Vietnam, US Agree to Initiate Negotiations on Reciprocal Trade Deal
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Thanks to the persistent efforts of both the Governments and Peoples of Vietnam and the United States, a strong foundation has been laid for their bilateral relationship. More than a year since the elevation to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the relationship has not only demonstrated a high level of maturity and mutual trust but has also affirmed its growing importance in promoting peace, stability, and development in the region and beyond.

Overcome the past, build a foundation to develop Vietnam-US relations

The normalization of Vietnam–US relations required both nations to overcome deep-rooted barriers that had lingered since the war. Chief among these was the issue of looking for American personnel missing in action (MIA), along with the US economic embargo, which had significantly affected the livelihoods of the Vietnamese people.

Positive changes gradually emerged as the Vietnamese Government took proactive steps to address post-war legacies, including the search for MIAs, the clearance of unexploded ordnance, and assistance for Agent Orange victims.

Crucially, these governmental efforts were reinforced by the meaningful contributions of social organizations, diplomatic missions, war veterans, and ordinary citizens in both countries. Their tireless advocacy and bridge-building played a pivotal role in advancing the reconciliation process.

These collective efforts culminated on July 11, 1995, when Vietnamese Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet and US President Bill Clinton officially announced the normalization of diplomatic relations—ushering in a new era defined by the spirit of "putting the past behind, overcoming differences, promoting common ground, and looking toward the future."

Vietnamese Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet announced the decision to normalize diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the US on the morning of July 12, 1995. (Photo: VNA)

Following the normalization, the two countries swiftly established embassies and formal diplomatic channels. A key milestone in deepening bilateral ties came with the negotiation and signing of the Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) in 2000, which laid the groundwork for a strong economic partnership. These developments marked crucial steps in addressing complex historical legacies, particularly through diplomatic engagement and economic cooperation.

Expand cooperation and establish a Comprehensive Partnership framework

The BTA, which officially took effect in December 2001, is a strong driving force for the Vietnam-US bilateral relations. It promoted the core of the bilateral relations between the two countries in the early years of the 21st century.

Vietnam’s exports to the United States grew rapidly, fueling a sharp rise in bilateral trade. US businesses also increasingly invested in a wide range of projects in Vietnam, contributing to the nation’s economic development.

In 2002, the United States became Vietnam’s top export market, with export turnover surging by 128%. This milestone helped strengthen mutual trust and underscored the potential for deeper cooperation between the two countries. Vietnam, in turn, gained strong momentum on its path toward reform and integration into the global economy.

Continuing the momentum of development, with the support of the United States, especially the US Congress's approval of Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR), Vietnam became a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in January 2007. This event marked Vietnam's deep integration into the global economy, while deepening the Vietnam-US economic relationship.

In parallel with expanding economic cooperation, the two countries have also broadened collaboration in various other fields, fostering mutual trust and deeper understanding.

Progress has continued in addressing the consequences of war. Beyond joint efforts to account for missing-in-action (MIA) personnel, the United States has supported Vietnam in mine and unexploded ordnance (UXO) clearance, and initiated preliminary assessments and projects to address dioxin contamination at Da Nang Airport. These humanitarian initiatives have played a vital role in laying a strong foundation of trust between the two nations.

Additional areas of cooperation include health—through the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR); education and training—highlighted by the Fulbright Program and the growing Vietnamese student population in the US; science and technology; and robust people-to-people exchanges. Together, these efforts paint a multifaceted and dynamic picture of bilateral engagement.

High-level visits have become more frequent, accompanied by the establishment of regular dialogue mechanisms in areas such as politics, security, and defense, further strengthening political rapport and strategic trust.

President Truong Tan Sang and President Barack Obama during their historic visit in July 2013, when the two sides announced the establishment of a comprehensive partnership between Vietnam and the USA. (Photo: VNA)

The establishment of the Comprehensive Partnership in July 2013 by the two heads of state, Vietnam's President Truong Tan Sang and US President Barack Obama, formalized a deep and extensive cooperative relationship in nine pillars. Based on the principles of respecting the United Nations Charter, international law, and respecting each other's political institutions, independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, this is an important milestone, affirming the maturity of the relationship after nearly two decades of normalization.

