What's behind Washington's latest courtship of Vietnam? | Inside Story 

Much love to Vietnam 🇻🇳 from the USA🇺🇲. The 21st century will be brighter for both nations if we continue to build on the already established bond.

Vietnam is incredibly pragmatic, trying to manage economic progress and also geo political challenges. Vietnamese are incredibly smart, resilient, pragmatic and plan ahead. The reality is China borders Vietnam so they need a careful balancing act to ensure economic growth whilst gaining allies in case China decides to invade. Lets not forget the last time China tired to invade Vietnam was in 1979 and that historically China invaded Vietnam many times.

Why Vietnam has a friendly attitude, Americans are always more welcoming than China, even though war wounds are still present in many places in Vietnam. Vietnam and China have clashed throughout thousands of years of history, through many dynasties, China has always sought to annex and colonize Vietnam many times, Vietnam understands too well the intentions and nature of China. The relationship between the two only really improved in the middle years of the twentieth century, when both had the influence of the Soviet Union and both followed the socialist regime. Unexpectedly, after a resounding victory over France, Vietnam was shaken by China with France, forcing them to sign the Geneva treaty that divided the country into two North and South regions. Next was Vietnam's war to reunify the country, and once again China quietly shook hands with the US in the early 1970s, when the war was hotter than ever, while Vietnam was focusing all of its efforts on reunification. In 1974, China quietly sent troops to occupy many islands in the Spratly and Paracel archipelagos of Vietnam. China is also a supporter behind Polpot, pulling the strings of Polpot to massacre civilians along the southwestern border of Vietnam, under the call and support of the Cambodian free government now. Vietnam waged an all-out war against Polpot, which led to China rushing to launch a border war in 1979 to split Vietnamese forces but was quickly defeated. After the war, Vietnam did its best to overcome the consequences of the war and build the country, they proposed a less tense relationship with China, but China always has silent acts of economic destruction and environment in Vietnam. As many Chinese traders flooded into Vietnam, using many deceptive tricks to destroy the ecosystem and agriculture, forcing Vietnam to strictly manage the border and spread knowledge so that people do not fall into the trap. After that, China blatantly defied international law, set up its own bull's-dash line, even brought the HD981 rig into Vietnam's territorial waters in 2014. And now the East Sea is still a hot area of territorial disputes in the region. At this point, everyone can understand why Vietnam is more welcoming to the US than China, simply because Americans cooperate with Vietnam with respect for each other's interests. Vietnamese people always give respect and friendliness to those who respect them. Completely different from China, when it has to be always tense to watch out for the plots behind, and never know when it will be sold out and stabbed in the back by China, this has been shown too clearly throughout history.

I am already friends with 🇻🇳. I really love 🇻🇳. 🇺🇸 ❤ 🇻🇳.

USA 🇺🇲 still haven't apologized to Vietnam 🇻🇳 for their War Crimes. There are still newborns with horrific deformities. Children born without eyes, ears, limbs, anuses. etc.. Crimes against humanity is what 🇺🇲 did to these 🇻🇳 people. Heartbreaking 💔🥺

WTF is with the AUDACITY of the US to criticize ˋHuman Rights Violationsˋ in Vietnam ?!? The USA ?

The reason that there was no US's flag at the meeting of Viet Nam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and US's Secretary of State Anthony Blinkens was that Blinkens was invited to visit Viet Nam by Viet Nam's Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son. Internationally diplomatic speaking, the high-ranked officer of a country usually invites the same high-ranked office of another country to formally visit his country and he himself will be the country's host to greet, hold formal meeting, and sign some specific agreements (if any) with the guest of the other country who has the same rank with him. That was why when Anthony Blinkens came to visit unofficially the Viet Nam's Prime Minister, there was no US's flag at this informal meeting.

Please keep in mind: There wouldn´t be NORTH or SOUTH Vietnam! The superpowers US-CN-USSR-FR used their power and divided Vietnam into 2 countries, they just refused an independent VIETNAM!

remember this: the U.S. supported France who wanted to continue their subjugation of Vietnam, who were fighting for their independence. champions of Democracy, indeed

I never heard the US said about Vietnam Communist Party, the way it does to Chinese Communist Party....

