Drafted by An T. Nguyến (University of Maine), Nov. 9, 2025

2000

February 28—Vietnam announces for the first time that it will pay compensation for soldiers (1961-1975) and their children (about 2 millions) affected by Agent Orange during the war with the United States.

March 30—The Air Force (Ranch Hand Study) has found the strongest evidence to date that exposure to Agent Orange is linked to diabetes.

April 19—South Korean veterans (of the U.S. allied forces) admit to many cases of massacre of civilians in Vietnam in 1966. South Korea sent 320,000 troops to support the U.S. in Vietnam during the period of 1965-1973 4,960 killed and 11,000 injured.

April 30—The 25th Anniversary of the Victory of Peace in Vietnam, A Celebration and Rededication, at the Stephen Wíse Free Synagogue.

July 13—The U.S. and Vietnam sign their first bilateral trade agreement (BTA)

2001

January 1—The Vietnam Education Foundation Act, creating the Vietnam Education Foundation (VEF), is implemented after it was passed by Congress on December 27, 2000. The Act authorizes $5 million annually until 2019 to fund Vietnamese students studying in the U.S., primarily in STEM fields. Over its lifespan, VEF has supported more than 600 Vietnamese graduate students and scholars, strengthening bilateral ties through education.^[1]

January 31—Prime Minister Phan Văn Khải issues a decision implementing Vietnam’s commitments under the U.S.–Vietnam BTA, preparing tariff schedules and legal changes that would take effect later in the year.

March 11—A U.S. citizen diplomacy delegation organized by PeaceTrees Vietnam travels to Quảng Trị Province to participate in tree planting ceremonies on land newly cleared of unexploded ordnance (UXO). This is one of the earliest large-scale volunteer trips combining UXO clearance, reforestation, and reconciliation. PeaceTrees Vietnam was founded in 1995 by Jerilyn Brusseau in memory of her brother who died in the Vietnam War. It is a U.S.-based nonprofit that clears unexploded ordnance in central Vietnam, supports survivors, and builds schools and community projects to promote safety, reconciliation, and healing.

June 15—Vietnam’s National Assembly ratifies the U.S.–Vietnam BTA, clearing the way for tariff reductions, market access commitments, and legal reforms aligned with international trade norms.

September 11—Vietnam’s leaders express condolences and solidarity with the U.S. after the terrorist attacks, condemning terrorism and signaling cooperation on security and law enforcement.

December 10—The U.S.–Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement enters into force after the exchange of diplomatic notes. It slashes tariffs and codified commitments on services, investment, and IP protection. The BTA triggers a surge in bilateral trade and accelerates Vietnam’s legal harmonization and labor reforms. ^[2]

December 14—U.S. and Vietnamese defense and POW/MIA teams complete a Joint Field Activity in northern and central Vietnam, conducting site surveys, interviews, and excavations. These operations maintain war-legacy cooperation, a pillar of the relationship since normalization.

2002

March 3–6—Hundreds of American and Vietnamese scientists, doctors, and policymakers gather at the first Vietnamese–U.S. scientific conference on Agent Orange in Hà Nội
to discuss the lingering health and environmental effects of dioxin contamination from the Vietnam War. This marks the first time such a joint scientific forum is held and a step toward cooperation on one of the most sensitive legacies of the conflict. It also lays the groundwork for later U.S. funding of dioxin remediation projects.

April 30—Vietnam is placed on the U.S. Special 301 Watch List. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative cites Vietnam’s weak enforcement of intellectual property rights, particularly in music piracy and trademark violations.

May 8-15—The Vietnamese religious delegation arrives in the U.S. accepting the invitation from the General Board of Church and Society òf the United Methodist Church in the U.S.  The Vietnamese delegation consists of 6 members of the Vietnam Religious Commission, 2 from the Foreign Ministry, and 1 from the State Office, Rev. Phạm Xuân Thiều, rev. Thái Phước Trường, rev. Ha Brông, Rev. Thích Hiển Pháp, Rev. Thich Tri Quang, Rev Thich Gia Quang, Rev. Dao Nhu, Rev. Dinh Chau Tran. Catholic Rev Dinh Van Sang does not have a U.S. vísa in time..

May 9—Welcome Vice President Nguyễn Thị Bình by the left at the 1199 SEIU Conference room headed by the UN Ambassador and co-chair of Vietnam Solidarity Committee, and the Vietnamese religious delegation is also present.

June 3—President George W. Bush renews Vietnam’s Jackson–Vanik waiver (originally granted by President Bill Clinton in 1998 under the Jackson–Vanik amendment of the 1974 Trade Act, which restricted trade with countries limiting emigration). This renewal allows U.S. government agencies like the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) and the Export-Import Bank to support American businesses operating in Vietnam. The waiver is a key step in encouraging U.S. investment and demonstrates the administration’s commitment to deepening economic ties despite lingering concerns over human rights.^[3]

June 28—The American Catfish Farmers Association files an anti-dumping petition in which U.S. producers accuse Vietnamese exporters of selling basa and tra fish at unfairly low prices. This marks the beginning of the so-called “catfish war,” the first major trade dispute between the two countries, and highlights the tensions that could arise as Vietnam’s low-cost exports gains market share in the U.S.

July 23—The U.S. House of Representatives rejects a resolution of disapproval of the Jackson–Vanik waiver. The vote (338 to 91) shows growing bipartisan acceptance of normalization. Just a few years earlier, such a waiver would have faced stronger opposition. The outcome reflects how economic engagement was beginning to outweigh Cold War-era skepticism.

August 8—The U.S. International Trade Commission issues a preliminary ruling on catfish imports. The ITC finds that Vietnamese catfish imports threaten material injury to U.S. producers, moving the anti-dumping case forward. This escalates the trade dispute and foreshadows a contentious battle over labeling and tariffs between the two countries.

September 19—The U.S. and Vietnam hold a human rights dialogue in Washington, D.C.
This round of talks address issues such as religious freedom, political prisoners, and press restrictions.

December 31—The first full year of the Bilateral Trade Agreement concludes. Trade statistics show Vietnamese exports to the U.S. have more than doubled, rising from $1.06 billion in 2001 to $2.39 billion in 2002. The U.S. has also become Vietnam’s largest export market for the first time.^[4] This surge underscores the transformative impact of the BTA and sets the stage for Vietnam’s eventual accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

2003

January 27—The U.S. Commerce Department issues a preliminary decision that Vietnamese exporters are dumping frozen fish fillets at margins averaging 64% below fair market value, escalating the ongoing catfish dispute.

February 1—U.S. and Vietnamese negotiators begin formal talks on a textile agreement. The U.S. proposes restricting Vietnam’s textile exports to slightly above 2002 levels.^[5]

April 22—Vietnam accepts a U.S. ultimatum on textile quotas, agreeing to base quota levels on trade through February 2003 rather than November 2002.

April 25—The U.S. and Vietnam agree on a bilateral textile agreement after nearly three weeks of negotiations. It imposes quotas on 38 categories of clothing imports and reaffirms Vietnam’s cooperation with the ILO and U.S. Labor Department.

July 15—The Vietnam Human Rights Act, aiming to restrict non-humanitarian aid to Vietnam unless Vietnam has made progress on human rights issues, is added as an amendment (Smith Amendment) to the House Foreign Relations Authorization Act (HR 1950). The authorization bill passes in the House on July 15 and is sent to the Senate.^[6] 

July 17—The Vietnam-U.S. Garment and Textile Agreement is signed in Hà Nội.^[7]

October 15—The U.S.-Vietnam science and technology cooperation agreement, signed in 2000, goes into effect, opening avenues for joint research in agriculture, health, and IT.^[8]

November 19—Navy missile frigate USS Vandegrift docks in Hồ Chí Minh City, becoming the first U.S. Navy ship to dock in Vietnam since the end of the war.

December 4—Vietnam Deputy Prime Minister Vũ Khoan visits Washington, D.C. and other U.S. cities. The U.S. and Vietnam sign a Bilateral Aviation Agreement, which has seen been amended several times. The original agreement allows direct passenger and cargo flights between the two countries, among other provisions, and is part of a larger effort to continue normalization and boost trade and tourism.

December 10—The second anniversary of the BTA’s entry into force is marked by both governments, with trade having more than doubled since 2001. Vietnamese exports to the U.S. now exceed $2.9 billion, dominated by textiles and seafood.^[9]

2004

January 30—The Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin (VAVA) and individual plaintiffs file a lawsuit (Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange, et al. v. Dow Chemical Company, Monsanto Company, et al.) in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York against Dow, Monsanto, and 35 other chemical companies. The suit argues that the use of Agent Orange constituted war crimes and crimes against humanity.

February 25—The U.S. State Department releases its annual human rights report on Vietnam, describing the record as “poor” but noting slight improvements. This sparks criticism in Hà Nội, which rejects the report as interference. The exchange highlights how human rights remain a recurring source of turbulence in otherwise improving ties.

April 2—The Congressional U.S.-Vietnam Caucus, which seeks to monitor and support normalized relations between the United States and Vietnam, is created and co-chaired by Congressmen Rob Simmons (R-CT) and Lane Evans (D-IL) co-chairs.

April 15—U.S. and Vietnamese officials hold bilateral talks on military medicine in Hà Nội. This is part of a cautious expansion of defense cooperation, focusing on non-sensitive areas like health, disaster relief, and search-and-rescue. Such exchanges lay groundwork for broader security ties while avoiding friction with China. USPACOM (now known as U.S. Indo-Pacific Command) sponsors a four-day workshop in Hà Nội designed to increase knowledge and awareness of HIV/AIDS issues within the Vietnamese military.

June 7-12—Trương Đình Tuyển, Vietnam’s Minister of Trade, meets in Washington with key U.S. government officials to discuss Vietnam’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), the U.S.-Vietnam Textile Agreement, and implementation of the U.S.-Vietnamese Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA).

June 16—Vietnam holds the 8th Working Party round of WTO accession negotiations in Geneva, Switzerland. Bilateral negotiations are held with various member countries including Australia, the EU, and the United States.

June 23—President George W. Bush announces that Vietnam will be included in the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), making it the first Asian country to receive funds. The program aims to prevent 660,000 new infections and provide care for 80,000 people, reflecting a humanitarian dimension to the relationship.

