King Nicholas of Vietnam

Nicholas (Nguyen Huu Kiet; born 20 October 1988) is King of Vietnam and Head of State of the Kingdom of Vietnam. Nicholas was born in the Third Mansion, the royal family's summer residence in Dalat, Vietnam as the eldest son of King Peter and Queen Thu.

He succeeded his father, King Peter, on 16 February 2018 after the latter abdicated in his son's favour due to declining health after 36 years as King.

Nicholas is from his maternal side, the sixth great-grandson of Louis XVI of France, his paternal line includes being second cousins twice removed from Bao Dai, the last emperor of Vietnam.

Nicholas is currently the world's youngest monarch and youngest head of state.

Early life
Nicholas was born Prince Nguyen Huu Kiet in the Third Mansion in Dalat, Vietnam, the former summer home of Bao Dai, on 20 October 1988—six years into his father's reign. He was baptised at Dalat Cathedral on 23 December 1988, as ‘Nicholas’ after Saint Nicholas of Myra. His siblings, Princess Thuy Linh and Prince Nguyen Huu Minh were born in 1995 and 1997, respectively.

From an early age, Prince Kiet showed great proficiency with the violin, which his mother encouraged. In 1995, during a holiday to America, Prince Kiet played a recital in Carnegie Hall. Prince Kiet also began practising Taekwondo at the age of seven when he became restless during prince lessons and the Queen's advisor, Vo Linh Phuc suggested it as a stress reliever.

Early naval aviation interest
Prince Kiet also became interested in the military early on, particularly the Navy and its Naval Aviation program, which in 1995 were still flying the US F-14, as its primary aircraft. Prince Kiet particularly enjoyed vacationing in Nha Trang, home of the internationally-renown Naval Academy of Vietnam.

On a ship inspection trip to Royal Navy Base Cam Ranh in 1995 with his grandfather, King Thomas, the little prince said, "One day, I'll make this Navy into the best in the world." King Thomas' biographers have said that this statement by his grandson made him assured that Vietnam's future was in good hands.

Crown Prince of Vietnam
As the eldest son of the king, Prince Kiet was already heir assumptive of Vietnam. In 1996 at the age of eight in a throne room ceremony, his father, King Peter granted him the style of Hoàng thái tử and the titles of Crown Prince of Vietnam and Duke of Dalat—the traditional title of the Crown Prince since 1907. The event was watched by 14 million Vietnamese on KingTV. Vo Linh Phuc served as the first regent until the Crown Prince's 13th birthday at which point the Queen will take over as stipulated by law.

Official duties
As Crown Prince, Prince Kiet is in loco ait rex, however, until legal maturity (17), the Crown Prince had few official duties other than occasional ceremonial duties and schooling as those were handled by his regents.

He and the Queen participated in the dedication and opening of the Pleiku Nuclear Power Plant in 1996. The Crown Prince opened and dedicated the Royal Children's Hospital in Dalat at the age of 11 and opened Parliament at the age of 14 alone.

Diplomatic relations
In 2004 at the age of 16, the Crown Prince accompanied the King and Prime Minister to the United States after the 2003 invasion of Iraq to discuss SEATO's position, as Vietnam did not agree with the US-led invasion.

Upon reaching age 17 in 2005, the Crown Prince's first duty was a troop inspection at Royal Air Base Tan Son Nhut where he also met USN Captain Anthony C. Drake, at the time also the commanding officer at NAS Miramar, home of TOP GUN. In a private meeting, the Crown Prince asked about improving Vietnam's Naval Aviation program and carrier operations. Capt. Drake invited the Crown Prince to Miramar and NAS Pensacola to learn more. The Crown Prince accepted and visited in March 2006.

The Crown Prince represented Vietnam at the 2006 ASEAN University Games (in an official capacity not as a competitor) and played host at 2006 APEC Vietnam at the Royal Palace of Saigon while the King underwent an appendectomy. The Japanese Prime Minister was particularly receptive and impressed by the Crown Prince during the two-day summit.

In 2007, the Crown Prince met Pope Benedict XVI in Rome on the first leg of a solo three-country tour of Europe. The Crown Prince received the pope's blessing. In Germany, the Crown Prince met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and BMW Chairman Norbert Reithofer on trade. Being a big fan of BMW, the Crown Prince promised to increase imports of BMWs into Vietnam. The meeting led BMW to establish BMW Vietnam in 2009. In England, he met British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and delivered a speech to the British Joint Parliament about Vietnam's continued alliance with the UK through APEC and SEATO, and is granted an audience with Queen Elizabeth II.

In January 2008, the royal family hosted US President George W. Bush and the First Lady at the Royal Palace during the Vietnam leg of his last Asia trip as President.

Early legislation
The Crown Prince's official duties were reduced in 2008 to allow the Crown Prince to focus on his studies at the Naval Academy of Vietnam. Prior to the reduction, in spring 2006, he spearheaded the Clean Energy amendment campaign in the House of Lords, which led to wind farms for renewable energy in the Central Highlands and helped Liberal then-Prime Minister Duong Phuc Nguyen in getting Conservative votes during a public campaign for the Public Wellness Act, which led to the Vietnamese Health Service ensuring all Vietnamese affordable access to essential care and services.