Its so weird when they put caucasion people to discuss Asian issues...some of them have only visited the country or have stayed there but never lived there and do not understand the mindset.

there're a lot of Vietnamese who live in the US. that has helped shaping the positive public opinion in VN (especially, in the south) toward the US.

He loves his life who gains wisdom, and he who observes prudence finds happiness.

so Vietnam is socialism and it is their people's chosen,but China is also socialist but it is not Chinese people's chosen

Would it be too much to ask to get someone who lives in Vietnam to give their perspective? How would Qataris feel if every time CNN covered a story involving Qatar they interviewed a white guy living in Egypt and a white lady from Canada?

We are vietnamese and practise Buddhism, we love all countries, no hate, only wisdom and compassion 1. We love the world and trying to make it peafully living. 2. Wisdom and compassion can create the world beautiful

It’s quite simple. As long as China insists on claiming the entire South China Sea as its own pond and getting more aggressive in enforcing its claim, Vietnam has no choice but to get closer to the US. The US already has 9 bases in the Philippines. With a few more more bases in Vietnam, it can completely bottle any Chinese fleet from sailing out of China.

In my experience of living in Vietnam, most Vietnamese have a deep mistrust of China.

Asia's rising star is Vietnam

For greater purpose former adversaries can become best of friends...

U.S citizen here married to a Vietnamese woman. I go there 8 times a year for 2 now, I have stayed there at one visit for 5 months. Not one time have I been scrutinized for being American. I have been greeted with open arms daily. They even sell American flag shirts and hats there that s lot of them love wearing

I actually feel for Anthony Blinken…he’s logging more flight hours than most astronauts….

I'm an American ex-pat who has lived and worked in Vietnam for the past 4 years. If there are human rights violations going on here I haven't seen or heard about it. I talk to a lot of people, including my Vietnamese family members, and no one seems to know of any human rights violations (other than the extensive human trafficking crimes committed by China). It really seems the issue of human rights violations committed by the Vietnemese government is being exagerated by western media.

i think they rejected your courtship by forgetting your flag...

apparently not, U.S say one thing and does another one.

US spending 2billion to build it's own embassy in Vietnam. China will use that same amount to build trains station or something similar.

Policy makers want Vietnam to remain neutral regardless. Vietnam have high percentage of younger generation born after the war and they look towards the west but also patriotic at the same time. China expansion in South China and East sea is a concern not just for Vietnam but the whole Asia!

Where is my country's flag?! Did the host forget it?!

Fun fact : Every country US officials visited, from Africa to Asia, Mid East to Europe, they always talked against China. It's like US has no other topic out of China.

My Lai massacre, Agent Orange, unpaid War Compensation (3-5 billions), tons of unexploded bombs still underground, 20-year war then 20-year sanctions, intension to use nukes during the Vietnamwar (the only reason they didn't proceed was because of possible reaction from China/Russia, not because of Vietnamese lives), Vietnamization of the war (aka. use Vietnamese to eliminate Vietnamese, thus, dividing the people even further). Just to name a few... (from the perspective of Vietnamese people)

I am sure Vietnam will make the right decision

The Vietnamese are doing astonishingly well in its relationship with the US. As investors leave difficult China for Vietnam, the Vietnamese-US relationship becomes increasingly important. I am happy for the Vietnamese as so many suffered through wars. The Vietnamese economy is set to grow at 7.5% for 2023. That's better than all of the Western economies. Maybe, Allah is watching out for the Vietnamese and helping them stabilize and grow. After all, almost no Vietnamese died during the Covid pandemic while people in China and the US were dropping like flies.

They are an counter to china's influence.they are an good country to have on your side they are amazing people.

US and its citizen feign ignorance about vietnam also one party communist country , or all anti communist just a ruse?

China should build a big embassy in Venezuela. And make sure Gulf of Mexico is open. 😊

Shows how desperate America has become!!

so obvious.

The US is so desperate that it tried to turn to its victim for help,but the Vietnam War horrible memory is still very fresh in the Vietnamese people mind.