July 15—The U.S. House of Representatives passes the Vietnam Human Rights Act, condemning Hà Nội’s repression of dissidents and proposing to cap non-humanitarian aid at $40 million. Vietnam denounces the bill as “detrimental to bilateral relations.”^[10] 

July 20—Assistant Secretary of Defense Jerry Jennings visits Hà Nội for POW/MIA talks. Vietnam agrees to accelerate cooperation by granting U.S. investigators greater access to archives, resuming searches in the Central Highlands (suspended since 2001 unrest), and extending recovery operations to coastal waters.

July 21—Resolution of the National Convention of Veterans for Peace in Boston founds the Vietnam Agent Orange Relief & Responsibility fund (cf. vn-agentorange.org/vfp2004-resolution/).

September 15—The U.S. Secretary of State designates Vietnam a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act, citing severe violations of religious freedom.

October 10—The founding of the Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin (VAVA) with 16 founding Central Committee members and Madam Nguyễn Thị Bình, the Honorary President, and General Đặng Vũ Hiệp (assuming its presidency).

October 11—The Ministry of Education and Training promulgates the college social work code for all universities in Vietnam.

October 20—Vietnam’s National Assembly passes revisions to commercial and investment laws to align with WTO requirements.^[11]

November 19—The U.S. Department of Commerce revises its shrimp ruling, lowering tariffs to between 4.13% and 25.76%. While still painful for Vietnamese exporters, the adjustment eases tensions somewhat.^[12]

November 24—The U.S. Congress passes the FY2004 National Defense Authorization Act, which included language urging aggressive pursuit of MIA cases and authorized a $1 million reward for information on unresolved cases such as Navy pilot Scott Speicher.^[13]

December 4—The U.S. and Vietnam conduct a joint POW/MIA repatriation ceremony in Hà Nội, returning remains believed to be of American servicemen.

December 10—United Airlines inaugurates direct flights from San Francisco to Hồ Chí Minh City (via Hong Kong), the first U.S. commercial airline service since 1975.

2005

February 28—Vietnam Agent Orange Relief & Responsibility Campaign is launched, a non-profit national coalition, a project of Veterans For Peace, with an initial national board of 48  people consisting of veterans, Vietnamese Americans, labor activists, lawyers, scientists, clergy, artists, and other activists. The coalition works in partnership with the Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin (VAVA).

March 6—Greeting Dr. Phi Phi from VAVA after the first court hearing at the 1199 SEIU Bread & Rose Gallery.

March 10—Judge Jack B. Weinstein dismisses the case VAVA v. Dow Chemical Company, Monsanto Company, et al., ruling that the use of Agent Orange did not violate international law as it stood during the Vietnam War.

March 29—The USS Gary arrives in the port of HCMC, marking the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the United States and Vietnam.

April 16–25—Veterans for Peace (VFP) Delegation visits Hà Nội and Quảng Trị where they meet with Vietnamese veterans and NGOs.

June 19-24—Prime Minister Phan Văn Khải meets President George W. Bush in Washington, D.C. in the first visit by a Vietnamese Prime Minister in the post-war period.  During his visit, the two countries sign an Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement, as well as agreements on international adoptions, intelligence, and military cooperation. 

July 11—A U.S. volunteer group joins PeaceTrees staff and local communities in Hướng Hóa District, Quảng Trị, for a mine‑awareness education program with local schools and a tree‑planting event marking the 10th anniversary of PeaceTrees’ founding and commemorating reconciliation between Americans and Vietnamese. Hướng Hóa was one of the most heavily bombed regions during the war.

November 12 to December 12—the first Vietnam Agent Orange Justice Tour with Vietnamese victims Hố Sĩ Hải and Đặng Hồng Nhựt, accompanied by Dr. Nguyễn Trọng Nhân (former President of Vietnam Red Cross), and Vũ Bình (translator), visiting 10 U.S. cities: Boston MA, New York NY, Philadelphia PA, Washington DC, Raleigh NC, Chicago IL, Santa Fe NM, Seattle WA, Portland OR, and San Francisco CA.

November 17—President George W. Bush visits Hà Nội for the APEC Summit. Alongside official meetings, he emphasizes educational and cultural ties, meeting with Vietnamese youth and civil society representatives.

December 12—Vietnam WTO negotiators participates in a Working Party Meeting in Geneva. Bilateral discussions are simultaneously held with the United States.

2006

February 20—The U.S. and Vietnam resume bilateral talks in Hà Nội on human rights after a three-year break. 

March 28-29—The International Conference of Victims of Agent Orange convenes in Hanoi ưith the participation of South Korea, the U.S., Canada, New Zealand and Australia and social movements from France, Germany, Switzerland, Russia and Great Britain.  In the following years, all U.S. allies during the war in Vietnam compensate the veteran victims of Agent Orange.

May 31–June 2—The U.S. and Vietnam sign the bilateral agreement on Vietnam’s accession to the WTO. Accordingly, Vietnam agrees to open its markets to U.S. goods and services, including agriculture, industrial products, banking, telecommunications, and distribution services. This is a critical step toward global economic integration for Vietnam.^[14]

June 4-6—Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld visits Vietnam to discuss ways to broaden defense cooperation.

August 17—A Letter of Understanding regarding continuing labor cooperation between the U.S. Department of Labor and the Vietnamese Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs is signed in Washington D.C.^[15]

August 21 to Septemer 1—32 South Korean victims of Agent Orange bring their cases to the United Nations in New York and to the White House in Washington DC.

November 7—The World Trade Organization formally invites Vietnam to become a member.

November 17-20—U.S. President George W. Bush begins a four-day visit to Vietnam where he participates in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ meeting. Vietnam hosted APEC Leaders’ Meeting in Hà Nội for the first time.

December 8—The U.S. Congress grants Vietnam Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status.

December 20—President Bush signs Vietnam PNTR into law on December 20 (Public Law 109-432).^[16]

2007

January 11—Vietnam becomes the 150th Member of the World Trade Organization.

February—The U.S.-Vietnam Dialogue Group on Agent Orange/Dioxin is established by “prominent private citizens, scientists and policy-makers” from both countries, and coordinated by the Aspen Institute and supported by the Ford Foundation, to jointly address dioxin cleanup and support for victims of the U.S. defoliation campaign during the war in Vietnam.

March 15—The U.S.-Vietnam Bilateral Maritime Agreement is signed in Washington D.C, which goes into effect on July 15.^[17]

March 28–30—Joint U.S.–Vietnam NGO Agent Orange Conferences takes place in Hà Nội, hosted by VAVA and U.S. solidarity groups.

May 25—The 110th Congress passes the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007 (P.L. 110-28), which includes the first explicit appropriation of funds to address the consequences of Agent Orange, totaling $3 million for “for the remediation of dioxin contaminated sites in Vietnam, and to support health programs in communities near those sites.”^[18]

June 16 to 23—The Second Agent Orange Victims Justice Tour with Nguyễn Văn Quý, Nguyễn Thị Hồng, Võ Thanh Hải, Nguyễn Mười and Prof. Trần Xuân Thu, visiting 5 U.S. cities: New York NY, Washington DC, Midland WI, Chicago IL and San Francisco CA. On June 18 they attended the U.S. Court of Appeals in NYC.

September 24-29—Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng pays a five-day visit to New York to attend the 62nd Session of the UN General Assembly and to garner support for Vietnam’s bid for a UN Security Council non-permanent seat.

October 16—Vietnam is elected as non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2008-2009 term.

November 3 to 8—The Third Agent Orange Victims Justice Tour with Dr. Ngọc Phượng in Washington DC.  She spoke at the National Lawyers Guild Convention on Nov 3. On Nov 6, she spoke at the annual meeting of the American Public Health Association (APHA).  On Nov. 8, the first ever Agent Orange Policy #20075 of the APHA, passed with absolute majority, lobbied by VAORRC, VAVA and friends of Vietnam. She then vísited Congressman John Conyers, Sheila Jackson Lee and Bob Filner.

2008

January 22—The US-Vietnam Repatriation Agreement is signed in Hà Nội.^[19] The agreement creates a process to deport people to Vietnam who came to the U.S. after July 12, 1995. Under this agreement, pre-1995 Vietnamese are not subject to deportation to Vietnam. This will later be rescinded by President Trump in 2020.

January 28—The National Defense Authorization Act for FY2008 (Public Law 110-181, Section 598) directs the Secretary of Defense to conduct a program to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War.^[20] This provides the legal and financial foundation for the Pentagon’s public relations campaign. This campaign, which is designed to “honor and thank” veterans and frame the war in patriotic terms will later prompt the formation of the Vietnam Peace Commemoration Committee, an organization created by anti‑war activists to counterbalance that narrative by highlighting the war’s costs, mistakes, and the role of the peace movement.

May 15—The U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific and the Global Environment, chaired by Eni F.H. Faleomavaega (D-AS), convenes a hearing on Agent Orange in Washington, entitled “Our Forgotten Responsibility: What Can We Do to Help Victims of Agent Orange.” Jeanne Mirer (VAORRC) and Dr. Nguyến Thị Ngọc Phượng (VAVA) participate.”^[21]

June 19-28—The USNS Mercy ship docks at Khánh Hòa province to conduct a 10-day humanitarian mission. More than 150 patients, mostly children, undergo operations for birth defects aboard the hospital ship.

June 23-26—Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng officially visits the U.S. as a guest of President Bush. The visit marks a new step forward in bilateral relations.

September 29 to October 30—The Fourth Vietnam Agent Orange Justice Tour with Trần Thị Hoan and Đặng Hồng Nhật accompanied by Ms. Đinh Thị Minh Huyền (interpreter) to visit: New York City, Washington DC, Birmingham AL, Pittsburgh PA, Detroit MI, Chicago IL, Portland and Eugene OR, Los Angeles and San Francisco CA.

October 6—Vietnam and the U.S. conduct their first ever strategic dialogue addressing political, security, defense and humanitarian cooperation issues, in Hà Nội.

October 10—Following a record 762 strikes in 2008, the Vietnamese government responds with a significant wage adjustment. Decree 111/2008/ND‑CP, effective January 1, 2009, raises minimum wages by 13–15%. This decree applies to Vietnamese employees working in enterprises with foreign investment, international organizations, and foreign individuals in Vietnam.

2009

January 8—Human Rights Watch reports that the Ministry of Communication plans to ask

Google and Yahoo to regulate the content of Vietnamese blogs and websites.^[22]

January 15-16—Over 400 educators and officials attend the Higher Education in Vietnam: American-Vietnamese Partnerships Conference in Hồ Chí Minh City, organized by the U.S. Mission in Vietnam, Vietnam National University and the Ministry of Education and Training.

