Vietnam, Malaysia PMs enjoy coffee at Hanoi's book street

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his wife Le Thi Bich Tran on Friday invited Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his wife Wan Azizah binti Wan Ismail to visit Hanoi's book street. Anwar is currently on a two-day official visit to Vietnam. He landed in Hanoi on Thursday, marking his first official visit to Vietnam since assuming his position in December 2022.

Chinh and Anwar visit book stores in the area.

Hanoi's book street is located near the iconic Hoan Kiem Lake, connecting Ly Thuong Kiet and Hai Ba Trung streets. The street has numerous book stores that sell hundreds of thousands of books on various topics.

Tran (carrying a handbag) and Wan (4th, L) talk to one another on the book street.

Tran and Wan visit a store that showcases books outside.

The two couples play with the children present at the book street.

The couples enjoy coffee on the street. Chinh also introduces a type of coffee grown in the Central Highlands' Lam Dong Province to Anwar.

Chinh and Anwar discuss about Vietnam's reading culture.

Chinh gifts Anwar with three books: "The world people’s affection for President Ho Chi Minh" (Tinh cam cua nhan dan the gioi voi Chu tich Ho Chi Minh); "The Prison Diary of Ho Chi Minh" (Nhat ky trong tu); and one about socialism development in Vietnam.

Chinh waves goodbye to Anwar after the trip to the book street.

In a dialogue on Thursday, the two Prime Ministers discussed about methods to bolster bilateral cooperation, and aimed to bring bilateral trade turnover from $15 billion to $18 billion in 2025.