HANOI, Vietnam – Vietnamese media and the public alike have taken a keen interest in the arrival of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Her Majesty Queen Suthida in Hanoi on 14 September — above all in the images of Their Majesties personally at the controls of the royal Boeing 737-800. Leading outlets including Tiền Phong, VnExpress, Thanh Niên, Tuổi Trẻ, VietnamNet and Công an Nhân dân carried the cockpit photographs across print and video coverage, and the images have since circulated widely on Vietnamese social media.
Reports noted that His Majesty served as captain and Her Majesty as co-pilot, while drawing attention to Their Majesties’ aviation qualifications, training and flying experience. Coverage recalled the King’s long background in aviation, including military flight training and command of a range of military and commercial aircraft, and noted that the Queen has likewise completed flight training and served as co-pilot on royal flights. Vietnamese outlets also pointed out that His Majesty has personally piloted aircraft on previous overseas visits, making the flight to Hanoi a further notable moment in the State Visit.
The attention comes as Their Majesties undertake a State Visit to Vietnam from 14 to 16 September — the first by a Thai King and Queen since diplomatic relations were established in 1976. The visit falls as the two countries mark the 50th anniversary of bilateral ties and continue to deepen their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, offering an important occasion to strengthen the friendship and cooperation between Thailand and Vietnam. (PRD)