March 2—The U.S. Supreme Court announces it would not take the VAVA v. Dow Chemical Co. case, after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit upheld dismissal of the lawsuit in 2008. This effectively ends the legal battle in U.S. courts, though it spurs international activism and symbolic judgements such as seen in May of this year.

April 6-7—U.S. Senator John McCain visits Hà Nội and has meetings with Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng and National Assembly Chairman Nguyễn Phú Trọng.

April 15-22—The secretariat of the Vietnam-U.S. Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) Council convene in Washington to discuss bilateral cooperation in agriculture, trade, intellectual property protection and labor.yes

May 7—97-year-old legendary national hero General Võ Nguyên Giáp publicly urges the government to reconsider its recently announced bauxite mining plan. In 2007, Vietnam had approved two projects to exploit bauxite in the Central Highlands (Lâm Đồng, Dak Nong). By spring 2009, state-run Vinacomin had formed a $460 million joint venture with China’s Aluminum Corp. to mine the ore, part of a broader plan to tap what may be the world’s third-largest bauxite reserves. The initiative sparked strong domestic opposition over environmental damage, toxic waste, displacement of ethnic minorities, and fears of growing Chinese influence.

Alongside Giáp, former Vice President Nguyễn Thị Bình, scientists, academics, and religious leaders also voice concerns, intensifying pressure on Hà Nội.^[23]

May 15-18—The International People’s Tribunal of Conscience in Paris delivers a symbolic judgment, finding U.S. chemical companies guilty of crimes against humanity and ordering them to compensate victims. Though not legally binding, the ruling raises international awareness and support for Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange.

June 8—The U.S. and Vietnam hold their second Security Dialogue in Washington, focusing on peacekeeping, humanitarian aid, disaster relief, and search-and-rescue. Vietnam agrees to send a higher-level observer to the Garuda Shield exercise in Indonesia, part of the Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI)—a U.S.-led program launched in 2004 to build countries’ capacity for UN and regional peacekeeping. This was a modest but symbolically important gesture, showing Vietnam’s willingness to deepen defense ties with the U.S. in “safe” multilateral areas like peacekeeping, while carefully avoiding moves that might alarm China. Other topics include maritime security, counterterrorism, counternarcotics, border security, nonproliferation, and high-level exchanges.^[24]

June 13—Vietnamese authorities arrest human rights lawyer Lê Công Định, reportedly for violating article 88 of Vietnam’s criminal code, “conducting propaganda against the government,” which carries a sentence of up to 20 years. Định is best known for his defense of Vietnamese bloggers, human rights defenders, and democracy and labor rights activists.

June 15—The U.S. International Trade Commission and International Trade Administration announce that punitive tariffs of up to 64% on Vietnamese frozen catfish will remain in place. These duties, first imposed in 2003 after rulings that Vietnamese firms had dumped products on the U.S. market, are upheld following mandatory “sunset” reviews. Vietnam’s concerns are compounded by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the Farm Bill, signed June 2008), which includes stricter inspection and labeling rules for catfish. Hà Nội and fish farmers argue the measures discriminated against a vital export industry.^[25]

July 23—On the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum in Phuket, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton meets with the foreign ministers of Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand for the first U.S.–Lower Mekong Ministerial. They discuss climate change, infectious disease, education, and food security, and agree to continued cooperation. A new “sister river” partnership between the Mekong and Mississippi River Commissions is announced to share expertise on water management and adaptation. The Obama Administration seeks $15 million in FY2010 for Mekong food security programs, while Vietnam and Cambodia press for greater U.S. involvement, partly due to concerns over the impact of Chinese dams on downstream countries.^[26]

September 30—Ambassador Michalak and Vice Minister Phạm Vũ Luận of Vietnam’s Ministry of Education and Training sign the long-anticipated U.S.–Vietnam Education Task Force Final Report. It outlines recommendations for how the two governments can work together to foster public–private partnerships aimed at strengthening Vietnam’s education system and expanding opportunities for Vietnamese students to study in the United States. It also provides a roadmap for establishing an American-style university in Vietnam.

October 21—U.S. House of Representatives passes House Resolution 672 introduced by Representative Loretta Sanchez, (D- CA) of the Foreign Affairs Committee supporting the right of Vietnam’s citizens to access websites of their choosing and to have the freedom to share and publish information over the Internet. It urges the government of Vietnam to repeal its laws restricting free speech and release all political prisoners.^[27]

October 30—Decree 97/2009/ND‑CP, effective in January 1, 2010, stipulates a 10-15% wage increase. The decree came after the return of inflation and the resurgence of strikes.

October 29—Decree 108/2010/ND‑CP, effective on January 1, 2011, stipulates a wage increase of 12–14%, after inflation returns and the number of strikes totaled 423 in 2010.

November 3-4—National Conference on Development of Social Work in Vietnam, organized jointly by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, UNICEF, The Atlantic Philanthropies, European Union and Save the Children convening in the City of Da Nang, Vietnam.

December 4—The U.S. and Vietnam conduct a Joint POW/MIA repatriation ceremony in Hà Nội, returning remains believed to be of American servicemen.

December 16—The U.S. government and Vietnam’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) sign a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a framework for joint environmental health and remediation programs, including cooperation on addressing the impacts of Agent Orange/dioxin.

December 14 to December 17—Joint Seminar on Marxist Theory and Practice in the World Today, between the world marxist theorists and Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics and Public Administration.

2010

March 11—President Obama launches the National Export Initiative, designed to help double U.S. exports by 2015. The NEI identifies Vietnam as a “priority market,” which is further reflected in the fact that in the first four months of 2010, U.S. exports to Vietnam increased by around 4% compared to the same period in 2009. Year-on-year U.S. imports from Vietnam were up by 11%, largely due to increased shipments of Vietnamese clothing and furniture.^[28]

March 15—The United States and Vietnam join six other countries in holding the inaugural round of talks on expanding the Trans-Pacific Strategic and Economic Partnership (TPP) regional free trade agreement (FTA) in Australia.

March 25—The Vice Prime Minister Phan Văn Khải signed the Decision 32/2010/QĐ to approve the Professional Development Project for 2010-2020, a milestone in social work in Vietnam, which later in 2016 becomes the national day of social work in Vietnam.

March 30—Ambassador Michael Michalak and Vice-Minister of Science and Technology, Lê Đình Tiến signs an MoU on Civil Nuclear Cooperation between the U.S. and the Vietnam governments.

March 31-April 1—The U.S.-Vietnam Climate Change Working Group conducts its first formal meeting in Hà Nội. The two nations formed the working group during Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng’s 2008 visit to Washington D.C.

April 4—The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF)’s Project RENEW, focusing on UXO clearance and victim assistance, is officially launched in Quảng Trị.

April – May—The Fifth Vietnam Agent Orange Justice Tour with Nguyễn Thị Hiền and Phạm Thế Minh in coordination with SpeakOut.

April 12-13—At the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington D.C., Prime Minister Dũng signs the Summit Communiqué pledging to continue converting the Đà Lạt reactor from HEU (highly enriched uranium) to LEU (low enriched uranium) and to join the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism.

April 21—The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Vietnam Influenza Program and the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) sign a Letter of Intent to establish new collaborative activities to identify and respond to gaps in the animal-human interface (AHI) of zoonotic diseases.

May 12—An MoU is signed creating a partnership between the Mekong River Commission and the Mississippi River Commission. The sister commissions will share research, expertise and experiences related to their river systems. The MoU is brokered by the U.S. State Department and the Nations of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.

June 8—The third U.S.–Vietnam Political, Security, and Defense Dialogue is held in Hà Nội. The Dialogue addresses multiple areas in which the two nations already cooperate and areas where they can further strengthen bilateral relations, e.g. regional security, peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, maritime security, search and rescue, nonproliferation, counternarcotics, transnational crimes, U.S. naval ship visits to Vietnam, and other areas of mutual interest.^[29] 

June 16—The U.S.-Vietnam Dialogue Group on Agent Orange/Dioxin releases a proposed ten-year, $300 million “action plan” designed to provide “a significant part of the long-term solution to the Agent Orange/dioxin legacy in Vietnam.” The report prioritizes clean-up of contaminated soils and damaged ecosystems, stopping further leaks from hot spots like Đà Nẵng airport where materials were stored, and expanding and improving services to Vietnamese people with disabilities and their families.^[30]

July 2—The U.S. and Vietnam sign an agreement in Hà Nội to begin a cooperative effort to deter, detect and interdict illicit smuggling of nuclear and other radioactive material. The agreement paves the way for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) to work with the Ministry of Finance’s General Department of Customs and other ministries in Vietnam to install radiation detection equipment at ports in Vietnam.

July 4-7—U.S. Senators Tom Harkin, Bernard Sanders and Al Franken visit Vietnam. In Hồ Chí Minh City, the group commemorates the 40th anniversary of Senator Harkin’s investigation of the Côn Sơn Island “tiger cages.” In Đà Nẵng, the Senators visit USAID-funded disability rehabilitation and Agent Orange remediation projects, and in Hà Nội the delegation meets on labor and trade issues. 

July 15—The Third Congressional Hearing on Agent Orange in Vietnam: Recent Developments in Remediation, Ms Trần thị Hoan from VAVA, the first AO victim ever, testifies before the U.S. House of Representatives Committees on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Asia, The Pacific and the Global Environment.  This is the Sixth Vietnam Agent Orange Justice Tour.

July 22—Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, during her Hà Nội visit, announces expanded Fulbright and exchange programs, framing education as the “cornerstone” of U.S.–Vietnam people’s diplomacy.

July 23—Vietnam successfully uses its Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2010 to highlight important issues, including the South China Sea dispute between China and various ASEAN countries. Vietnam is able to get member countries to endorse the final statement for the 17th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), which emphasizes the need for a peaceful resolution and adherence to international law in the South China Sea. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reaffirms U.S. support for its Southeast Asian trading partners, including Vietnam, and the 2002 ASEAN-China declaration on the conduct of parties in the South China Sea.^[31]

July 29—President Obama signs into law the Supplemental Appropriations Act (or Public Law 111-212), which includes $12 million for dioxin cleanup at the Đà Nẵng Airport in Vietnam. The funds are also designated for related health activities addressing the effects of Agent Orange.

August 25—The Ministry of Interior promulgates the professional code for social work among the system of professional codes in Vietnam.

November 21 to December 5—The Seventh Agent Orange Justice Tour, led by VAVA President Nguyễn Văn Rinh, Nguyễn Minh Y, Ms Đặng Hồng Nhựt, Phạm Trường, and Nguyễn Tuấn Minh (interpreter) covering Oakland, San Francisco, New York, and Washington DC.

