Vietnam-US bridge spans across the Pacific

When music becomes a common language

When Suboi's MV "Never Before" - composed to mark the 30th anniversary of US-Vietnam relations - spread on cyberspace, attracting tens of thousands of views, it is not simply an entertainment product. For Ambassador Knapper, that moment is symbolic in 2025 - the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between two countries that once stood on two fronts.

30 years is a long enough time to look back. But according to the Ambassador, looking back is not enough. Memories or celebrations are not enough. What is more important is to look to the future, and that future cannot be built only by political statements or commercial figures, but must be based on the foundation of people, especially young people, of high technology and of innovation.

Therefore, music is chosen as a common language, directly touching emotions. Suboi - an artist with a global spirit but deeply rooted in Vietnamese culture - becomes an image representing that intersection. In "Never Before", Vietnamese and American cultural elements are not opposite but harmonious; modern rap rhythm with touches of traditional Vietnamese instruments reflects the dynamic, open spirit and towards the future of bilateral relations.

And that harmony sends a clear message: Vietnam-US relations are also entering a new phase, full of creative energy, where the two countries are not only partners, but also people who jointly build the future, building the next stage through innovation, connection and cultural exchange.

Sustainable bridges from creativity and young people

That is what the Ambassador calls cultural diplomacy - building bridges connecting people with people. These bridges are built in many different ways. In 2025, young Vietnamese artists of the "Hello Brother" program performed in Las Vegas. The Ambassador was there, not only as a diplomat, but also as a supporter of the natural exchange between the two cultures. According to him, each trip, each performance, each meeting adds a bridge, deepening mutual understanding.

With Ambassador Knapper, Vietnam is standing on the threshold of major cultural breakthroughs. Not only V-pop, but also cinema, literature and creative industries. Last year, many Vietnamese films were introduced, carrying the aspiration to reach out internationally. The Ambassador was particularly impressed with the film "Red Rain", and believes that with increasingly improved quality, Vietnamese cinema can completely reach global audiences, gradually affirming its position on the world cultural map.

For a long time, Vietnam's soft power has been recognized by the world through tourism and cuisine. Now, that strength is expanding to other fields such as music, cinema, literature. Vietnam is not just a destination, but is gradually becoming an attractive cultural space, where the world finds the richness of history, identity and creative spirit.

Looking back at 3 decades of Vietnam-US relations, the Ambassador said that, whether in trade, investment, defense - security, health or education, all achievements are built on a common foundation: Mutual understanding and friendship. Without that foundation, no agreement can go far.

That understanding is nurtured persistently through educational exchanges, people-to-people exchanges and efforts to bring people of the two countries closer together. Today, the Internet, technology and art help that process take place faster and deeper. Artists like Suboi, with their talent and creativity, have contributed to breaking old prejudices, showing that Vietnam and the US have more in common than people once thought.

In the future picture, education and technology are particularly emphasized by the Ambassador. Vietnam's promotion of the goal of making English the second language in education is considered a strategic step. When the language barrier is narrowed, cooperation opportunities in high-tech, advanced manufacturing, research and development will be expanded.

The US and Vietnam, according to the Ambassador, share a spirit of entrepreneurship, innovation and creativity. Vietnam is one of the most dynamic and creative countries he has ever known, from hardware and software development to game development - fields that Vietnam has marked on the global map. Young people in the two countries have great potential to cooperate and create new values together.

From war memories to peaceful returns

But perhaps, the story that makes listeners listen to the most is the family story of the Ambassador. His father participated in the war in Vietnam in the US Marine Corps in the period 1966-1967. His childhood was associated with war stories, with the image of a Vietnam full of smoke and fire in his father's memory.

Many years later, he had the opportunity to bring his father back to Vietnam - not just once but 3 times. The veteran who used to be stationed in Da Nang, near Ngu Hanh Son, still clearly remembers the landmarks of the past. When landing at Da Nang airport when he was still young and greeted with kind gestures, the father exclaimed that Vietnam had changed too much, far from the image of the war of yesteryear.

Like many other American veterans, he felt the warmth and hospitality of Vietnamese people. In one generation, from war memories to peaceful returns, that family - as well as the two countries - has gone a long journey, from confrontation to dialogue, from enemy to friend, from distance to partner.

In the Ambassador's professional memory, the meeting with General Vo Nguyen Giap in 2004 was a deep milestone. The General - a living witness of history - told about the reconciliation journey, about the courage needed to choose the path of normalizing relations in a context of many doubts. Like US figures such as Senator John Kerry or late Senator John McCain, those people have contributed to bringing Vietnam-US relations beyond initial doubts to come to this day.

That journey, according to the Ambassador, is not yet over. There is still much to be done ahead. But he believes that the future of Vietnam-US relations is in the hands of young people of the two countries - those who share aspirations, share the spirit of innovation and are ready to continue building bridges to jointly build a better world.