No USA flag, still laugh and happy...

🇻🇳🇻🇳 Very few can understand the true significance of PEACE and FREEDOM as deeply as the Vietnamese people do. Throughout history, they have fought for their FREEDOM against the Chinese for over a thousand years, and against the French and Americans for more than a hundred years. However, while these battles are now part of the past, the Vietnamese still strive to maintain PEACE and FREEDOM for their citizens. Balancing relations between the United States and China is no simple task, but the Vietnamese are confident in their ability to do so, particularly given the CCP's negative intentions regarding expansion and conquest.🇻🇳🇺🇸

US always talking about rules of laws, democracy and freedom. Sounds beautiful, but who can come out dealing with the US and not become a handicap?

I honestly believe that unlike China who always sees the US as an enemy, VN will change the more the US presence/engagement. It's been changing quite a bit compared to when I was growing up there. Look. Human rights issues will be there for a long time, as they did in Taiwan, South Korea, ... They still do in many ASEAN countries (Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, all allies). But all must agree that they have been far different from what they used to be. In terms of freedom, the Vietnamese can boast with the Chinese. They don't have that firewall, and they don't follow you every minute of the day (unless you've done something against them). You can never change China as long as the CCP holds power.

Vietnam just needs look to Ukraine and decide if it wants the same fate. The US is the kiss of death

frankly speaking ,Vietnam has better relationship with Russia,Right now Russia has the war with Ukraine ,EU and US has been containing Russia by NATO.Vietnam military system is mainly from Russia,Russia is standing with China now ,Vietnam could not choose this time to cooperate with US to contain China.Frankly a lot of orders has moved to Vietnam and Indonesia but I must tell you one truth ,Vietnam also buy a lot of machines to produce what US is needing!Frankly it is not a bad thing to China,we must experience this transformation sooner or later!

So much criticism for Vietnam, if you were to walk around in a city it might remind you of 70's Japan, not necessarily a repressive country. Not black and white, lots of gray, lots of choices for Vietnam, China and the US to make that will decide the future.

If Vietnam slip up its neutrality position with the U.S. it would lose its natural security barrier with the country of Laos and Cambodia where China is positioning itself very strong and solid. Vietnam's action and decision is very critical at a micro-level and it will only take one tiny slip-up that will alter Vietnam's relationship with its immediate neighbors.

All countries put in submission by west are doing their bidding, germany, Japan, vietnam, india, philipenes.

Courting for war

About the Communist Party's Human Rights Records from the so-called "international organizations", if these organizations really care about global human rights, why don't we see them talk about US's recent gun violence??

How come Mr. D. Kurt's voices are kinda mumbled, not very loud and clear as Mr. Blinking .. It sounded like he was kinda hesitant to tell the truth, or perhaps someone pointed a 🔫 at him behind the scene's?😆😄?

No Vietnamese commentators? Are they not able to speak for themselves ?

I thought America will always hate communist countries 😂😂😂

Vietnam won’t fall for the trap.

The fact that 5 billion dollar of war reparation that US promise never come to Viet Nam. that alone make Viet Nam economy slowdown by decades.

What USA can offer to Asia or to the world nowadays? Drag shows for kids?

Couldn't Al Jazeera find anyone from Vietnam to speak about Vietnam perspectives, instead of this clearly pro western minds...??? Besides this foreign opinions on Vietnam ain't a bigger story than China announcing it's ready to broker a Israel-Palestine peace talks...

Russia is weak and attacking a smaller country. I think deep down the Vietnamese understands they are in a similar situation being next to China. America is far away yet can offer Vietnam in this moment in history protections against the dragon next door that wants to steal it's ocean waters. America makes the most sense to partner with. Vietnam has great relations with japan Korea and Taiwan all 3 of which have help tremendously vn in terms of fdi. Those 3 countries are close allies to America. It just makes sense for Vietnam to build closer ties to America. Plus America has the largest Vietnamese diaspora of any foreign country.

🙏☮💛

No permanent ally only interest!!🇺🇸

Where is the US flag?