2011

January—11th Communist Party Congress concludes in Hà Nội. Nguyễn Phú Trọng is elected as General Secretary; Nguyễn Tấn Dũng is confirmed as Prime Minister for a second term.

March 28—Around 90,000 workers at Pou Yuen (Pou Chen Group), a Taiwanese‑owned footwear factory in Hồ Chí Minh City, stage a massive strike over low wages and poor conditions. This is one of the largest single strikes in Vietnam’s history and ends after management agrees to raise wages and improve benefits.^[32]

April 7—Vietnamese American Heritage Month is first recognized in the U.S. Congress.

June 9—Vietnamese authorities report that a Chinese fishing vessel, escorted by Chinese patrol boats, has cut the seismic cables of a PetroVietnam survey ship. This escalates tensions between the two countries and leads to anti-China protests in Hà Nội and Hồ Chí Minh City.

June 26—Deputy Foreign Minister Hồ Xuân Sơn visits Beijing, where both sides release a joint statement pledging to resolve disputes peacefully and manage public opinion. China’s version, however, emphasizes opposing “outside powers” in the dispute.^[33]

July 20—At the ASEAN Regional Forum in Bali, ASEAN and China agree on guidelines to implement the 2002 Declaration of Conduct, a step toward a binding Code of Conduct, regarding the South China Sea disputes.

July 22—At this same event, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton issues a statement on the South China Sea, wherein she reaffirms that freedom of navigation is a U.S. “national interest” and opposes the use of force by claimants. During the Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI) ministerial meeting in Bali, the U.S. also pledges over $220 million for LMI-related programs in education, health, environment, and infrastructure.^[34]

July 25—Congressman Bob Filner introduces H.R. 2634, the first Victims of Agent Orange Relief Act of 2011.

August 9—The Second International Conference of Victims of Agent Orange, in Hanoi, Vietnam. VAORRC delegation from the ƯS attends.

August 22—The Vietnamese government issues Decree 70/2011/ND‑CP, raising the regional minimum wages. The decree is explicitly framed as a response to labor unrest and inflationary pressures. By mid‑2011, nearly 800 strikes have already occurred that year, driven by inflation and poor working conditions.^[35] 

September 19—Senior officials from both countries meet at the U.S.–Vietnam Political, Security, and Defense Dialogue in Washington, D.C. to discuss regional security, maritime cooperation, and defense ties.

November—Vietnam formally participates in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) talks as a full member, with U.S. support, marking a milestone in economic relations.^[36]

November 17—The World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement panel issues its final decision on the Anti-Dumping Measures on Certain Shrimp from Vietnam’s case (DS429). The panel finds that the U.S. Department of Commerce’s use of the controversial “zeroing” methodology in calculating anti-dumping duties on Vietnamese frozen warm-water shrimp violates WTO rules. The ruling is a significant victory for Vietnam’s seafood exporters, who have faced punitive tariffs since 2005.^[37]

2012

March 23—Vietnam and Russia sign an agreement on the repatriation of spent highly enriched uranium (HEU) fuel from the Đà Lạt research reactor to Russia, with U.S. support under the Global Threat Reduction Initiative.^[38]

April 3–4—At the Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul, Vietnam reaffirms its commitment to nuclear nonproliferation and announces cooperation with South Korea and the IAEA on tracking radiological materials.

April 27—U.S. Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) introduces H.R. 5157, the Fostering Rights through Economic Engagement in Vietnam Act, which seeks to prohibit Vietnam’s entry into the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) unless human rights and trafficking conditions improve.^[39]

May 25—President Barack Obama issues a proclamation establishing the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration. This marks the formal start of the program, with the commemorative period defined as Memorial Day 2012 through Veterans Day 2025.

June 27—The Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs holds a hearing on maritime disputes over the South China Sea, with Vietnam’s tensions with China and U.S. involvement highlighted.^[40]

July 11–13—At the ASEAN Regional Forum in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton meets Vietnamese Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh. Clinton reaffirms U.S. support for freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and pledges continued cooperation under the Lower Mekong Initiative.^[41]

July 13—Vietnam, the U.S., and other Mekong countries meet in Phnom Penh as part of the Lower Mekong Initiative Ministerial. The U.S. pledges expanded cooperation on education, environment, and infrastructure.

August 1—The USS George Washington aircraft carrier visits Đà Nẵng, Vietnam, for naval exchanges and goodwill activities, part of expanding military-to-military ties.^[42]

September 19—U.S.–Vietnam Political, Security, and Defense Dialogue takes place in Washington, D.C., co-chaired by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell and Vietnamese Vice Foreign Minister Hà Kim Ngọc. Discussions include South China Sea security, human rights, and trade.^[43] 

November 4—Decree 103/2012/ND-CP, to go into effect on January 1, 2013, stipulates a 16–18% wage increase for workers. The decree arises after continued unrest and serves as part of a roadmap to unify minimum wages across sectors.

December 4—Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) introduces U.S. House Resolution 484 condemning Vietnam’s crackdown on bloggers and activists, urging repeal of Penal Code Articles 79 and 88.^[44]

December 10—The U.S.–Vietnam Alumni Conference takes place in Hà Nội, bringing together hundreds of Vietnamese graduates of U.S. programs (Fulbright, VEF, etc.) to strengthen education networks between the two countries.

2013

January 9—A Vietnamese court sentences 14 Catholic activists and bloggers to prison terms ranging from 3 to 13 years for “subversion.” The U.S. State Department and NGOs like Human Rights Watch condemn the verdict.^[45] 

March 20—The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee holds a hearing on maritime disputes in East Asia, highlighting Vietnam’s tensions with China and U.S. support for freedom of navigation.^[46] 

March 26—A workshop in Hà Nội, co-hosted by Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade and USAID, discusses the TPP’s implications for Vietnam. U.S. officials emphasize that labor standards will be a core requirement.^[47]

April 13–14—U.S. Trade Representative (Acting) Demetrios Marantis visits Hà Nội to meet Vietnamese officials about the TPP. He specifically raises the need for strong labor standards as part of the agreement.^[48]

April 17—Acting Assistant Secretary of State Joseph Yun visits Hà Nội to discuss TPP negotiations and human rights.^[49] 

May 8—The Vietnam Human Rights Act (H.R. 1897) is introduced in the U.S. House, seeking to restrict increases in non-humanitarian aid unless Vietnam improves human rights. (The bill did not pass the Senate.)^[50] 

May 9—The Vietnam Human Rights Sanctions Act (S. 929) is introduced in the U.S. Senate, proposing sanctions on Vietnamese nationals complicit in human right abuses and requiring a public list of such individuals. The bill is co-sponsored by Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Marco Rubio (R-FL), John Boozman (R-AR), and Bill Cassidy (R-LA). (The bill did not pass.)^[51]

May 16—H.Res. 218 is introduced, urging redesignation of Vietnam as a “Country of Particular Concern” for religious freedom. It is later passed on April 29, 2014, by a vote of 403-13.^[52]

May 22—NGOs and U.S. officials criticize Vietnam’s draft Internet Decree 72, which restricts online expression.^[53] 

June 4—The U.S. House Subcommittee on Global Human Rights holds a hearing titled “Continuing Repression by the Vietnamese Government.”^[54] 

June 10—S.Res. 167 is introduced in the U.S. Senate, condemning coercion in South China Sea disputes and supporting ASEAN–China Code of Conduct talks.^[55] 

June 26—The Victims of Agent Orange Relief Act of 2013, H.R.2519, is introduced by Rep. Barbara Lee with 13 co-sponsors.

July 25—Vietnamese President Trương Tấn Sang visit Washington, D.C., and meets President Obama. They announce the U.S.–Vietnam Comprehensive Partnership, expanding cooperation in trade, security, education, and environment. This is a major turning point in U.S.-Vietnam relations in the 21st century.^[56] In their joint statement, Obama and Sang acknowledge that labor rights are part of the broader human rights dialogue linked to TPP negotiations.^[57]

August 7—The U.S. and Vietnam launch the second phase of dioxin cleanup at Đà Nẵng airport, supported by NGOs like the Aspen Institute’s U.S.–Vietnam Dialogue Group on Agent Orange.^[58] 

September 1—Vietnam’s Internet Decree 72 takes effect, restricting online sharing of news and political content. It is criticized by U.S. officials and NGOs.

October 2—The U.S.–Vietnam Human Rights Dialogue is held in Hà Nội, where U.S. officials raise concerns over political prisoners, internet freedom, and religious rights.^[59] 

December 2—President Trương Tấn Sang meets U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman in Hà Nội. Both sides reaffirm their commitment to accelerate TPP negotiations, with U.S. officials again stressing that labor reforms are essential for Vietnam’s participation.  

December 16—U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry visits Vietnam and announces $17 million in aid to help Vietnam combat climate change and protect the Mekong Delta.^[60]

2014

January 27—Human Rights Watch releases its World Report 2014, highlighting Vietnam’s continued repression of bloggers, labor activists, and independent unions. This report is widely cited by U.S. officials and NGOs in bilateral dialogues.^[61]

May 7—The U.S. State Department issues a statement condemning China’s placement of the Haiyang Shiyou 981 oil rig in disputed waters near the Paracels, calling it a “provocative unilateral action.” This crisis deepens U.S.–Vietnam security cooperation.^[62]

May 13–15—Large-scale anti-China protests erupt in Vietnam following the oil rig incident. Initially peaceful, they turn violent in industrial zones near Hồ Chí Minh City and central Vietnam, where hundreds of foreign-owned factories are attacked, many Taiwanese and some Chinese-managed. Reports note that long-standing labor grievances also fuel the riots.^[63]

May 6—The United States and Vietnam sign the U.S.-Vietnam Nuclear Export Agreement, a bilateral nuclear energy cooperation agreement, allowing U.S. firms to export nuclear technology and materials to Vietnam. This was first initiated by the two countries in December 2013. American Nuclear Society President Donald R. Hoffman praises the agreement, saying: "This will allow for the U.S. to positively influence the safety and security aspects of our partner nations' nuclear energy programs."^[64]

June 10—Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel, in a regional press call, urges both China and Vietnam to withdraw ships from the oil rig area and calls for restraint.

June 17—At his Senate confirmation hearing, Ambassador-designate Ted Osius state that the U.S. should consider expanding Vietnam’s maritime security capacity and possibly relaxing restrictions on arms sales.