Education
Nicholas was educated by private tutors until age 11. Nicholas’ favourite subjects were languages, law, and royal business. The latter a subject impressed on him by his grandfather King Thomas. Nicholas speaks Vietnamese, French, English, Japanese, and Mandarin Chinese fluently.

European International School
From age 11-17, Nicholas attended the European International School in Saigon. He was active in NROTC and student government, serving as EIS Student Government President from age 14-17. He graduated with an IB degree from the EIS in 2006. Nicholas passed with all A's on his National Students Proficiency Exam (NSPE) in the core subjects needed for admission to the Naval Academy of Vietnam.

Naval Academy of Vietnam
Upon reaching age 17, Nicholas applied for an education deferment in lieu of immediate active conscription service. Nicholas enrolled at the Naval Academy of Vietnam, studying pre-law and naval aviation. Nicholas graduated magna cum laude in 2010 with the rank of Lieutenant Commander.

Naval Air Station Pensacola
In 2008, Nicholas undertook a course of study at Naval Air Station Pensacola in the United States to develop his aerial combat skills. He flew F-16s and the F-35 Trainer.

Yale Law School
From 2010-2013, Nicholas attended Yale Law School. Nicholas graduated in 2013 with a JD with Phi Beta Kappa honours. While not a requirement, Nicholas passed the US bar exam in Connecticut in late 2013. The Crown Prince passed the Vietnamese bar exam in April 2013.

Vietnamese Naval Aviation
Nicholas officially enlisted in the Royal Vietnamese Military in February 2014, joining the Royal Navy. He was assigned to the Naval Aviation branch to the 2nd Carrier Strike Group with the 4th Naval Air Squadron (“The Generals”) which serves aboard the KVS Saigon. He was commissioned as a URL officer in May 2014.

In 2015, Nicholas was promoted to Commander (O-4) and put in charge of the 4th Naval Air Squadron. Nicholas took command in March.

South China Sea incident
On a routine patrol over the South China Sea in Sept 2014, Nicholas flying an F-18B with Naval flight officer Lieutenant Van Trung Lien spotted a North Korean patrol boat and submarine coming within 20 miles northeast of KVS Saigon, which at the time of the incident was 100 miles off the coast of Vietnam. Lt. Lien radioed to the ship regarding the unexpected visitors. The ship reported back that the North Koreans are not an immediate threat and to not engage. After two fly-bys at 5,000m above sea level, Nicholas' plane reported no further activity and returned to KVS Saigon.

North Korean response
Three days later the North Koreans were once again within 200 miles of Vietnam's coast, this time with three times the number of ships and submarines. The CO ordered a squadron of F-16s to survey the situation. Nicholas was in the initial wave. After 13 F-16s buzzed the North Korean submarine battle group, the North Koreans retreated escorted into international waters by four Vietnamese F-16s led by Nicholas. After the North Koreans were in international waters, two Vietnamese jets returned to KVS Saigon while Nicholas and another pilot escorted the ships an additional 30 miles before returning to KVS Saigon after a short exchange between DPRK COs and Nicholas that were recorded by Nicholas and transmitted to KVS Saigon 's bridge.

UN MINUSMA (Mali 2015-16)
In December 2014, during an address to the UN General Assembly, King Peter announced that Vietnam will commit a maximum of 1,000 troops and personnel to Mali and a 1.2% increase in Vietnam funding in conjunction with the EU's EUCAP Sahel Mali police training operation. The Crown Prince served as Vietnam's military envoy to the UN. The Crown Prince also arranged for the Kingsmen to assist the EU's mission.

Tuareg militants incident
In May 2015, while serving as UN Military Envoy, the Crown Prince led a Vietnamese peacekeeping contingent on a patrol when the patrol was ambushed by Tuareg militants. The Crown Prince and the 10 Royal Army soldiers on patrol were freed after the Crown Prince offered a prisoner exchange. No one was killed, however, three RVA soldiers and the Crown Prince suffered minor injuries.

In December 2015, seven months after the initial incident with the Tuareg militants, the Crown Prince was asked to moderate the temporary cease-fire. The Crown Prince made good on his prisoner exchange offer and added in a year's supply of nappies as a gift to the Tuareg leader who had a son 10 days prior to the signing of the cease-fire. For this in 2016, the Crown Prince was awarded the Royal Army's Gallantry Cross with Bronze Star and the Regiment Leadership Medal as well as the Life-Saving Medal and Wound Medal in a later ceremony after the testimony of the three injured RVA on behalf of the Crown Prince.

US Navy in Cameroon
While serving with the UN delegation in Mali, the Crown Prince was transferred to serve with the US Navy in recon flights in Cameroon. The Crown Prince conducted 45 carrier takeoffs and lands with 12 being at night in F/A-18F's over a three and a half week period.

