The journey to end the past, towards the future
Vietnam - US relations were formed and developed on a special foundation - from the painful past of war to the present as a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. It is a long, complex and courageous journey, closing the past, overcoming obstacles to accompany towards the future.
After 1975, although there are still many gaps and doubts, it is the humanitarian efforts to resolve the consequences of war that have opened the first bridges. From there, mutual understanding is gradually built, becoming a glue for trust.
Behind the big guidelines of both countries are specific people, emotional stories. It can be mentioned the role of veterans and people of the two countries, especially "two men" - John Kerry and John McCain - who have been involved in the war, but have become Vietnamese friends, making an important contribution to ease the wounds of war and open the path of reconciliation. If there is no determination to close the past to solve humanitarian issues, it is difficult to lay the foundation for the relationship today.
The award is based on understanding, trust and mutual respect
The fact that Vietnam and the US normalize relations in 1995 is an iconic turning point, but it is actually the result of a process of forming understanding, building trust and especially respect for each other. From the doubts, the gap, the two sides have found a common voice thanks to the active participation of organizations, veterans and people of the two countries. Vietnam gradually appears is no longer the image of a battle in American consciousness, but a potential partner, a reliable friend.
At the same time, the domestic economic innovation and reform and the " journey to break the siege" to expand international relations have shown Vietnam's strategic vision. Vietnam proactively handles Cambodian issues, normalizes relations with China, promotes its role in ASEAN, and gradually moves the region from confrontation to cooperation.
That journey is not separate from promoting bilateral relations with the US, but on the contrary, becoming an important driving force. In that context, the decision to normalize relations announced by President Bill Clinton on July 11, 1995 - with the presence of John Kerry, John McCain, Pete Peterson... - marked a historic turning point, shifting from the past to the future.
From normalization to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership: The journey of sustainable development
Since the establishment of the Comprehensive Partnership in 2013 to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2023, the Vietnam - US relationship has been continuously upgraded in both breadth and depth. The areas of cooperation are comprehensively expanded: from politics, economics, national defense, security to science, education, health, environment, etc.
While overcoming the consequences of war continues to be a highlight of humanistic and historical significance, economic cooperation is a bright spot that benefits both sides. Trade turnover between the two countries has increased from less than 0.5 billion USD in 1995 to nearly 150 billion USD today - a vivid testament to sustainable development and intertwined benefits.
In particular, the mark of high-level visits - with the presence of all US Presidents after the war in Vietnam - clearly demonstrates the deep political commitment from both sides. In a short decade, bilateral relations have reached new heights, towards the future of innovation, green transformation and technological cooperation.
The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership not only reflects respect for each other's political institutions but also creates a framework of equal, sustainable and mutually beneficial cooperation. This is a new momentum for development, contributing to shaping Vietnam's strategic position in the region and the world.
Enhancing foreign affairs in the era of national integration and growth
The achievements of more than four decades of innovation and integration have created a new position and strength for Vietnam in the international arena. With a confident and proactive mindset, Vietnam is aiming to become a developing country with a high average income by 2030, and a developed country with a high income by 2045.
Vietnam today has not only gradually become an open economy in the Top 20 globally, but also a trusted partner, playing a role in building peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. In the context of a rapidly changing world with contemporary changes and within the next 5-10 years, which is an important period in shaping the new world order, many countries have been adjusting their policies, including the US and Vietnam, to continue to proactively dialogue and handle challenges flexibly and effectively.
The phone call on 11/2.2025 of General Secretary To Lam congratulated Mr. Donald Trump's election of the US president and the phone talk of the two leaders on 4.4.2025 is a typical example: both affirming the desire to continue strengthening bilateral cooperation, for the benefit of the two countries and contributing to peace, stability and development in the region and around the world, just pressing the sustainable trade relations on the basis of equity and the same benefit. In arising issues, such as tariffs, Vietnam actively cooperates to handle effectively, in the spirit of construction dialogue.
That vision is clearly expressed in Resolution 59 of the Politburo on international integration in the new situation - as a guideline for a new era of development. Vietnam actively and comprehensively integrates, but selectively, puts national and ethnic interests at the center, and actively contributes to peace, stability, and international law.
The three decades of Vietnam-US relations are not only a story of historical healing but also a testament to a strategic vision nurtured by trust, dialogue and mutual development. This journey will continue - with increasingly high expectations, increasingly deep quality and increasingly intertwined benefits, contributing to peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world.