August 6—Amnesty International issues a statement condemning Vietnam’s continued imprisonment of labor and human rights activists, urging the U.S. to press Hà Nội harder during TPP negotiations.^[65]

December 5—The 2014 Vietnam–U.S. Labor Dialogue opens in Hà Nội, co-hosted by Vietnam’s Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs and the U.S. Department of Labor. U.S. Deputy Undersecretary Mark Mittelhauser emphasizes that the dialogue is a step toward cooperative labor agreements linked to TPP.^[66]

2015

January 23—U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Puneet Talwar delivers remarks at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam in Hà Nội, emphasizing deepening U.S.–Vietnam security and economic cooperation.^[67]

January 30—The The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) is formally established by merging the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) and the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO). Its mission is to provide the “fullest possible accounting” of U.S. service members missing from past conflicts, with nearly 82,000 Americans still unaccounted for, including about 1,567 from the Vietnam War. DPAA conducts global recovery missions, forensic analysis, and repatriation ceremonies, working closely with foreign governments, veterans’ organizations, and academic partners.^[68]

April 23—U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman visits Hà Nội and meets Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng and Party Economic Commission head Vương Đình Huệ. Discussions focus on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), with the U.S. pressing Vietnam on labor rights, state-owned enterprises, and intellectual property.^[69]

April 29—The Victims of Agent Orange Relief Act of 2015, H.R. 2114 is introduced by Rep. Barbara Lee with 26 co-sponsors.

April 30—Vietnam and the United States mark the 40th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. Commemorations include NGO-organized events in both countries, with human rights and veterans’ groups highlighting reconciliation and ongoing issues such as Agent Orange and POW/MIA recovery.

May 1–2—“The Power of Protest” Conference takes place in Washington, D.C. on the 40th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. This gathering brings together about 600 activists to honor the antiwar movement and discuss its legacy. It is organized by the Vietnam Peace Commemoration Committee (VPCC), a volunteer-run network of long-time antiwar activists formed in September 2014 in response to the Pentagon’s 10-year Vietnam War commemoration program. The VPCC’s mission is to ensure that the history of the U.S. war in Indochina is told truthfully, that the role of the antiwar movement is recognized, and that lessons are drawn to prevent future military interventions. The VPCC monitors Pentagon commemoration activities, challenges distortions, and organizes public events to highlight the peace movement’s contributions.

July 6–10—Nguyễn Phú Trọng, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, visits Washington, D.C. This is the first-ever U.S. visit by a Vietnamese Communist Party chief. He meets President Obama at the White House on July 7, issuing a joint vision statement covering trade, security, and human rights.

In this joint vision statement, which reaffirms the 2013 Comprehensive Partnership, both sides pledge to respect each other’s political systems and sovereignty while expanding dialogue across party, government, and people-to-people channels. They emphasize boosting trade and investment, with the TPP at the center, while the U.S. press Vietnam on labor rights, intellectual property, and state-owned enterprise reforms.

The statement highlights closer security and defense collaboration, particularly on maritime security and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, and reaffirms commitments to address war legacy issues such as Agent Orange, unexploded ordnance, and POW/MIA recovery. It also encourages cooperation in science, education, healthcare, and climate change adaptation.^[70]

October 5—The TPP negotiations conclude in Atlanta.

December 4—The U.S. and Vietnam hold their annual Human Rights Dialogue in Washington, D.C. U.S. officials raise concerns about restrictions on freedom of association, workers’ rights, and the harassment of independent labor activists.^[71]

December 8-12—The 7th Agent Orange Justice Tour, with VAVA President Nguyễn Văn Rinh, Ms Đào Thị Nguyễn, Mr. Phạm Trương, Mr. Nguyễn Minh Y, Ms Trần Thị Hoan and Nguyễn Trọng Phú (interpreter), visiting New York, Washington DC.

2016

February 4—Twelve nations, including the U.S. and Vietnam, sign the TPP in New Zealand. For Vietnam, the TPP promises unprecedented access to U.S. markets for textiles, footwear, and seafood, while for Washington it is a chance to anchor Vietnam more firmly in a rules-based economic order. A side agreement, the U.S.–Vietnam Plan for the Enhancement of Trade and Labor Relations, requires Vietnam to reform its labor laws to allow independent unions outside the state-controlled Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, a groundbreaking shift in the one-party system.^[72]

February 29—The State Department releases its annual human rights report on Vietnam, which underscores persistent restrictions, including suppression of independent labor organizing, weak enforcement of labor laws, and poor working conditions. These findings reinforce congressional concerns about whether Vietnam could realistically meet its TPP labor obligations, and they become part of the debate over whether the U.S. should ratify the trade deal.^[73]

March 1—The U.S. Department of Agriculture assumes responsibility for inspecting catfish, including Vietnamese pangasius, tra, and basa, replacing the FDA’s looser oversight. Vietnam sees this as a protectionist measure designed to shield U.S. catfish farmers, and the rule quickly becomes a flashpoint in bilateral trade relations, threatening one of Vietnam’s most important export sectors.^[74]

March 14—Just two weeks later, Vietnam formally raises the catfish inspection issue at the WTO’s Sanitary and Phytosanitary Committee, arguing that the U.S. rule is discriminatory and inconsistent with international trade obligations. This move internationalizes the dispute and signals Hà Nội’s determination to defend its aquaculture industry.^[75]

March 21—Global Standards conduct an independent investigation into two major strikes that have broken out at Hansae Vietnam, a Nike supplier, in late 2015. Workers have protested excessive heat, forced overtime, and abusive management practices. The investigation confirms serious violations, and by mid-2016 Hansae and Nike pledge corrective actions, including better ventilation, reduced overtime, and management training. While not all worker demands are met, the strikes are partially successful in forcing international brands and the factory to acknowledge and address conditions. A study notes that over 5,000 strikes have occurred since the 1990s. While many strikes won incremental improvements (e.g., wage increases, better meals, reduced overtime), they rarely achieved systemic change. Still, they demonstrated workers’ ability to coordinate and sometimes forced multinational brands to intervene.^[76]

April 27—Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack travels to Hà Nội to discuss the catfish dispute directly with Vietnamese officials. His visit underscores how a single commodity could strain broader trade ties, and it reflects Washington’s desire to manage tensions while keeping Vietnam engaged on larger economic and strategic issues.

May 23—President Obama’s three-day visit to Vietnam marks a historic milestone, as he announces the complete lifting of the U.S. lethal arms embargo, removing one of the last vestiges of wartime hostility. The visit also includes agreements to allow the Peace Corps to operate in Vietnam, expand Fulbright University Vietnam, and deepen economic cooperation, symbolizing a new era of partnership.^[77]

May 30—On Memorial Day, Veterans For Peace organize the “Letters to the Wall” action at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., placing personal letters that challenge official narratives of the war and highlighte ongoing issues such as Agent Orange and unexploded ordnance. This grassroots initiative keep the human and environmental costs of the war visible in U.S. public discourse, complementing official diplomacy with people-to-people reconciliation.

July 27—The Vietnam Peace Commemoration Committee exposes distortions in the Pentagon’s official commemoration, such as calling the My Lai massacre an “incident.” Their advocacy leads to media coverage in The New York Times and forces the Pentagon to revise its timeline.^[78]

August 2 —President Obama highlights “unprecedented labor reforms” in Vietnam under the TPP, including recognition of worker organizations.^[79] While the reforms are not yet finalized, the statement reflects how central labor rights have become to the U.S. case for the TPP, and how Vietnam’s commitments are being used to sell the deal domestically.

August 8-9—International Scientific Conference “Assessments of the Damages of Agent Orange/Dioxin used by the United States during the War in Vietnam”, Hanoi, Vietnam, with the participation of Vietnamese scientists and the Science Committee of VAORRC.

September 27—The International Labour Organization and U.S. Department of Labor conclude a multi-year project supporting Vietnam’s efforts to align its labor code with international standards. The project’s end coincides with debates over the TPP, highlighting Washington’s investment in building Vietnam’s capacity to implement labor reforms required by the trade agreement.^[80]

December 1—Congressional researchers release an updated report on U.S. assistance for Agent Orange and dioxin remediation in Vietnam, noting cumulative funding for cleanup projects such as Đà Nẵng airport and health programs for people with disabilities. The report also emphasizes the role of NGOs like the Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange (VAVA) and U.S. veterans’ groups in sustaining bilateral cooperation on war legacies.

2017

January 5—The Victims of Agent Orange Relief Act of 2017, H.R. 334 is introduced by Rep. Barbara Lee with 26 co-sponsors.

April 4—VPCC coordinates more than 40 local events nationwide to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Beyond Vietnam” speech, which condemns the Vietnam War and links it to poverty and racism. These events highlight the moral dimension of antiwar activism.

May 31—Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc becomes the first Southeast Asian leader to visit the Trump White House, where he and Trump issue a joint statement reaffirming the Comprehensive Partnership. The meeting emphasizes trade and investment, with Vietnam pledging to buy U.S. goods and services, while also touching on security cooperation in the South China Sea. The visit reassures both sides that the relationship will continue to deepen despite the U.S. withdrawal from the TPP earlier that year.^[81]

October 5—A widely cited article explains why nearly all strikes in Vietnam are “wildcat,” occurring outside the legal framework and without official union approval. The piece argues that structural barriers in Vietnam’s labor law made legal strikes nearly impossible, forcing workers to act spontaneously. This analysis underscores the gap between Vietnam’s commitments to labor reform and the realities on the ground, where workers rely on direct action to secure concessions.^[82]

October 20—The Vietnam Peace Commemoration Committee organizes a vigil at the Pentagon to mark the anniversary of a major antiwar protest, linking past activism to present responsibilities. The event highlights humanitarian issues such as Agent Orange remediation and unexploded ordnance clearance, pressing the U.S. government to continue addressing the war’s consequences in Vietnam. It reflects how non-state actors keep moral accountability central to bilateral relations.

November 10—During the APEC summit in Đà Nẵng, President Trump delivers a keynote speech to business leaders, emphasizing “fair and reciprocal trade” and signaling a shift away from multilateral deals like the TPP toward bilateral agreements. For Vietnam, the speech is a reminder of the changing U.S. trade approach, even as Hà Nội seeks to maintain strong economic ties with Washington.

November 11—Trump joins other leaders at the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, where discussions focus on regional growth and integration. Vietnam, as host, showcases its economic dynamism and its role as a bridge between the U.S. and Asia, reinforcing its importance in Washington’s Asia policy despite the U.S. exit from the TPP.

