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The US and Vietnam: Reflecting on Progress and Planning for the Future

Forty-seven years ago, when I first assumed my role as a United States Senator, marked the conclusion of a devastating war that caused immense grief and hardship for the people of both our nations.

Administrator

1 May, 2023

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I clearly recall the day I cast my vote to end the United States war in Vietnam as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Despite the unpopularity of this decision in my home state of Vermont, I knew it was the right thing to do. In fact, Vermont’s largest newspaper even predicted that my political career would be over once I cast my vote, stating that I would only serve one term.

Nevertheless, I stood firm in my conviction and voted to end the war. Despite the immense pressure, I was determined to make the best decision for the people of my state and the nation as a whole.

History turned out differently, and of the more than 17,000 votes I have cast during my eight terms in the Senate, the one I am proudest of is the vote I cast in 1975.

As I have said at other times, we cannot change history, but we can choose a different future – for ourselves, our children, and our grandchildren. Today, two former enemies take pride in more than 33 years of reconciliation, normalization, and a comprehensive partnership. Next year marks the 10th anniversary of that partnership, signed in 2013 by President Obama and President Truong Tan Sang. To commemorate this milestone, we can further enhance our partnership by elevating it to a strategic one.

How did we arrive at this juncture, after a conflict that was so devastating for both our nations?

It didn’t simply occur without any outside help. It was American veterans of that war, such as John McCain, John Kerry, and Bobby Muller, who spearheaded the movement for reconciliation and normalization.

It was the Vietnamese people who, looking to the future, refused to be held back by the past.

The haunting memories of war linger even half a century after its tragic conclusion. Every morning, when I take my drive to the U.S. Capitol Building, I am reminded of this as I pass by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The solemn reminder of the devastating consequences of war serves as a stark reminder of the devastation that can be caused in the name of conflict.

In Vietnam, my three visits have reminded me of the immense suffering the people there endured during the war. Every family was affected by the conflict, and many still feel the pain of losing a loved one – just like American families.

Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh (left), Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of National Defense, presents a box of treated dioxin-contaminated soil at Da Nang International Airport to U.S. Senate President Pro Tempore Patrick Leahy.

The shooting may stop when wars end, but the painful legacies and memories linger long after. Even when the guns fall silent, the emotional and psychological scars of conflict remain with those affected, often for generations. War leaves an indelible mark on the landscape, the people, and the very fabric of society.

For more than 33 years, I and others in the United States and Vietnam have strived to overcome some of the most devastating legacies of the war, such as locating and identifying the remains of the missing – both Americans and Vietnamese – decontaminating areas contaminated with dioxin and unexploded landmines and bombs, and providing assistance to those with disabilities.

By doing so, we have successfully established a partnership between our countries, transcending any differences that we may have had. This partnership has extended to a variety of other areas such as higher education, public health, climate change, and regional security. Consequently, our countries have come together to tackle these issues jointly, demonstrating a unified front.

The two nations have gone from a history of hostility to a deep partnership, with the U.S. providing assistance to Vietnam in areas such as trade, education, health, and energy. This partnership has been a major factor in Vietnam’s remarkable economic and social progress.

When reflecting on the current state of affairs between the United States and Vietnam, it is truly remarkable to note the progress that has been made over the past 27 years. In 1993, President Clinton announced the normalization of relations between the two nations, and since then, their relationship has gone from one of hostility to a strong and productive partnership. The U.S. has provided assistance to Vietnam in a number of areas, including trade, education, health, and energy, and this partnership has been a major contributor to Vietnam’s impressive economic and social development.

We would never have achieved our current success without the Government of Vietnam’s cooperation over the past four decades in helping to locate the remains of American missing in action (MIA). The importance of this cooperation is immeasurable.

I am delighted that we are beginning this new venture between the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and Vietnam’s Ministry of National Defense. This endeavor is especially meaningful for the families of the missing, as we are working together to attempt to recover the remains of hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese citizens. As we collaborate on addressing the legacies of the war, this effort may be the most meaningful of all.

