Donald Trump gifted Doan Thi Kim Hong a copy of his book, complete with a personal dedication on the first page. — Photos courtesy of Dr. Doan Thi Kim Hong

On November 6, 2024 (Hanoi time), Donald Trump once again triumphed over his Democratic rival, Kamala Harris, to become the 47th president of the United States.

This victory echoes his previous success on November 9, 2016, when he defeated Hillary Clinton to become the 45th president, taking office in early 2017.

Dr. Doan Thi Kim Hong, the only Vietnamese Miss Universe to have met Trump, was deeply moved by both of his victories.

In 2007, she traveled to New York City to advocate for bringing the Miss Universe pageant to Vietnam in 2008. Hong, who holds the title of First Mrs. World, recalled that before entering politics, Trump partially owned the Miss Universe Organization. He purchased the pageant from ITT Corp. in 1996, transforming it into an immensely popular event that attracted record global viewership.

During the negotiations to host the pageant in Vietnam, Hong faced significant challenges, as many countries were vying for the opportunity.

However, Trump and his associates, motivated by their affection for Vietnam and admiration for Hong, facilitated her efforts to bring the pageant to her homeland. Ultimately, the event was successfully held in Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province, showcasing Vietnam's culture, history, and people to an international audience through NBC.

Reflecting on her journey, Hong stated, “In 2007, driven by the desire to bring this prestigious pageant to Vietnam, I went to the United States to negotiate with Donald Trump.”

During her week in the US, she met with him multiple times and was struck by his politeness and courteous demeanor.

"One morning, Donald Trump invited me to his office. Wanting to celebrate our traditional Vietnamese culture and the beauty of our women, I wore a light pink ao dai (a Vietnamese traditional long dress). Upon seeing me, Trump was enthusiastic and complimented the beauty of my attire. He mentioned that he had researched Vietnam and was impressed by the friendliness and hospitality of our people," Hong recounted.

Their meeting in New York City extended beyond the scheduled time, lasting about three hours. Upon learning of Hong's aspirations to bring the Miss Universe pageant to Vietnam, Trump expressed genuine happiness and guided her in collaborating with his associates.

Hong presents Donald Trump with a beautiful painting of Vietnamese landscapes and an embroidered picture of golden carp.

During their discussions, Hong presented Trump with a beautiful painting of Vietnamese landscapes and an embroidered picture of golden carp from XQ. In return, he gifted her a copy of his book, complete with a personal dedication on the first page.

Hong cherishes this book as a souvenir from her encounter with the head of the Miss Universe Organization. She and her son, Quoc Khanh, have read it multiple times and gained valuable insights from its contents.

Upon hearing the news of Trump's election as President of the United States, Hong felt a surge of excitement and hopes for another opportunity to meet him. "As a Vietnamese citizen, I wish for the Vietnam-US friendship to grow ever stronger and continue to flourish," she confided. — VNS