Oh, the Quad does not include the UK

The petrol companies of the US like the gas and oil in south China sea very much.

Russia's government since 2002 has been generously forgiving multi-billion dollar debts of Viet Nam, North Korea, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, Algeria, Afghanistan, Lybia, Cuba, Iraq, Venezuela, and many African countries. Same thing happened with China's government, too.

everytime US talks about human rights it sounds very comedic😂😂😢

Vietnamese citizens did not know how to read "My Lai Massacre" i guess😢

vietnam and philippines are in a very good relationship even though they have overlapping eez on scs south korea and japan mend their diffrerences to counter north korea on east asia vietnam and phil. should emulate this cooperation too to counter chinas hegemony in south east asian region

U.S is hoping they will get backstab

U always talking about human rights. Is that a only Ace card u have 😅??

All these talks about human rights and freedom of speech, while neglecting what America has done to Iraq, Syria, Libya, and the persecution of Julian Assange, Ed Snowden, Chelsea Manning, and Reality Winner.

🎉🎉🎉

Notice the economic growth in Vietnam has been successful with democracy, as is the case in UAE, S Arabia, Qatar, Morocco, Oman etc. Democracy cannot work in a very poor countries that has no middle class.

LOL US must be calling Vietnam a like minded democracy.

if america threatens vietnam with sanction if they do not join the war, what will vietnam do?

Work with communists to fight communists for democracy.👏

Lol missing US flag hahhaa

Cảm ơn bạn đã Quan tâm tới thông tin Việt Nam chúng tôi 🇻🇳❤️ ❤ đến từ Việt Nam 🇻🇳 Bạn biết đấy, ở bất kỳ một quốc gia nào cũng sẽ có việc tốt, việc xấu và theo từng giai đoạn của lịch sử nên rất khó để so sánh và đánh giá . Tuy nhiên, Người Việt Nam chúng tôi ngày hôm nay rất mong muốn được làm bạn với tất cả các quốc gia trên toàn thế giới, những gì đã xảy ra đó là một phần của lịch sử phải không nào? Chúng ta không quên lịch sử và cũng không thể thay đổi những gì đã diễn ra nhưng chúng ta có thể hướng tới những điều tốt đẹp hơn. Về vấn đề chủ quyền - độc lập - tự do: Việt Nam chúng tôi không phụ thuộc vào ai cả, chúng tôi chỉ tin tưởng chính mình và tự chúng tôi sẽ chiến đấu tới thắng lợi cuối cùng nếu có bất kỳ quốc gia nào xâm phạm. Chúng tôi cũng không chống lại và không tham gia liên minh chống lại quốc gia khác. Ngày nay, chúng tôi tích cực hội nhập quốc tế, tham gia hàng loạt các hiệp định tự do thương mại với các quốc gia và vùng lãnh thổ trên thế giới. Việt Nam có mối quan hệ ngoại giao ở mức cao nhất ( Quan hệ đối tác chiến lược toàn diện ) với 6 quốc gia: Nga 🇷🇺, Ấn Độ 🇮🇳, Trung Quốc 🇨🇳, Hàn Quốc 🇰🇷, Hoa Kỳ 🇺🇸, Nhật Bản 🇯🇵 Ở Việt Nam, gần như tất cả mọi người dân từ thành thị tới nông thôn đều được tự do tiếp cận và sử dụng Internet và các mạng xã hội và công cụ tìm kiếm để tìm hiểu và kết nối với thế giới như: Facebook, Instargaram, X (Twitter), Tiktok, …, Google, RU-vid với chị phí rất thấp và chỉ cần các bạn tôn trọng luật pháp Việt Nam và lịch sử của Việt Nam thì các bạn muốn làm gì cũng được. Ở quốc gia nào cũng như vậy đúng không nào? Hãy thử hỏi nếu như tôi đến nước bạn và vi phạm luật pháp các bạn hoặc có hành vi phỉ báng lịch sử nước bạn thì các bạn có bắt giữ và xử phạt tôi không? Đương nhiên rồi đúng không ạ? 😊❤

Vietnam are very conscious of dealing with the Chinese can result in losing their money, a lot of money, but dealing with the US can result in losing their lives. Vietnam is trying to balance two very unstable and unreliable countries but neither China nor the US should get their hope up that Vietnam will fall for their bullshit promises. I lived and worked in VN for 10 years and grow to love the country and its people and its history. I want Vietnam to maintain its well deserved and hard fought independence. I also remember a very good statement from a Vietnamese official when it was opening up the country and receiving different foreign delegations on political and economic conferences - "Just because we Vietnamese like to hear your ideas doesn't mean we like being lectured to".

