20 years of Vietnam - US relations: Short journey with great strides

During the past 20 years, the two countries have strived to reconcile differences and move forward. Let's review the past 20 years of Vietnam - US cooperation in the following report.

Former diplomats from Vietnam and the US held a meeting at the beginning of 2015. Over the past 20 years,Vietnam - US relations have transformed from hostility into cooperation. Many people have affirmed that "nothing is impossible" in Vietnam - US relations, despite differences between the two sides. 

Until now, Vietnam has become the biggest exporter to the United States in the Southeast Asian region. The US also ranks as the 7th largest investor in Vietnam. The trade turnover between Vietnam and the US hit 130 billion USD. The cooperation of the two countries in trade, humanity and solving post-war issues has produced many practical benefits and eased the enmity of both sides.

In September 2011, Vietnam and the US signed a Memorandum of Understanding on bilateral defense cooperation to promote mutual trust.

In July 2013, Vietnam State President Truong Tan Sang and US President Barack Obama announced  the establishment of a new Comprehensive Partnership between the two countries.

Currently, there are about 17,000 Vietnamese students studying in the US, the largest community of all Southeast Asian students pursuing degrees at US institutions. This is a significant contribution to the future of Vietnam - US relations.