Egyptian MiGs dogfight
During a night flight, the Crown Prince and his NFO encountered two Egyptian MiGs, when asked for identification the Egyptian pilot failed to reply instead tailed the Crown Prince's F/A-18 outside of Cameroon airspace, executed a sharp climb, levelled out and sent two warning shots across the nose of the Crown Prince's plane and flew away. The NFO radioed to the USS Lincoln asking for options and were told to land. As the Crown Prince was heading back to the Lincoln another Egyptian MiG was spotted on radar and closing fast with target lock. The NFO radioed asking for engagement approval and was granted it.

After a short seven-minute engagement approximately 125 miles off the coast of Cameroon, the Crown Prince fired the F/A-18's rotary cannon at the MiG hitting the left-wing but not enough to down the plane at which point the MiG disengaged and flew back toward land, the Crown Prince and his NFO were uninjured and landed safely on the Lincoln.

In August 2016, following a US DoD inquiry into the dogfight the Crown Prince was found to have acted with valour in combat, "in combat action while serving with friendly foreign forces, who are engaged in armed conflict in which the United States is not a belligerent party," and awarded the US Navy Cross, the third-ever Vietnamese pilot awarded the decoration.

Recall to Vietnam
The Crown Prince was recalled by his father in September 2016, to aid the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force with the late testing development of the RAE VF-12A Dragon and its variants.

In February 2017, the Crown Prince was promoted to Captain and put in command of the Royal Navy's 2nd Carrier Wing. King Peter told his son prior to granting him his commission that this would be the Crown Prince's last in the military as he planned to abdicate.

As commander of the Royal Navy's 2nd Carrier Wing based at Royal Air Base Nha Trang, the Crown Prince took a more advisory role. However the Crown Prince was so impressed by the VF-12C Dragon (the carrier-based version) after several test flights, the Crown Prince ordered the 2nd Carrier Wing equipped with 270 VF-12C Dragons due for delivery by 2019.

The Crown Prince officially retired from his commission in the Royal Navy as Captain on 31 December 2017. Prior to retiring the Crown Prince was commended for his service with the Good Conduct Medal, First-class; Military Service Medal, Third-class; and the Naval Service Medal, Honor-class.

Coronation
Also see: Dynasty CEO tenure of Nicholas

Crown Prince Kiet was crowned King of Vietnam on 16 February 2018, at the age of 29 in a Catholic ceremony attended personally by the Japanese Emperor, the Spanish King, the British Queen, and the Presidents of France, South Korea, India, and Germany among delegates from all ASEAN, ESAT, and AEG nations at Dalat Cathedral. Most notably absent was any member of the US government. The event was celebrated throughout Vietnam.

Because the Second Nguyen kings are crowned instead of ascending a throne (i.e. the Imperial throne in Hue), the King and Queen-to-be, are crowned by the Bishop of Dalat with the Crown, Sceptre and the Globus cruciger of Vietnam. Designed by royal master jeweller Tran Duong Liem, and created by Dinh Jewelers of Hue in 1874. When not used for ceremony, the crown jewels of Vietnam are stored securely in the Royal Gallery, a royal history museum in Hue.

Upon succeeding his father, Nicholas adopted a personal standard of his own design. As Crown Prince, Nicholas used the Nguyen dynasty standard as is the protocol for all royal business. Nicholas' personal standard broke the accepted use of 3:2 ratio flags for kings for a much more dynastic battle flag. Similar to the Nguyen dynasty flag, Nicholas' standard bears a red dragon symbolising the King's zodiac sign over a white circle representing a peaceful world. Nicholas also changed the fringe from blue to red. The King's standard is used on all items representing the monarchy, it is most visible as one of the two diplomatic symbols that adorn the King's motorcade the other being the flag of Vietnam.

Upon coronation, Nicholas also took control of Dynasty Corporation as President and CEO, while King Peter became Chairman Emeritus until March 2019 when King Peter became Chief Counsel.

Succession
On 20 February 2018, Prince Nguyen Huu Minh (the King's younger brother) was announced as King Nicholas' heir apparent, and because the move to declare Prince Minh was triggered automatically because of Succession law, as a worst-case scenario, Prince Minh was not granted the titles of Crown Prince and Duke of Dalat but is the de facto crown prince.

Operation Indo
Main article: Operation Indo

In April 2020, the King launched a series of stunning offensives that returned Vietnam to its largest since Emperor Minh Mang and included the rest of Laos and Cambodia. The operation, codenamed "Indo" reformed the area territories of French Indochina under the administration of the Kingdom of Vietnam.

International perception
The King has been seen by European allies as a promoter and partner of free trade and military projection.

In Asia, the King is seen as a young upstart, challenging the stability of the current status quo. The People's Republic of China (PRC) is particularly upset that the King recognises the Republic of China (ROC) and its President, however, mainland China needs Vietnam as an ally in the AEG and hasn't responded to questions regarding Vietnam and the ROC.

In the US, the King is quite popular, during a May meeting at The Pentagon, the King's motorcade was greeted by 1,000 Vietnamese citizens living in the DC, Maryland, Virginia area waving the Vietnamese flag.

On the African continent, the King's favourability is mixed, due to his days in the military, however, the King is well-received in South Africa and other sub-Saharan African nations due to the VANT Pact.