Biden’s visit to Hanoi: High hopes for Vietnam – US relations

Rapid development of Vietnam – US relations

Eight years ago, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong made an official visit to the US from July 6-10 at the invitation of US President Barack Obama. The visit, according to observers and journalists, was of symbolic significance, because it was the first time that the leader of the Communist Party of Vietnam had made an official visit to the US.

The handshake between General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Barack Obama in the Oval Office of the White House was described as a historic and iconic image, showing that Vietnam – US relations had made impressive strides, from former foes with different political systems, to friends and comprehensive partners.

It’s not groundless to say that both Vietnam and the US have made great strides in developing their relations over the years. Forgiveness is never easy, and reconciling and overcoming hatred is always easier said than done. But, for almost five decades since the war ended, the two countries have tried their best and wholeheartedly to reach that goal.

It’s worth remembering that in 1990 and 1991 diplomats of the two countries first met to examine the timeline for negotiations on normalizing bilateral relations. On the night of July 11, 1995 (US time), US President Bill Clinton officially announced the normalization of diplomatic relations with Vietnam. So did Vietnamese Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet at the same time on the morning of July 12, 1995 (Vietnam time). It was a major milestone in history of Vietnam-US relations.

Since then bilateral relations have constantly been consolidated and promoted through high-ranking reciprocal visits, including US visits by President Truong Tan Sang (2013), Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (2015) and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (2017), and Vietnam visits by Presidents Bill Clinton (2000), George W. Bush (2006), and Barack Obama (2006).

Notably, during the US visit in 2015 by President Truong Tan Sang, the two countries established their comprehensive partnership. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc was the first government leader of an ASEAN member state to visit the US after President Donald Trump was sworn in. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump travelled to Vietnam twice during his working term from 2017 to 2021. Vice President Kamala Harris of the current US administration also visited Vietnam in August 2021.

All these trips show how well the US recognizes and values Vietnam’s position and role in its foreign policy. Fueled by the growing political ties, bilateral cooperation in various fields, especially economy and trade, has prospered over the years. Currently, the US is one of Vietnam’s largest trading partners, with two-way trade turnover increasing profoundly from just US$450 million in 1995 to more than US$123 billion in 2022. The US is also the first foreign market with which Vietnam has developed, with bilateral trade exchanges having surpassed the US$100 billion mark each for the past two years.

But above all, the two countries have succeeded in breaking with the past and looking to the future. Four or five decades ago, American people only knew about Vietnam through the war. Now Vietnam has been known as a developing and dynamic economy, with many of its products hitting the shelf of US supermarkets.

Biden’s visit and confidence in future

According to press announcements by the two countries’ diplomatic agencies, President Joe Biden will make a State visit to Vietnam on September 10-11 at the invitation of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. This is the first time a US President has accepted an invitation to visit the country by the leader of the Communist Party of Vietnam. The trip also coincides with the 10th anniversary of the comprehensive partnership between the two countries.

In his message of congratulations to Vietnam on National Day (September 2), US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he was looking forward to President Joe Biden’s historic visit to Hanoi. According to Blinken, the visit will give the two countries the chance to review their relations and chart a development course for future.

The common future, according to experts and observers, is described as promising. Dr. Pooja Bhatt, a researcher in New Delhi (India), said Biden’s trip that will come hot on the heels of the G20 meeting in India demonstrates the US’ strategic engagement with the region and Vietnam in particular.

Former Vietnamese ambassador to the US Nguyen Quoc Cuong shared, “What I am most impressed and happy with is the high level of interest and understanding about Vietnam, the open and frank attitude and the enthusiastic support for Vietnam – US relations of most Americans I have met. Indeed, the room for cooperation between the two sides is still large.”

It’s worth remembering that the US administration hosted a banquet in honour of Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong on his working visit to the US in July 2015. Speaking at the function, leader Trong noted that “the two countries have made great strides in the past 20 years of normalizing relations and today are given new opportunities to promote their comprehensive partnership more deeply, substantially and effectively.”

Meanwhile, Joe Biden, then Vice President of the US, quoted a verse from great poet Nguyen Du’s Tale of Kieu, expressing his belief in the future development of the US-Vietnam comprehensive partnership.

“Thank heaven we are here today. To see the sun through parting fog and clouds”

The fog is gradually clearing, as former US President Bill Clinton once said literally that frozen memories of the past had begun to fade, and the outlines of a shared warm future had begun to take shape between Vietnam and the US.