After writing friendly letters to Panamanian strongman Manuel Antonio Noriega, a 10-year-old girl has received a Panama hat and an all-expenses-paid round trip to Panama at Noriega`s invitation.

''I`m really excited,'' said 6th-grader Sarah York. ''All my classmates want to go, too. Everybody thinks he`s bad, but he`s a nice person in his letters.''

She will fly with her mother, Pauline, to Panama City on Thursday and return Monday. ''I admit they`re probably using us for political reasons to show another side of the man that hasn`t been shown by the media,'' Mrs. York said.

Sarah first wrote to Noriega on March 3 after seeing a report on CBS-TV`s ''60 Minutes'' about his alleged drug dealing. He wrote back March 28 and asked her to continue writing.

Encouraged by her parents, she wrote three more letters telling Noriega about her family, friends, school and Michigan`s Upper Peninsula. She wrote that she hoped Panama and the United States could remain friendly despite the drug charges against him.

Noriega replied with the hat, a signed photograph of him smiling and several books about Panama.