Speaking of human rights, the United States is not in a position to talk to Vietnam

No American flag meeting

Any attack on journalist now always a human rights. 🤦🏻‍♂️

Vietnamese Communist Party Chairman visited China in Feb and that was sincere. Blinkman think he has made the right communication but from the Viet, it is just card they play in the US China game. Vietnam is still communist and there is breakthrough as what the Blinkman thought so .....

The US is using Vietnam to fight China. Vietnam is too smart to fall for this game from the US. 😂

The warming relationship between the US and Vietnam is a good example of how wasteful and meaningless wars are. Millions of Vietnamese and thousands of American soldiers died in this 20 years war premised on the US Foreign Policy Doctrine of Domino Theory and the fight against the spread of Communism. Paradoxically, Vietnam is still a Communist country today. I have to give credit to Secretary Blinken for working so hard travelling around the world to win support against China. So far I don't see much success in the US effort. Not because all those countries are against the US. It is more likely because it is the wrong strategy and lack of diplomatic skill. Everywhere American and European leaders go, they carry a big stick and lectures others about human rights and how they should behave...This strategy will only work if the US is the sole super-power and there is no alternative? Today with the resurrection of Russia and rising China, there is now an alternative? No doubt Vietnam has some issues with China but its close ally is not China but Russia. During the Vietnam war, without Russian military support, there was no way it could had won and re-united South Vietnam. Just like the Indian, the Vietnamese are grateful to Russia and it is extremely difficult for the US to win it over against China and Russia....

This is all about US want to use Vietnam like the way they use Ukraine. Looking at Ukraine now, what would you do?

Guy in Seoul living in the slums?

Why no American Flag on it??

Yankee, Go Home!

Dear Vietnam friend, Why you let this Evil in to your country.

It won't work

bye bye "made in china"

"I'm glad that Vietnam and the US are good friends despite the horrible memories of the past. However, the US doesn't need to talk about human rights in Vietnam. It's not the right topic because Vietnamese people are free without the need for US human rights.

Asean countries must unite against china aggression

To surround the PLA in WPS

Vietnam kicked out all Chinese's businesses and the US has a war protection agreement with Vietnam.

Russia and China 🇷🇺 🇨🇳 are the two most generous, kind, philanthropic countries of the world in terms of debt forgiveness. ❤ 🇷🇺 ❤ 🇨🇳 ❤

3:03

Hope that Mr. D.. K.. would correct his pronunciations for more accurately for those English is their 2nd languages as of myself..I swear I kept hearings Mr. D...saying about Viagra..🫨.. What does magic 💊 had to do with Mr. Blinking "HAD TO COMINGS" to Vietnam 🇻🇳 in kinda "desperately & urgency moods"?🤔?

With Phillipines, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and eventually Vietnam in US fold, US believe it had surrounding China. Very short sighted policy, eventually will backfired. There is minimum anti-US sentiment because of lack of anti-US propaganda, but stronger anti-China sentiment especially in north Vietnam due to historical reasons and SEA.

China is a strategic partner of Vietnam, while the US is not and probably never. Our problem with China is much different from the relationship between Ukraine and Russia. While Ukraine wants to confirm their separate identity and tries to stay away from Russian cultural sphere to join more deeply into Western European one, absolute majority of Vietnamese love Chinese culture (even the anti-China media are using more Sino-Vietnamese words compared to 10 - 20 years ago, not less) as well as want to connect more deeply into Chinese supply chain, while maintaining our independence.

I think Vietnam is are Allie against china the Vietnam people are amazing I'm glad we have good relationship with them.