition with this beautiful Ao dai and to join you in this ceremony to mark the 1,000th anniversary of the foundation of the city of Thang Long – Hanoi. Our hearts vibrate in unison and I am sure the turtle genie of Kim Quy is listening to us from the nearby Hoan Kiem Lake, a precious symbol of peace for all Vietnamese.”
UNESCO’s recognition of Thang Long – Hanoi Imperial Citadel as a World Cultural Heritage Site is a pride of not only the Vietnamese nation but also each citizen. Mrs. Bokova said that the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long illustrates over 10 centuries of exchanges and cultural influences from all over Asia.
After attending the opening ceremony of the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long – Hanoi, Mrs. Bokova walked around Hoan Kiem Lake amidst the friendly welcome of Vietnamese people. It was her first visit to Vietnam where she could see with her own eyes Hoan Kiem Lake that had developed into a legend. She said she could not forget her feeling of wearing Vietnamese Ao dai and visiting Hanoi during such memorable days. “Hanoi, Vietnam impresses me a lot during my first visit to this country,” she said with emotion.
As many other international friends, Irina Bokova has great respect and admiration for the late Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh. She attended the opening ceremony of the exhibition entitled “Ho Chi Minh and Lifelong Study” at Ho Chi Minh Museum and presented the book of the UNESCO General Assembly resolutions issued during its 24th session from October 20 to November 20, 1987, including Resolution 18.65, where on pages 134 and 135 there is the honouring of Ho Chi Minh as a hero of national liberation and a world cultural celebrity.
Apart from her meetings, talks and discussions with the leaders of the Vietnamese Party and State, UNESCO General Director Irina Bokova also visited Trung Vuong Secondary School in Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi, had a meeting with the family of UNESCO Vietnam and visited Halong cruise Bay, a World Natural Heritage Site.
Although she stayed in Vietnam for only a few days her visit was full of unforgettable memories. Her presence in Vietnam on the occasion of the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long – Hanoi was an honour to the Vietnamese people and showed the sincere love of the head of UNESCO for this country.

Irina Bokova is the first woman in the world to hold the post of UNESCO General Director. She was Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria in 1996-1997 and played a great role in the negotiations on Bulgaria’s entry to the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). At present she is Bulgarian Ambassador to France.