As the Hanoi (Vietnam) Summit nears, excitement in the Southeast Asian nation is reaching fever pitch. The February 27-28 meeting will be the second between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean Chairman Kim Jong Un. But this go-round, the host country’s enthusiasm is going to some people’s heads.
As summit frenzy grips Hanoi, hairdresser Le Tuan Duong is offering free Trump or Kim hairdos to about a dozen customers.
“Hanoi is a city of peace,” Duong says. “When Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un decide to come here to talk about restoring peace, I think I should do something to show that Hanoi people welcome the summit.”
At Duong’s barbershop tucked away in a Hanoi alley, Le Phuc Hai waits patiently for the dye to turn his black hair the shade of President Donald Trump’s locks. Hai, a motorcycle taxi driver, explains why he went for Trump’s orangey hair: “I really like Donald Trump, so I want to have [his] hairstyle.”
From a chair next to him, nine-year-old To Gia Huy emerges as the spitting image of a miniature Kim Jong Un.
“Many people say that I look like Kim Jong Un, especially when I have this hairstyle,” says Huy. He even has the nickname “Un” because of his likeness to the North Korean leader. Huy is clearly delighted that Kim is coming to the Vietnamese capital next week for his second summit with the American president. He hopes for a chance to see Kim in person.
Duong has evaluated the two leaders’ hairdos. He believes Kim’s style shows youth, while Trump’s displays power. And what about on-trend fashion? According to Duong, “Kim’s style is a lot more popular among customers.”
(U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have become style icons in Hanoi, ahead of their second summit. Le Phuc Hai and To Gia Huy pose for a photo after getting Trump and Kim haircuts in Hanoi, Vietnam. AP Photo/Hau Dinh)