November 12—In Hà Nội, Trump holds bilateral talks with President Trần Đại Quang, advancing cooperation on trade, security, and people-to-people exchanges. The meeting produces agreements on commercial deals and reaffirms shared interests in maritime security, underscoring the strategic dimension of the partnership.

December 18—Multiple outlets report that the Trump administration has begun detaining pre-1995 Vietnamese immigrants with old deportation orders and ss pressing Vietnam to accept them, despite the 2008 U.S.–Vietnam repatriation agreement that has previously protected this group. This marks the start of a new enforcement push by ICE, with detentions extending for months or longer while the U.S. seeks travel documents from Hà Nội.^[83]

2018

January 12—Vietnam formally files a complaint at the WTO against the United States over anti-dumping duties on frozen fish fillets, particularly pangasius (basa, tra, swai). Hà Nội argues that U.S. Department of Commerce practices violate WTO rules, continuing a dispute that has simmered since the early 2000s.

February 22—Vietnam requests WTO consultations over the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s catfish inspection program, which is fully implemented in September 2017. Vietnam claims the program is discriminatory, lacks scientific justification, and functions as a non-tariff barrier that threatens the livelihoods of over a million Vietnamese workers.

March 5—The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson arrives in Đà Nẵng for a five-day visit, carrying 5,000 sailors. The first visit by a U.S. carrier since the end of the Vietnam War, this is a major milestone in defense cooperation, signaling deepening security ties amid shared concerns over the South China Sea. The visit includes cultural exchanges, humanitarian projects, and professional military interactions.

March 8—Vietnam signs the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in Santiago, Chile, alongside ten other nations. The deal preserves most of the original TPP’s provisions despite the U.S. withdrawal, promising Vietnam expanded export opportunities and a framework for labor and regulatory reforms.^[84]

March 16—Veterans For Peace members join the official commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the My Lai massacre in Quảng Ngãi Province. They deliver an “Open Letter to the People of Viet Nam,” acknowledging U.S. responsibility and pledging solidarity on issues such as Agent Orange and unexploded ordnance.^[85] 

March 19—U.S. Senators John McCain and Jeanne Shaheen send a letter to the U.S. Trade Representative urging the termination of the USDA catfish inspection program. They argue it is duplicative, wasteful, and damaging to U.S. credibility at the WTO, especially given Vietnam’s formal challenge.^[86]

March 29—The United States observes the first National Vietnam War Veterans Day, with commemorative partner organizations holding ceremonies nationwide. Advocacy groups such as the Vietnam Agent Orange Relief & Responsibility Campaign use the occasion to highlight the ongoing health and environmental impacts of dioxin exposure.^[87]

June 16–August 12—The DukeEngage Vietnam program takes place in Quảng Trị Province, organized with CET Academic Programs. U.S. students work with local youths to build a basketball court, teach English, and facilitate cross cultural exchanges, representing a grassroots educational and cultural bridge.^[88]

August 16—A detailed account of a wildcat strike at a Vietnamese shoe factory is published, illustrating how workers organize outside the official union framework to demand better pay and conditions. This reflects the persistence of labor unrest in Vietnam and the challenges of aligning labor practices with commitments under trade agreements, a recurring issue in U.S.–Vietnam trade dialogues.^[89]

September 23—Fulbright University Vietnam officially welcomes its first undergraduate cohort. This marks a milestone in U.S.–Vietnam educational cooperation, as FUV is developed with U.S. support and modeled on American liberal arts traditions, emphasizing critical thinking, civic engagement, and interdisciplinary learning.

September 25—Vietnamese President Trần Đại Quang passes away, prompting condolences from U.S. leaders. The U.S. Embassy in Hà Nội issues a statement honoring his contributions to bilateral relations, and his death leads to a leadership reshuffle in Vietnam that has implications for U.S. engagement.

October 17—The U.S. and Vietnam hold their 9th Political, Security, and Defense Dialogue in Washington, D.C. The talks cover maritime security, peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief, reflecting the broadening scope of defense cooperation.^[90]

November 12—President Donald Trump meets Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Singapore. They discuss trade imbalances, regional security, and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, reaffirming the Comprehensive Partnership.

2019

January 8—The Victims of Agent Orange Relief Act of 2019, H.R. 326 is introduced by Rep. Barbara Lee with 20 co-sponsors.

January 14—CPTPP enters into force for Vietnam, triggering phased tariff reductions, stronger rules on services, investment, and labor, and opening new markets across the Pacific. While the United States is not a member, the agreement’s trade diversion and supply-chain shifts begin to subtly reshape U.S.–Vietnam dynamics by increasing Vietnam’s competitiveness and potentially widening the U.S. bilateral deficit.^[91] 

February 27—U.S. President Donald Trump arrives in Hà Nội for the second Democratic People’s Republic of Korea–U.S. Summit, with Vietnam hosting extensive logistics, security, media access, and public diplomacy events. The summit showcases Vietnam’s role as a trusted U.S. partner in high-stakes diplomacy and amplifies bilateral engagement beyond trade and defense into global conflict mediation.^[92]

February 28—The DPRK–U.S. Summit concludes in Hà Nội without agreement, yet the U.S.–Vietnam relationship benefits from visibility and coordination, with local cultural programming, press facilitation, and outreach underscoring Vietnam’s capacity to partner with the United States on complex international events.^[93]

April 10—Congressional Research Service reports that total goods trade reached $58.86 billion in 2018, with Vietnam the 12th-largest source of U.S. imports and the U.S. the 3rd-largest partner for Vietnam. The annual report also flags likely friction areas: CPTPP effects, Vietnam’s bid for market economy status, catfish inspections/AD duties, arms sales, and the dormant BIT talks.^[94]

April 20—USAID and Vietnam’s Ministry of National Defense launch the Biên Hòa Air Base dioxin remediation—the largest Agent Orange cleanup project to date—expanding war-legacy cooperation and opening space for NGO and veteran group participation in health and community programs around affected sites.^[95] 

June 10—Pacific Partnership 2019 begins its Vietnam mission in Phú Yên, where U.S. Navy-led teams conduct engineering projects, disaster response training, medical exchanges, and cultural performances with Vietnamese partners, strengthening people-to-people ties and practical civil–military cooperation.^[96] 

June 14—Vietnam ratifies ILO Convention 98 on the Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining, advancing legal foundations for independent worker representation and aligning with commitments under CPTPP, a development closely watched in U.S. trade and labor dialogues given frequent wildcat strikes and the need for genuine collective bargaining.^[97]

June 30—The EU–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and Investment Protection Agreement are signed in Hà Nội, accelerating Vietnam’s global integration. While these are not U.S. agreements, they intensify competitive pressures on U.S. firms, shift sourcing decisions, and may widen the existing U.S.–Vietnam trade imbalance.^[98]

July 7—Analyses spotlight Vietnam’s evolving labor landscape, detailing how workers push for higher wages and better conditions amid ongoing wildcat strikes and limited official union responsiveness. These dynamics directly intersect with U.S. supply chains (garment/footwear/electronics) and the labor provisions referenced in U.S. dialogues on trade and responsible business conduct.^[99]

October 23—The U.S.–Vietnam Political, Security, and Defense Dialogue convenes in Washington, D.C., covering maritime security, peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and continued capacity building. The meeting sustains momentum from prior naval engagements and supports Vietnam’s maritime awareness and interoperability efforts.^[100]

November 20—Vietnam’s National Assembly passes the revised Labor Code, enabling worker representative organizations outside the sole official union, strengthening dispute resolution mechanisms, and preparing for further ILO ratifications—key steps for compliance with CPTPP/EVFTA that also respond to long-standing concerns discussed in U.S. trade and labor forums.^[101]

December 2—The U.S. Treasury places Vietnam on its currency “Monitoring List,” increasing scrutiny of external balances, foreign exchange practices, and macroeconomic policies. The designation signals potential investigations and adds pressure in bilateral economic talks already focused on deficits and market economy status.^[102]

December 10—ActionAid Vietnam’s 2019 report details NGO-led programs in gender-responsive budgeting, garment worker empowerment, and community services, illustrating non-state contributions that complement official bilateral efforts and influence labor conditions relevant to U.S. companies sourcing from Vietnam.^[103]

2020

January 23—The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Vietnam’s Ministry of Health co-host a workshop in Hà Nội on COVID-19 preparedness and surveillance. This is one of the earliest joint pandemic-related activities between the two countries. It builds on decades of U.S. health cooperation in Vietnam, particularly in HIV/AIDS prevention and influenza surveillance. The workshop focuses on strengthening Vietnam’s ability to detect and respond to outbreaks, which becomes crucial as COVID-19 spreads globally. This event highlights Vietnam’s reputation as a proactive partner in global health security.^[104]

March 5—The U.S. aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt and guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill arrive in Đà Nẵng for a port call. This is only the second visit by a U.S. carrier since the end of the Vietnam War, symbolizing a remarkable transformation in bilateral defense ties. The visit includes cultural exchanges, professional military discussions, and community service projects. It underscores the two nations’ shared interest in maritime security and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, a region of strategic importance.^[105]

March 9—The USS Theodore Roosevelt concludes its Đà Nẵng visit. The symbolism of the visit lingers, as it demonstrates Vietnam’s willingness to deepen defense cooperation with the U.S. while balancing its complex relationship with China. The event is widely covered in Vietnamese media as a milestone in reconciliation and trust-building.^[106]

April 7—Vietnam donates 250,000 antibacterial masks to the U.S. as part of its COVID-19 assistance. This act of solidarity is striking, given the history of conflict between the two nations. It also reflects Vietnam’s growing role as a responsible global actor and its ability to leverage its manufacturing capacity to support international partners during the pandemic.^[107]

April 24—USAID and Vietnam’s Ministry of National Defense announce progress in the Biên Hòa dioxin remediation project. Biên Hòa is the largest remaining dioxin “hotspot” in Vietnam, and cleanup there is expected to take a decade. This project, following earlier work at Đà Nẵng airport, represents one of the most significant U.S.-funded war legacy initiatives.^[108]

May 6—Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc holds a phone call with President Donald Trump to discuss bilateral cooperation on COVID-19 and trade. The leaders emphasize maintaining supply chains and supporting economic recovery. This conversation reflects how the pandemic shifts the agenda of U.S.–Vietnam relations toward health security and economic resilience.^[109]

June 8—Vietnam’s National Assembly ratifies the EU–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). While not directly involving the U.S., this agreement reshapes Vietnam’s trade ecosystem by opening new markets and reducing reliance on the U.S. and China. For Washington, it underscores the competitive pressures of not being part of regional trade pacts like CPTPP.^[110]

