Sending greetings to President Trump and Chairman Kim Jong-un in our Hanoi.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump chose Hanoi because our city possesses unique characteristics unlike any other city in the world. Hanoi, a thousand-year-old city, has endured the bombs and bullets of war, the divisions and losses. Today, Hanoi is a dynamic, modern city, yet still very beautiful—an ancient beauty that is romantic, modern yet retains a "state-owned" character, resilient yet gentle, a Hanoi of kind and friendly people. Hanoi gives people a feeling of peace and safety whenever they set foot in it.

The national flags of Vietnam, the United States, and North Korea are prominently displayed above the symbol of the peace handshake. (Photo: Nguyen Hong)

Every time I think of Hanoi, I'm reminded of a line from Chinh Huu's poem "The Day of Return": In Hanoi, even in peacetime, there are still glimpses of wartime. One morning, in the streets, we can still see the green uniforms of soldiers mingling with stylish, eye-catching outfits, blending into the everyday life of people going to the market, strolling, exercising, or quietly drinking coffee and reading newspapers thoughtfully… What's special is that during wartime, these ordinary Hanoians could take up arms to defend the city. For the people of Hanoi, war and peace seem to have become a way of life; they can become soldiers when necessary, heroes on the battlefield, ready to sacrifice their lives, but when the war is over, they return to normal life with the daily routines of ordinary citizens.

These young men have not yet repaid their debt to the heroes.

The souls of the ten directions flutter the crimson flag.

The shoes that have traveled thousands of miles are now tattered and torn.

The dust of the long march has faded the once glorious robe.

With youthful hair, we vow to stay together until we grow old.

Exposed to the sun and wind. And wildflowers and weeds.

Hear the call of the people of Hanoi

Return, return, reclaim your homeland.

The leaders of the United States and North Korea may also pass by the legendary Ho Guom Lake. A legend about Ho Guom Lake is also worth reflecting on for the two leaders, highlighting the Vietnamese people who never made war their way of life. These are the people who took up swords to fight the enemy, and when the enemy was gone, returned the sacred sword to the Golden Turtle God to continue rebuilding the country. Peace in Hanoi is precious and worthy of respect, because it was bought with the blood of our ancestors, of those who were willing to sacrifice themselves to protect the independence and freedom of their nation. Every citizen can become a soldier, but after the war, the soldier returns to being a good citizen. Hanoi is a living museum, preserving the memories of war, but at the same time, it is striving every day to build lasting and eternal peace. The Vietnamese people can accept war as inevitable and are also ready to negotiate, end the war, close the past, and build a country reborn from the ashes.

Perhaps both the US and North Korea understand that, in Vietnam, war is something no one desires, but when necessary, Vietnam is ready to enter the war, and when the war is over, Vietnam is ready to overcome the pain and rebuild the country. With North Korea, Vietnam can certainly share a message that former enemies can still be friends, former divisions can still be unified, former backwardness can still lead to modernization, without forgetting tradition. Vietnam has done it, so why can't North Korea?