We will continue to support the numerous disabled Vietnamese individuals affected by unexploded ordnance, a mission that began 33 years ago with the Leahy War Victims Fund providing prostheses and wheelchairs.

We will continue to aid persons with severe cognitive and physical disabilities in Vietnam, as well as remediate sites contaminated with dioxin from Agent Orange. The Bien Hoa Air Base remediation project is of an unprecedented scale and complexity, and is a testament to the trust between both governments in our collaborative efforts.

In a time of great uncertainty in the world, we are fortunate to have worked together on war legacy issues for so many years. Although we have often found ourselves on opposite sides of the debate, with profound differences between us surrounding the rights and liberties of citizens, it is our collaborative efforts that have enabled Vietnam to become one of our closest partners in East Asia today.

The next generation of leaders in Vietnam and the United States are too young to remember the war, making the next 27 years a critical time for their growth and development. As these individuals rise to positions of power, they must look to expand upon the initiatives that have already been set in motion, such as the promotion of higher education, the development of clean energy sources, the anticipation of potential pandemics, and the maintenance of regional peace. By doing so, they can create a more prosperous and secure future for both countries.

I have a lot of hope for Vietnam. I have had the opportunity to meet some of the country’s next generation in Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City, and I am always impressed by their intelligence, enthusiasm, curiosity, and determination to find success in today’s technologically interconnected world. What’s more, these young people are proud to be Vietnamese and are eager for their country to take an active, positive role in East Asia and across the globe.

In two months’ time, my tenure as a United States Senator will draw to a close. My wife Marcelle and I will then be returning to our home in Vermont. However, there are still those in Congress who will be continuing the work that we have done to bring our two countries closer together, and who will strive to face the challenges that lie ahead.

For me, building a partnership with Vietnam that is founded on trust, friendship, and cooperation has been one of the most fulfilling endeavors I have undertaken as a U.S. Senator. It has given a new significance to the vote I cast 47 years ago to end the war.

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Forty-seven years ago, the year I first took the oath of office as a United States Senator marked the end of a conflict that caused immense loss and suffering for the people of both our countries.

I clearly recall the day I cast my vote to end the war in Vietnam. As the youngest member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I was well aware that this decision was not popular in my home state of Vermont. In fact, the state’s largest newspaper predicted that my career in politics was doomed and that I would serve only one term. Despite this, I felt that I had to cast my vote in accordance with my moral convictions.

History turned out differently, and of the more than 17,000 votes I have cast during eight terms in the Senate, that vote in 1975 remains one that I am proudest of.

As I have stated before, we cannot alter the past, but we can opt for a different future – for ourselves, our children, and our grandchildren. Nowadays, two previous adversaries can take pride in over 33 years of rapprochement, normalization, and an all-encompassing partnership. Next year marks the 10th anniversary of this partnership, signed in 2013 by President Obama and President Truong Tan Sang, and what better way to honor this anniversary than by elevating our partnership to a strategic level?

How did we arrive at this point, after a war that caused so much destruction and heartache for both our countries?

It didn’t just happen on its own. It was the American veterans of that war—John McCain, John Kerry, Bobby Muller, and many others—who spearheaded the campaign for reconciliation and normalization.

It was the Vietnamese people who sought to look to the future, refusing to be hindered by the past.

The lingering effects of war are still felt across the United States, even half a century after the Vietnam War. Every day, as I drive to the U.S. Capitol Building, I am reminded of the tragedy that occurred by passing the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Its solemn black wall and 58,000 names etched in stone serve as a somber reminder of the human cost of war.

In Vietnam—a place I have visited three times—I am constantly reminded of the immense suffering endured by its people. Every family has been affected, and many continue to grieve the loss of their loved ones, just like American families.

That is what happens in wars. The shooting stops, but the painful legacies and lingering memories are left in its wake. Even after the conflict is over, the effects of war can remain for years, even decades, to come.

For more than 33 years, I and many others in the United States and Vietnam have strived to overcome some of the most detrimental legacies of the war, such as locating and identifying the remains of the missing – Americans and Vietnamese alike – eliminating areas contaminated with dioxin and unexploded landmines and bombs, and aiding individuals with disabilities.