Strengthen strategic trust and upgrade the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

On the basis of the Comprehensive Partnership, the Vietnam-US relations continue to deepen substantially, strongly promoted by the growing convergence of strategic interests and the changing regional and international context. The common interest in maintaining peace, stability, and the rule of law in the South China Sea has become an important driving force, promoting cooperation in many aspects, especially defense and security.

US President Obama during his state visit to Vietnam in 2016. (Photo: VNA)

A historic milestone was President Barack Obama’s announcement of the full lifting of the arms embargo in May 2016 during his visit to Vietnam.

This decision was not only symbolic, removing a final “relic” of the war, but also opened up the possibility of more substantive defense cooperation, allowing Vietnam to access modern defense technologies.

Maritime security cooperation has been significantly enhanced, with the United States supporting the capacity building of the Vietnam Coast Guard through the transfer of patrol vessels, the provision of equipment, and training. Port visits by Ú naval vessels, including historic visits by aircraft carriers such as the USS Carl Vinson in 2018, have become symbols of increasingly close cooperation.

At the same time, cooperation in overcoming the consequences of war remains an indispensable pillar, strengthening trust and demonstrating a humanitarian commitment. The dioxin remediation project at Da Nang airport was completed in 2018. Shortly thereafter, the dioxin remediation project at Bien Hoa airport, the largest remaining hotspot, was launched in 2019 with a much larger scale and resource commitment from both sides. Bomb and explosive clearance and MIA searches are still being effectively implemented, demonstrating responsibility and persistent cooperation.

In terms of economy, bilateral trade continues to be a bright spot, with turnover surpassing the 100 billion USD mark, making Vietnam one of the leading trade partners of the United States. Vietnam has also emerged as an attractive destination for US high-tech investment and an important link in efforts to diversify the global supply chain. However, the large US trade deficit sometimes creates issues that need to be discussed and resolved by both sides through mechanisms such as TIFA.

Political trust between the two countries has been increasingly strengthened through regular high-level visits and contacts, and the effective operation of dialogue mechanisms. All of these substantive developments have created a solid foundation for a historic upgrade of relations.

In September 2023, during a State visit to Vietnam at the invitation of the late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, US President Joe Biden and senior leaders of the two countries issued a Joint Statement upgrading relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace, Cooperation and Sustainable Development.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and US President Joe Biden.

This is the highest level of relations in Vietnam's partnership system, reflecting high political trust and a common strategic vision after nearly three decades of continuous efforts. This upgrade not only deepens existing areas of cooperation but also opens up new focuses, especially in the fields of high technology (such as semiconductors, AI) and climate change response.

30 years of bilateral relations and future potential

General Secretary and President To Lam speaks at the celebration of the first anniversary of the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, towards the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. (Photo: Lam Khanh/VNA)

Speaking at the ceremony to celebrate the first anniversary of upgrading relations to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, towards the 30th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-US diplomatic relations on September 22, 2024 in New York, General Secretary To Lam said that this is a rare process and a model in international relations in healing and building post-war relations.

Although the two countries had their first exchanges more than two centuries ago, they had to go through challenges, from former enemies to friends then to Comprehensive Partners in 2013, then Comprehensive Partnership framework after 10 years, with important steps achieved in strengthening trust and enhancing mutual understanding, it has created a solid foundation for the two countries to upgrade their relationship to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2023, in accordance with President Ho Chi Minh's wishes.

He emphasized that this is the result of countless efforts to mend and build lasting trust over three decades by many generations of leaders, governments, parliaments, and people of the two countries.

He welcomed the encouraging results achieved by both sides after one year of upgrading the relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and said that with the comprehensive and specific content of the new relationship framework, the two sides have much room to continue to deepen and develop the bilateral relationship stably and substantively, bringing benefits to the people of the two countries as well as contributing to peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world.

Looking forward to the 30th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-US diplomatic relations in 2025, he suggested that the two sides continue to strengthen close coordination to effectively implement the Vietnam-US Joint Statement in 2023, especially increasing contacts and delegation exchanges at high levels; making high-tech science and technology cooperation (semiconductors, AI), high-quality human resource training a strategic breakthrough in bilateral relations; continuing to prioritize cooperation in overcoming the consequences of war, contributing to building and consolidating trust between the two sides; enhancing dialogue in a spirit of frankness, constructiveness, sharing of interests and legitimate concerns of each other; and strengthening coordination, contributing more to peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and the world.

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