July 10—The Peace Corps signs implementing agreements with Vietnam to begin English education programs, marking the first time the Peace Corps formally enters Vietnam. Volunteers are set to teach English in secondary schools, strengthening cultural and educational ties. The program symbolizes a new chapter in people-to-people diplomacy, moving beyond war legacies toward future-oriented cooperation.^[111]

August 10—Vietnam commemorates Agent Orange Day with nationwide activities organized by groups such as the Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange (VAVA). The day highlights the ongoing health and environmental impacts of dioxin exposure, with millions of Vietnamese still affected. It also showcases advocacy by nonprofits for greater U.S. responsibility in postwar remediation projects.^[112]

October 2—The U.S. Trade Representative launches a Section 301 investigation into Vietnam’s currency practices, alleging undervaluation to gain unfair trade advantages. This investigation reflects rising U.S. concerns about the growing trade deficit with Vietnam. The move signals potential trade frictions at a time when Vietnam benefits from supply chain shifts away from China.^[113]

November 15—Vietnam signs the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the world’s largest trade agreement. While the U.S. is not a member, such agreements can indirectly affect U.S.–Vietnam trade by shifting regional supply chains.^[114] For Vietnam, RCEP reinforces its role as a hub in Asian trade networks, while for the U.S. it underscores the costs of being absent from regional trade frameworks.^[115]

November 21—The U.S. and Vietnam sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), creating a process for deporting people who come to the U.S. from Vietnam before July 12, 1995 (pre-1995 Vietnamese). The Trump administration continues to place renewed pressure on Vietnam to accept pre-1995 Vietnamese refugees for deportation.

December 14—Vietnam issues Decree 145/2020 guiding the implementation of its revised 2019 Labor Code. This landmark labor development expands worker rights, allows the formation of independent worker organizations outside the state-run union, and adjusts retirement ages. For U.S. companies sourcing from Vietnam, this reform has major implications for compliance, supply chain governance, and labor relations. It also aligns with commitments Vietnam makes under trade agreements like CPTPP and EVFTA.^[116]

December 16—The U.S. Treasury officially labels Vietnam a currency manipulator, escalating economic tensions. This designation raises the possibility of tariffs and trade restrictions, with ripple effects on labor-intensive industries such as textiles and electronics.^[117]

December 18—The USTR proposes tariffs on Vietnamese goods in response to the currency manipulation findings. This move threatens to disrupt Vietnam’s export-driven economy and has direct consequences for workers in key industries, highlighting the intersection of trade policy and labor relations.^[118]

December 22—The USTR releases findings in its Section 301 investigation into Vietnam’s timber imports, concluding that much of the timber is illegally harvested. This raises compliance and labor-governance issues across supply chains, particularly in Vietnam’s wood and furniture export industries, which employ hundreds of thousands of workers.^[119]

2021  

January 15—The U.S. Trade Representative announces it is not taking specific actions in connection with its Section 301 investigation into Vietnam’s currency practices, despite Treasury’s December 2020 designation of Vietnam as a manipulator. This pause under the new administration signals a recalibration of trade tensions.^[120]

January 31—Vietnam’s Communist Party concludes its 13th National Congress, re-electing Nguyễn Phú Trọng to an unprecedented third term as General Secretary. This outcome ensures continuity in Vietnam’s domestic and foreign policy, including its approach to relations with the U.S.^[121]

March 12—VietRISE and allied organizations announce that ICE has scheduled a deportation flight to Vietnam for March 15, 2021, with 33 Vietnamese refugees slated for removal. The announcement triggers immediate mobilization under the #GroundThePlane campaign.^[122]

March 14—A protest takes place in Orange County’s Little Saigon, California, organized by VietRISE, SEARAC, and Asian Americans Advancing Justice. Families, activists, and community members gather to demand cancellation of the deportation flight. The protest, held under the #GroundThePlane banner, highlights the injustice of deporting pre-1995 refugees who are supposed to be protected under the 2008 U.S.–Vietnam repatriation agreement.

March 15—ICE carries out the deportation flight, removing 33 Vietnamese refugees, including some who arrive before 1995. This contradicts the spirit of the 2008 agreement and is condemned as retraumatizing war survivors who rebuild their lives in the U.S.^[123]

March 16—Advocacy groups including VietRISE, SEARAC, and Asian Americans Advancing Justice issue coordinated statements condemning the deportations as cruel, unjust, and a violation of U.S. commitments. They frame the deportations as part of broader anti-Asian violence.^[124]

April 7—An op ed by Santa Ana City Councilmember Thai Viet Phan, written in collaboration with VietRISE, is published in the Los Angeles Times. It denounces the deportations, urges California leaders to support the VISION Act (AB 937), and argues that deporting refugees who already serve prison time is unjust and retraumatizing.^[125]

May 25—The Victims of Agent Orange Relief Act of 2021, H.R. 3518 is introduced by Rep. Barbara Lee with 15 co-sponsors.

July 10—Vietnam receives 2,000,040 doses of Moderna vaccine donated by the U.S. through COVAX. This is the first major U.S. vaccine shipment to Vietnam, marking a turning point in bilateral health cooperation during the pandemic.^[126]

July 24–25—Vietnam receives an additional 3,000,060 Moderna doses donated by the U.S. through COVAX, split between Hồ Chí Minh City (July 24) and Hà Nội (July 25). These shipments reinforce U.S. commitment to supporting Vietnam’s vaccination campaign.^[127]

July 28—U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin visits Hà Nội, meeting with senior Vietnamese officials. Discussions focus on maritime security, defense cooperation, and war legacy issues such as dioxin remediation and POW/MIA accounting. This is the first visit to Vietnam by a Biden administration cabinet member.^[128]

July 29—At Vietnam’s request, the Vietnam Wartime Accounting Initiative (VWAI) is launched as a U.S. Department of Defense program designed to support Vietnam’s own search for its war dead while reciprocating decades of Vietnamese cooperation in helping the U.S. locate its MIAs. Backed by an initial $1.3 million budget (2021–2025) and authorized under the National Defense Authorization Acts (NDAA) for fiscal years 2022 (Section 1245) and 2023 (Sec. 1342), VWAI funds cooperative agreements with partners such as Texas Tech University’s Vietnam Archive, Harvard University, USAID, and the U.S. Institute of Peace. Its goals include advancing reconciliation, strengthening bilateral defense ties in humanitarian areas, and enhancing archival and forensic capacity to locate and identify remains.^[129]

August 10—Vietnam marks Agent Orange Day with nationwide events organized by the Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange (VAVA). Activities highlight the ongoing suffering of victims and call for expanded international support, linking to U.S.–Vietnam cooperation on remediation.^[130]

August 24–25—Vice President Kamala Harris visits Hà Nội, becoming the first sitting U.S. vice president to do so. She announces the opening of a CDC Regional Office in Vietnam, pledges additional vaccine support, and emphasizes cooperation on supply chains, maritime security, and economic recovery.

September 22—State President Nguyễn Xuân Phúc delivers Vietnam’s national statement at the 76th United Nations General Assembly in New York. He arrives on September 20 and conducts bilateral meetings on September 21 with UN leaders and foreign counterparts before addressing the General Debate on September 22. His speech emphasizes multilateralism, pandemic recovery, and climate change, while his bilateral activities underscore Vietnam’s growing diplomatic engagement with the U.S. and other partners.

November 1—Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính meets with U.S. President Joe Biden and Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry on the sidelines of the COP26 Climate Summit in Glasgow. The meetings focus on climate cooperation, energy transition, and U.S. support for Vietnam’s green development strategy. On the same day, Chinh delivers Vietnam’s national statement at the Leaders’ Summit, pledging stronger commitments to emissions reduction and sustainable growth.

2022

January 27—Ambassador Marc Knapper arrives in Hà Nội to begin his tenure as U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam.

February 11—Ambassador Knapper presents his credentials to State President Nguyễn Xuân Phúc, formally assuming his role. In his remarks, he emphasizes strengthening cooperation in health, education, security, and economic growth, while also addressing war legacy issues such as dioxin remediation.

March 2—The U.S. delivers 1.6 million Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine doses to Hồ Chí Minh City, raising total U.S. vaccine donations to Vietnam to over 26 million doses. This shipment reinforces U.S. support for Vietnam’s pandemic recovery and public health resilience.^[131]

March 28—President Joe Biden issues a Presidential Proclamation extending the commemorative period for the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War through Veterans Day 2025. The proclamation honors the nearly 9 million Americans who serve, emphasizes the sacrifices of veterans and their families, and reaffirms the U.S. commitment to remembering the war’s legacy.^[132]

May 11–17—Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính visits the U.S. to attend the ASEAN–U.S. Special Summit in Washington, D.C. and carries out a series of bilateral and multilateral activities. He meets President Biden, U.S. congressional leaders, and U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, delivers a policy speech at CSIS, and engages with U.S. businesses in Boston and San Francisco to promote trade, technology, and education cooperation. The visit elevates ASEAN–U.S. ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and deepens bilateral engagement.^[133]

May 23—Vietnam joins the launch of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF), a U.S.-led initiative with 13 other partners. For Vietnam, IPEF offers opportunities to diversify supply chains, strengthen digital trade, and align with global clean economy standards.^[134]

June 28—USAID announces expanded clean energy cooperation with Vietnam, supporting renewable energy development and technical assistance for Vietnam’s energy transition. This aligns with both countries’ climate goals and Vietnam’s pledge at COP26 to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.^[135]

September 8—Ministers from IPEF economies, including Vietnam, meet in Los Angeles to launch formal negotiations across IPEF’s four pillars: trade, supply chains, clean economy, and fair economy. This marks a concrete step in shaping the future of U.S.–Vietnam economic cooperation.^[136]

October 13—USAID and Vietnam’s Ministry of National Defense mark progress at the Biên Hòa dioxin cleanup project. Biên Hòa is the largest remaining dioxin hotspot in Vietnam, and the U.S. commits hundreds of millions of dollars to remediation, symbolizing reconciliation and humanitarian partnership.^[137]

November 16—Vietnam and the United States hold their 16th Labor Dialogue in Hà Nội, the first since 2016. Officials discuss labor reforms, child and forced labor prevention, workforce development for the digital economy, diversity and inclusion, and workplace safety. The dialogue reaffirms labor as a central pillar of sustainable trade relations.^[138]

December 15—The U.S. Treasury’s semiannual foreign exchange report notes Vietnam’s ongoing engagement and monitoring, with Vietnam not designated a manipulator. This eases tensions while keeping currency practices under review.^[139]

