Media advisory - The Right Honourable Louise Arbour, Governor General of Canada, to welcome His Excellency Tô Lâm, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Viet Nam and President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam for a State visit

OTTAWA, ON, Sept. 22, 2026 /CNW/ -- Her Excellency the Right Honourable Louise Arbour, Governor General of Canada, will host a series of events on September 24, 2026, as part of the State visit of His Excellency Tô Lâm, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Viet Nam and President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam.

The State visit will further strengthen political co-operation and contribute to the diversification of trade relations, deepen commercial ties between the two countries, enhance our shared economic resilience, advance Canada's and Viet Nam's bilateral and multilateral collaboration, and strengthen our people-to-people ties.

Itinerary

Times are indicated in Eastern Standard Time (EST).

Thursday, September 24, 2026

9:35 a.m.
Welcoming ceremony with military honours
The Governor General will greet General Secretary and President Tô Lâm upon his arrival. His Excellency will inspect a guard of honour. Governor General Arbour and General Secretary and President Tô Lâm will both deliver brief remarks.
Rideau Hall Grounds
OPEN TO MEDIA

10 a.m.
Courtesy call
Governor General Arbour will hold a courtesy call with General Secretary and President Tô Lâm.
Large Drawing Room, Rideau Hall
POOLED MEDIA (at the beginning of the meeting)

10:30 a.m.
Tree-planting ceremony
General Secretary and President Tô Lâm will participate in a tree-planting ceremony, a Canadian tradition symbolizing friendship and co-operation between nations.
Rideau Hall Grounds
OPEN TO MEDIA

6:40 p.m.
State dinner
Her Excellency the Right Honourable Louise Arbour will host a State dinner for General Secretary and President Tô Lâm. The Governor General and General Secretary and President Tô Lâm will deliver remarks.
Ballroom, Rideau Hall
POOLED MEDIA (photo opportunity upon the arrival of the officials and coverage of the speeches at the beginning of the dinner)

Notes for media:

• All media who wish to cover the State visit must be accredited by the Parliamentary Press Gallery.
• To guarantee your access, we ask that you please confirm your attendance with the Rideau Hall Press Office in advance via [email protected].
• Media are asked to arrive at the Princess Anne Entrance no later than 9:05 a.m. for the morning events and no later than 5:25 p.m. for the State dinner to capture a group photo of the officials prior to dinner.
• Photos taken by the Governor General's official photographer will be made available upon request via [email protected].

Related links:

• News Release: State Visit to Canada of His Excellency Tô Lâm, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Viet Nam and President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam
• Canada and Vietnam

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SOURCE Office of the Secretary to the Governor General

Media information: Rideau Hall Press Office, [email protected]