HO CHI MINH CITY – Barack Obama has ended his three-day visit to Vietnam with his trademark town hall gathering in Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday.

The U.S president took part in a question and answer session with young Vietnamese leaders to strengthen ties between the United States and Southeast Asia.

He tackled questions on everything from rap and weed smoking to his good looks.

At one point, Obama met one of the country’s well-known female rap artists, Suboi, who presented the U.S leader with an impromptu performance.

“Before I answer your question, why don’t you give me a little rap, let’s see what you got,” said Obama.

“Do you need like a little beat?” he added, and helpfully started beatboxing.

“Yes, I do actually,” responded the 26-year-old local before rapping a verse in Vietnamese.

Suboi, also known as Vietnam’s “Queen of Hip-Hop”, later explained that the song was about the differences between the wealthy and underprivileged, as well as gender stereotypes that are present in the world today.

“For Vietnamese people, they think rapping is not for women,” she said, to which Obama replied, “That’s true for people in the United States, too. There’s always been sexism and gender stereotypes in the music industry just like in every other part of life.”

Obama went on to say that rap music began as an expression by poor African-Americans and has now become a global art form.

“Imagine if at the time that rap was starting off that the government had said ‘no’ because some of the things you say are offensive, or some of the lyrics are rude or you’re cursing too much,” he said. “That connection that we’ve seen now in hip-hop culture around the world wouldn’t exist. So, you’ve got to let people express themselves. That’s part of what a modern 21st-century culture is all about.”

Earlier another young man began his question with: “Mr President, you’re so handsome.”

To which Obama quickly joked “Oh. You can just stop there if you want.”

Click this link to watch the video of Suboi rapping a few lines

– TiVi Tuan-san