His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and Her Majesty Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha yesterday granted an audience to President Truong Tan Sang of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and his wife, Madam Mai Thi Hanh, at the Istana Nurul Iman.

The Vietnamese president and spouse are in the country for a three-day state visit.

Upon arrival at the Istana Nurul Iman, His Majesty and Her Majesty together with President Truong Tan Sang and his spouse went up the dais for the Salute of Honour, which was accompanied by the national anthems of both countries.

Twenty-one gun salutes were launched as the two leaders inspected the Guard of Honour mounted by the Royal Brunei Land Forces. President Truong Tan Sang and Madam Mai Thi Hanh were then introduced to the members of the royal family, state dignitaries; cabinet ministers; deputy ministers, Commander of Royal Brunei Armed Forces, Commissioner of Police,foreign envoys to Brunei, as well as Permanent Secretaries at the Prime Minister's Office and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and their spouses.

His Majesty and Her Majesty in return were introduced to the members of the Vietnamese president's delegation.

The delegation of President Truong Tan Sang included Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan; Vietnam Foreign Affairs Minister Pham Binh Minh; Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to Brunei Darussalam Nguyen Truong Giang and other senior officials from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Shortly after, an audience ceremony was held at the Ceradi Laila Kencana. Also present in the audience ceremony were His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office; Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah; His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Her Royal Highness Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Zariah; His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah; Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Bini Hajah Faizah; His Royal Highness Prince Haji Jefri Bolkiah; His Royal Highness Prince 'Abdul Malik; Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah; Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna, Amabassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Uni Kalthum Al-Islam as well as other members of the royal family.

Also attending the audience ceremony were Vietnamese DPM Nguyen Thien Nhan; Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh; Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to Brunei Nguyen Truong Giang. After the audience ceremony His Majesty and the Vietnamese President proceeded to Baitul Masyuarah for a bilateral meeting. After the meeting, His Majesty the Sultan and President Truong Tan Sang consented to witness the signing ceremony of the agreement between the Autoriti Monetari Brunei Darussalam (AMBD) and the State Bank of Vietnam which was represented by Dato Paduka Haji Rosli bin Haji Sabtu, Managing Director of AMBD, and Mr Dang Thanh Binh, Deputy Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam.

This was followed by the signing of an oil and gas Memorandum of Understanding between Petroleum Brunei and PetroVietnam. Representing Petroleum Brunei was Dato Paduka Haji Matsatejo Sokiaw, Chief Executive Officer, Petroleum Brunei and for PetroVietnam represented by Mr DO Van Hau, President and Chief Executive Officer of Vietnam Oil and Gas Group.

Also present in the bilateral meeting and signing ceremony were His Royal Highness Prince Hj Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office, and His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

President Truong Tan Sang and his wife, Madam Mai Thi Hanh, with the delegation arrived in Brunei Darussalam yesterday.

The Vietnamese President and spouse were greeted on arrival by Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Hj Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong, Minister of Education and spouse, at the Brunei International Airport.

Some 3,000 students lined up along the main road towards the main entrance of Istana Nurul Iman waving flags of both countries to welcome the visitors. - Borneo Bulletin (28 November 2012)