“The 2 Sides Project” documentary screened in Hanoi

As part of a project of the same name, the documentary, filmed in 2015 and completed in 2017, captures the story of US and Vietnamese sons and daughters, who shared the loss of their fathers during the war and met for the first time in December 2015. 

The screening in Hanoi attracted the participation of 17 Vietnamese and six US sons and daughters, who shared the story on the screen.  

The event took place as part of a trip to Vietnam by a US delegation from the “2 Sides Project” (2SP) to enhance the people-to-people exchange between the two nations. Launched in 2015, the 2SP aims at connecting children of fallen Vietnamese and US soldiers on the Vietnam – US war, encouraging exchanges between them to share losses and difficulties.

Earlier, the 2SP delegation led by founder and executive director of the project Margot Delogne met with Nguyen Tam Chien, head of the Vietnam-US Society. 

During their Vietnamese trip from November 25 to December 10, the delegation is scheduled to visit a high school in Y Yen district in the northern province of Nam Dinh, which was bombed by the US on October 10, 1967. They will plant trees in commemoration of victims of the raid, visit a site in Nghe An where the father of a member in the delegation went missing, and visit a number of Vietnamese martyrs’ families. They will also tour scenic locations in Quang Ninh in the north, Thua Thien – Hue, Quang Nam and Da Nang in the central region, and Long An and Ho Chi Minh City in the south.

Vietnam-US relations have developed significantly since the two countries set up diplomatic ties in 1995. From enemies at war, the two nations improved their relations to become comprehensive partners in 2013, opening the way for expanded cooperation in multiple fields – from politics, diplomacy, economy, trade, and investment, to security and defence, culture, education, science and technology, to the settlement of war aftermaths, and people-to-people exchange.

Since 2015, the two sides have accelerated the exchange of high-level visits, which have deepened the bilateral Comprehensive Partnership and fostered the development of ties on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, and with respect for each other’s independence and political regime.

Two-way trade between the countries soared from US$500 million in 1995 to US$50 billion in 2017. Vietnam is the US’ biggest export market in Southeast Asia, meanwhile the US remains in the top 10 investors in Vietnam.

Coordination in addressing the aftermaths of war is of special concern to the two sides, contributing to trust-building in their Comprehensive Partnership. Vietnam has worked effectively with the US in searching for missing US soldiers in the country while the US has also taken steps to assist in the clearance of unexploded ordinances (UXOs) and Agent Orange/dioxin detoxification. 

Vietnam and the US have also expanded cooperation in the fields of culture, education, science and technology, and people-to-people exchange. It was estimated that about 30,000 Vietnamese are currently pursuing degrees in universities and colleges in the US.