Putin’s Visit to North Korea and Vietnam, and the Arrival of Black-Painted Ambulances

Bringing a total of 13 related vehicles from Russia, reporting from the tense local scene.

From June 18th to June 20th, 2024, Russian President Putin visited North Korea and Vietnam, receiving state guest receptions in both countries.

However, Mr. Putin himself arrived in North Korea around 2:45 AM local time on June 19th and departed around 11 PM on the same day. He then arrived in Vietnam around 2 AM local time on June 20th and returned home before midnight on June 20th.

President Putin has long been known for his chronic lateness. In the past, whether meeting the Pope or anyone else, he has displayed a habit of tardiness, which some say is deliberate and known only to him.

I covered Putin’s visit in Hanoi, Vietnam. Around 11 PM on June 19th, I deployed near the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi Hotel where the President was staying. This hotel also hosted the US-North Korea summit in February 2019.

From around 1 AM on June 20th, police officers began to line the streets. Despite the late hour, many citizens gathered to catch a glimpse of President Putin. However, the police ordered them to return home, quickly turning the area into a ghost town.

Vietnam may have a gentle image for tourism, but it remains a socialist country. Unlike Japan, confronting police officers is not tolerated, and those who attempt such actions are swiftly detained, making compliance the only viable option for citizens.

Nevertheless, local media (presumed) with numerous cameras and myself carrying two DSLRs were present without press credentials, yet faced no repercussions and were able to conduct interviews upon arrival. The security measures were unclear whether they were lax or strict.

Around 10 AM, as President Putin departed the hotel for a Vietnamese government welcome ceremony, despite being in the same location as earlier that morning, ordinary citizens and foreign tourists were allowed to remain and photograph, reflecting a relatively relaxed security posture.

 

At noon, as President Putin’s motorcade approached, tension gripped the scene, with a Japanese TV reporter near me in civilian clothes being instructed by plainclothes police to stop reporting and move (there were no restrictions on filming), highlighting the tense atmosphere.

Elsewhere, foreign media were told to stop filming and leave, depending on the location and officials present, exposing discrepancies.

Notably, attention was drawn to the numerous vehicles brought from Russia by President Putin, including several specialized cars. When he attended the G20 Summit in Osaka in 2019, he brought two special cars and four escort cars, totaling six. This time, he brought one special car, seven escort cars, and five other related vehicles, including vans for Foreign Minister Lavrov and other ministers, totaling 13 vehicles from Moscow to Hanoi.

Of particular interest was the black-painted ambulance. In Russia, it’s common to see ambulances (black vans) accompanying the presidential motorcade, suggesting preparation for President Putin’s health and emergency measures during visits abroad, which is unprecedented.

Following welcoming events and summit meetings, President Putin laid wreaths at places like the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, attended a banquet at the Hanoi Opera House in the evening, and departed Vietnam before midnight on his return journey. Vietnamese citizens shared their thoughts on Putin’s visit.

A Vietnamese cameraman in his 20s covering the event remarked, “Vietnam, which has long aligned with Western countries like the United States, meeting with President Putin raises concerns about the future. Let’s hope we don’t head down a path of destruction.”

A woman in her 50s, waving Vietnamese and Russian flags in welcome, expressed excitement: “Vietnam and Russia have a wonderful relationship. I hope they become even closer.” President Putin’s astute diplomacy may continue to intensify in the future.