Evolution of U.S.-Vietnam Relations

Key Chapter Title List

1. Vietnam and the United States: The Path Ahead
2. Comprehensive Strategic Partnership: 30 Years of U.S.-Vietnam Relations
3. Peace, Cooperation, and Global Progress: 30 Years of Vietnam-U.S. Diplomacy
4. The Final Steps of Normalization: Reflections from the U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam, 2001-2004
5. Toward a More "Geopolitically Driven" Relationship: Reflections from the U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam, 2011-2014
6. The Tet Offensive: Six Hours That Changed America
7. Through the Visa Window: The Leavers, The Left Behind, and Those Who Stayed
8. Nut Diplomacy: From the Golden State to the Land of the Blue Dragon
9. Service Disruption: The Impact of USAID's Dissolution
10. A Concise Explanation of RIF
11. Finding Family in the "American Spirit"
12. Diplomats Remember Jimmy Carter

Document Introduction

This report, centered on the April-May 2025 special issue of the Foreign Service Journal, systematically organizes and deeply analyzes the evolution of U.S.-Vietnam relations since the end of the war in 1975, particularly around the 30th anniversary of normalization in 1995. The report not only focuses on the official narrative of bilateral relations but also, through the personal experiences and reflections of former U.S. Ambassadors to Vietnam, Vietnamese Ambassadors to the U.S., and frontline diplomatic and consular officers, reveals the diplomatic practices, strategic calculations, and human interactions involved in rebuilding this complex relationship.

The report begins with a presidential perspective and thematic focus, establishing the tone of discussion: the evolution of U.S.-Vietnam relations from the ashes of war to a comprehensive strategic partnership is seen as a "model of diplomatic success," driven by both sides' commitment to reconciliation, trust-building, and the pursuit of common interests. Retrospective articles by several ambassadors form the backbone of the report, clearly illustrating the phased characteristics of the relationship's development: from Ambassador Raymond Burghardt's period, which completed the normalization process and laid the foundation for strategic relations, to Ambassador David Shear's efforts to steer the relationship toward a "geopolitically driven" transformation to balance regional power, and finally to the emphasis by current Ambassador Marc Knapper on comprehensive and deepened cooperation in security, economy, technology, and other fields, particularly highlighted by the landmark elevation to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2023.

The report places high importance on the "human dimension." Through the lens of consular visa officers, it examines waves of immigration, the war legacy of the "Amerasian" issue, and the stories of local staff, revealing the intertwining of historical scars and personal destinies. Agricultural diplomats, through cases like "Nut Diplomacy" and "Citrus Diplomacy," demonstrate in concrete detail how economic cooperation consolidates bilateral relations. Simultaneously, the report does not shy away from current severe challenges, dedicating significant space to documenting the immense impact and career disruption caused to USAID employees by its dissolution, as well as the widespread anxiety triggered by the potential federal government implementation of "RIF" (Reduction in Force). This provides an urgent context for considering the sustainability of a professional diplomatic corps.

Furthermore, the report, through diplomats' recollections of President Jimmy Carter, indirectly corroborates the role of human rights and humanitarianism in the early repair of U.S.-Vietnam relations. Finally, the AFSA news section within the report showcases the professional advocacy and struggle undertaken by the American Foreign Service Association during a period of policy turbulence to protect the rights of diplomatic personnel, secure educational benefits, and provide legal guidance.

Overall, this report is a composite research achievement integrating historical depth, policy analysis, personal narratives, and institutional perspectives. It is not only a summary of the past three decades of U.S.-Vietnam relations but also, at a time when U.S. diplomatic institutions face internal reorganization and intensified external strategic competition, a profound examination and defense of the value of professional diplomacy. It holds significant reference value for scholars and practitioners studying Indo-Pacific geopolitics, post-war reconciliation mechanisms, the evolution of bilateral relations, and the execution of U.S. foreign policy.