The official welcome ceremony for King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua and Queen Suthida of Thailand was held on September 15, 2026, in Hanoi, Vietnam. This visit coincides with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Vietnam, aimed at strengthening their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The ceremony took place at the National Assembly, where General Secretary and President To Lam and his wife hosted the royal couple. As the royal motorcade arrived, they were greeted warmly by To Lam, local children, and other dignitaries on the red carpet.

During the ceremony, To Lam introduced members of the high-level delegations from both countries. Notable attendees from Vietnam included Politburo members and ministers from various departments, as well as ambassadors and chargé d'affaires from ASEAN countries in Vietnam.

The formal welcome featured a flag-raising ceremony where the national anthems of Thailand and Vietnam were played, accompanied by a 21-gun salute from the Thang Long Imperial Citadel. Following this, To Lam and King Maha Vajiralongkorn reviewed the honor guard of the Vietnam People's Army.

After the national anthems, the commander of the honor guard reported to the two leaders and invited them to inspect the troops. A photo session took place with the leaders and their delegations, emphasizing the strong ties between the two nations.

Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1976, Vietnam and Thailand have enjoyed a long-standing friendship, with cooperation expanding in various areas over the years. The visit by the Thai royal couple is seen as a significant step in reinforcing the friendship between the two peoples and encouraging future collaboration.

Notably, King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida personally piloted their Boeing 737-800 to Hanoi, marking a unique aspect of their state visit. This is not the first time the King has flown the aircraft himself, having done so previously on trips to Laos and Bhutan.