Vietnam-U.S. Relations: An Unparalleled History

This article critically assesses how Vietnam-U.S. relations have evolved over the 42 years since Vietnam's reunification in 1975. By dividing the development of Vietnam-U.S. relations into three main phases-1975-2000, 2001-2008, and 2009-the present-it analyzes the steps taken by both Hanoi and Washington to heal and build their relations. Using Vietnamese and U.S. sources, the article demonstrates why Vietnam-U.S. relations have transformed dramatically and what factors have contributed to the unusually positive relationship between Vietnam and the United States since the diplomatic normalization in 1995.