By doing so, we have bridged our countries together, despite our differences, and constructed a bond that encompasses many other areas of collaboration, such as higher education, public health, climate change, and regional security.

In 1995, the two countries established diplomatic relations, and in 2016, they celebrated the 20th anniversary of their normalized ties. United States-Vietnam relations have grown significantly since then, with both countries now sharing strong economic and security ties. The United States is now one of Vietnam’s largest trading partners, with the total bilateral trade between the two countries reaching $62 billion in 2020. Additionally, the United States provides Vietnam with assistance in the areas of health, education, and environment protection. The two countries are also working together to promote regional security and stability, as well as to address shared challenges such as climate change and human trafficking.

When you consider what relations between the United States and Vietnam are like today, 27 years after President Clinton announced the normalization of relations, it is truly remarkable. In 1995, the two countries established diplomatic relations, and in 2016, they celebrated the 20th anniversary of their normalized ties. Since then, United States-Vietnam relations have grown significantly, with both countries now sharing strong economic and security ties. The United States is now one of Vietnam’s largest trading partners, with the total bilateral trade between the two countries reaching a staggering $62 billion in 2020.

Furthermore, the United States provides Vietnam with assistance in the areas of health, education, and environment protection. The two countries are also collaborating to promote regional security and stability, as well as to tackle shared challenges such as climate change and human trafficking. As the partnership between the United States and Vietnam continues to strengthen, both nations can look forward to a bright and prosperous future.

We would never have achieved the successes of today without the Government of Vietnam’s willingness to help locate the remains of American missing in action (MIA) over the past four decades. The importance of this cooperation is immeasurable.

I am delighted to announce that we are commencing a new partnership between the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and Vietnam’s Ministry of National Defense. This partnership aims to help Vietnam in its effort to recover the remains of its hundreds of thousands of missing citizens. This collaboration between our governments is undoubtedly one of the most meaningful initiatives we have undertaken to address the long-lasting legacies of the war, especially for the families of the missing.

We will continue to help the thousands of disabled Vietnamese victims of unexploded ordnance, which started with the Leahy War Victims Fund 33 years ago, supplying artificial limbs and wheelchairs.

We will continue to help individuals with severe cognitive and physical disabilities in Vietnam, while also cleaning up sites contaminated by dioxin from Agent Orange. The Bien Hoa Air Base remediation project is unprecedented in its scale and complexity, and its successful completion is a testament to the trust and confidence that both governments have in our joint abilities.

In a time of great uncertainty across the globe, we are fortunate to have worked together on war legacy issues for all these years. Despite the deep-seated differences we have regarding the rights and liberties of citizens, our collaborative efforts have enabled Vietnam to become one of our most reliable partners in East Asia today.

The next generation of leaders in Vietnam and the United States are too young to remember the war, but the effects of its legacy still linger. As we look to the future, what will the next 27 years bring? Will these young leaders continue and expand upon the progress we have made, not just in terms of war legacies, but in addressing the growing need for higher education, clean energy, and regional peace? Can they also prepare for future pandemics and other global threats? It is up to them to shape the future of both countries, and the world.

I have a lot of hope for Vietnam, because I have met some of the next generation, in Hanoi, in Da Nang, and in Ho Chi Minh City. They are as intelligent, enthusiastic, curious, and determined to succeed in today’s technologically interconnected world as young people anywhere. They are proud to be Vietnamese, and they want their country to play an active and positive role in East Asia and the world.

In two months, my tenure as a United States Senator will draw to a close. Marcelle and I will be returning to our beloved home in Vermont. However, the rest of Congress will continue to strive to build upon our efforts to bridge the gaps between our two countries and face the many challenges that remain.

For me, working to build a strong partnership between the United States and Vietnam, rooted in trust, friendship, and cooperation, has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my time as a U.S. Senator. It has given new purpose to my vote, cast 47 years ago, to end the Vietnam War.

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