History, 'bamboo diplomacy' in focus on Putin's Vietnam trip
Vietnam and Russia have close ties going back to the 1950s, but Hanoi is not likely to give Putin the public pledge of "full support" on Ukraine that he received from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
PREMIUM Politics
Russia's President Vladimir Putin (L) and Vietnam's President To Lam (R) wave as they pose for photos at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi on June 20, 2024. AFP photo
NewVision Reporter
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Russian President Vladimir Putin meets Vietnamese leaders in Hanoi on Thursday after signing a mutual defence deal with North Korea.
AFP looks at the background to the visit and