December 31—By year’s end, U.S.–Vietnam trade has reached record levels. U.S. imports from Vietnam total $127.5 billion, while U.S. exports to Vietnam reach $11.4 billion, leaving a trade deficit of $116.1 billion. Vietnam’s Ministry of Planning and Investment reports $27.72 billion in new FDI inflows, with the U.S. among the top 10 investors, particularly in high-tech manufacturing and renewable energy. These figures underscore Vietnam’s role as a global manufacturing hub and the deepening interdependence of the two economies.^[140]

2023

February 13—The U.S. Department of State marks the 30th anniversary of the lifting of the U.S. trade embargo on Vietnam (1994–2023). Officials highlight how bilateral trade grows from virtually nothing in 1994 to more than $138 billion in 2022, underscoring the economic foundation of the relationship.^[141]

April 14—Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits Hà Nội, meeting with General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính, and Foreign Minister Bùi Thanh Sơn. The visit celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Comprehensive Partnership and prepares the ground for the later elevation of ties. Discussions focus on trade, education, climate, and war legacy cooperation.^[142]

May 4—The U.S. and Vietnam sign an MOU on Semiconductor Supply Chains, Workforce, and Skill Development, part of the CHIPS and Science Act implementation. The agreement aims to strengthen Vietnam’s role in global semiconductor supply chains and expand U.S. investment in high-tech manufacturing.^[143]

June 5—Vietnam participates in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) negotiations in Singapore, joining all four pillars: trade, supply chains, clean economy, and fair economy. This reinforces Vietnam’s role as a key U.S. economic partner in Asia.^[144]

July 25—USAID and Vietnam’s Ministry of National Defense announce the completion of the dioxin remediation project at Đà Nẵng Airport, a decade-long, $110 million joint effort. This milestone is celebrated as a major achievement in addressing war legacies and building trust.^[145]

September 10—General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng and President Joe Biden meet in Hà Nội and announce the elevation of bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the highest tier in Vietnam’s diplomatic framework. The joint statement launches new cooperation on semiconductors, critical minerals, innovation, education, climate, and war legacy issues.^[146]

September 13—The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) publishes “U.S. Assistance to Vietnamese Families Impacted by Agent Orange” and Special Report No. 522, documenting the needs of victims and recommending expanded nonmedical support. This is an example of the important role of nonprofits and research institutions in U.S.-Vietnam reconciliation.^[147]

October 2—U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan makes a port call in Đà Nẵng, underscoring growing defense cooperation and maritime security ties under the new Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework.^[148]

November 17—Vietnam and the U.S. hold a senior defense policy dialogue in Washington, co-chaired by Vietnamese Deputy Defense Minister Hoàng Xuân Chiến and U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense Ely Ratner. The dialogue focuses on maritime security, defense industry cooperation, and war legacy issues.^[149]

December 15—Vietnam and the U.S. hold their annual Labor Dialogue online, led by MOLISA Deputy Minister Lê Văn Thành and U.S. Deputy Undersecretary Thea Lee. Discussions cover labor law reforms, child and forced labor prevention, disability care, and workforce development for inclusive, sustainable trade.^[150]

2024

March 19–24—The U.S. Department of State and Vietnam’s Ministry of Education and Training co-host workshops on STEM education and workforce development, with U.S. universities and tech companies participating. These programs are linked to semiconductor and digital economy cooperation, anticipating later CHIPS Act–funded initiatives.^[151]

May 8—Human Rights Watch urges the U.S. not to grant Vietnam “market economy” status, citing restrictions on independent unions and worker organizing. The statement coincides with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s hearing on Vietnam’s status, spotlighting labor rights concerns in trade policy.^[152]

July 19—General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng dies at age 80. His passing ends an era of consolidated party control and anti-corruption campaigns, setting up a contested succession. The transition culminates in the rise of Tô Lâm as General Secretary, with implications for economic policy, foreign alignment, and defense cooperation.^[153]

August 10—Vietnam marks Agent Orange Day with nationwide events led by VAVA. U.S. nonprofits and veterans’ groups, including Veterans For Peace, amplify calls for sustained remediation and victim support, underscoring war-legacy cooperation as a pillar of bilateral ties.^[154]

August 26—The U.S.–Vietnam Political, Security, and Defense Dialogue convenes in Hà Nội, led by Under Secretary of State Bonnie D. Jenkins and co-chaired by former Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Hà Kim Ngọc. Talks advance defense exchanges, maritime security, and strategic technology cooperation.^[155]

September 11—The United States announces $1 million in immediate relief to support Vietnam’s recovery from Typhoon Yagi, underscoring humanitarian cooperation. On the same day, the two countries also mark the first anniversary of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership by launching semiconductor workforce development and public policy workshops in Hà Nội, funded by the International Technology Security and Innovation (ITSI) Fund under the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act. These initiatives highlight the dual focus of the partnership: immediate humanitarian support and long-term strategic cooperation in critical technologies and supply chains.^[156]

September 22—Vietnam’s Ministry of Planning and Investment hosts a Vietnam–U.S. Semiconductor & AI Cooperation Seminar in New York, attended by General Secretary Tô Lâm. U.S. firms and Vietnamese officials discuss joint R&D, workforce training, and investment promotion, underscoring semiconductors as a strategic pillar of the partnership.^[157]

September 25—President Joe Biden meets General Secretary Tô Lâm on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. They reaffirm momentum in the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, emphasizing cooperation in semiconductors, supply chains, education, clean energy, and defense.^[158]

October 10—The U.S. Institute of Peace hosts its annual Dialogue on War Legacies and Peace, bringing together officials and nonprofits from the U.S. and Vietnam to coordinate on dioxin cleanup, UXO clearance, and support for Agent Orange-impacted families.^[159]

October 11—The Victims of Agent Orange Relief Act of 2024, H.R. 9977 is introduced by Rep. Barbara Lee with 12 co-sponsors.

October 22—Vietnam announces its National Semiconductor Development Strategy, aiming to become a global hub for assembly, packaging, and testing (APT). U.S. firms are identified as key partners in design, training, and advanced manufacturing, aligning with CHIPS Act-supported initiatives.^[160]

November 20—The U.S. delivers five T-6C training aircraft to Vietnam under a bilateral defense cooperation agreement, boosting pilot training and interoperability. This marks one of the most tangible defense transfers in the partnership.^[161]

December 19—Vietnam Defense Expo 2024 opens in Hà Nội with U.S. Department of Defense participation. The expo highlights defense industry engagement, maritime capacity-building, and broader military-technical cooperation under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.^[162]

December 31—By year’s end, U.S.–Vietnam trade and investment ties deepen further. Vietnam’s electronics industry generates $126.5 billion in exports, with the U.S. as a top market. U.S. firms like Intel and Nvidia expand operations, supported by the CHIPS and Science Act, which positions Vietnam as a critical node in U.S.-led supply chain diversification.^[163]

2025

January—ICE begins detaining and deporting pre-1995 Vietnamese immigrants at higher numbers than in the past, breaking with the 2008 U.S.–Vietnam repatriation agreement. Nonprofits such as the Vietnamese American Organization and the Asian Law Caucus condemn the practice as “inhumane.”^[164]

January 7—Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Dafna Rand leads the U.S. delegation at the 28th U.S.–Vietnam Human Rights Dialogue in Hà Nội.

January 22—Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC) issues a statement opposing Trump’s early executive orders, warning they threaten the immigration status and civil rights of Asian Americans, including Vietnamese communities.^[165]

February 7—The Trump administration announces a 90-day suspension of USAID operations worldwide, including in Vietnam. This freeze immediately halts new project funding and fieldwork, putting on hold critical programs in HIV/AIDS prevention, tuberculosis treatment, higher education partnerships, and the multi-year Biên Hòa dioxin cleanup project.

February 14—Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms that the suspension is directly affecting USAID-funded projects in health, education, and war legacy remediation. Officials express concern that the freeze undermines bilateral trust at a time when the U.S. and Vietnam are deepening their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

February 15—The Foreign Ministry spokesperson states that the suspension is already disrupting Biên Hòa Airbase dioxin cleanup and UXO removal projects. These initiatives are central to reconciliation efforts, and their interruption raises fears of environmental and human health risks in affected communities.

March 5—Vietnam agrees to fast-track deportations of its nationals after the Trump administration threatens tariffs and visa sanctions. Meanwhile, DOGE announces that “non-essential independent agencies” will be reviewed for elimination, placing the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) on the initial list. USIP, created by Congress in 1984 as a federally funded but independent institute, has long served as a hub for conflict resolution, peacebuilding research, and reconciliation programs, including sustained work on Vietnam War legacies.

March 17—The USC Center for Health Journalism reports that Vietnamese immigrants face mental health struggles amid Trump’s deportation wave, with fear, disorientation, and trauma spreading in communities.^[166]

March 19—UNAIDS reports that U.S. funding cuts undermine HIV/AIDS programs in Vietnam, with PrEP and ARV supplies projected to run out by the end of May. These programs, heavily supported by USAID, are vital in reducing infection rates and providing treatment access for vulnerable populations.

April 10—USIP’s Vietnam War Legacies and Reconciliation Initiative reports that its planned 50th anniversary events, meant to bring together U.S. and Vietnamese veterans and scholars, are at risk of cancellation due to budget freezes. The loss of these dialogues threatens to stall decades of progress in people-to-people diplomacy.

April 25—CNN interviews Vietnamese Americans about Trump’s first 100 days of his second term. Some older refugees praise his anti-China stance, while younger voters criticize his immigration policies and deportations.^[167]

April 28—The Victims of Agent Orange Relief Act of 2025, H.R. 3051 is introduced by Rep. Rashida Tlaib with 14 co-sponsors.

April 30— On the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War’s end, Vietnam holds large reunification celebrations, while in the U.S. a range of commemorative events take place—some celebratory, some somber, and others focused on academic reflection. Days earlier, Trump has ordered U.S. diplomats in Vietnam to refrain from attending 50th anniversary reunification events.

May 21—The Trump Organization breaks ground on the Trump International Hưng Yên project, a US$1.5 billion development outside Hà Nội featuring three 18-hole golf courses, luxury resorts, high-end villas, and a modern urban complex. The nearly 1,000-hectare project is designed as both a tourism hub and residential community. Eric Trump attends the groundbreaking alongside Vietnamese officials. While golf is the flagship investment, the project also integrates eco-tourism and high-tech urban planning, positioning Vietnam as a key site for Trump-branded expansion in Asia. Hưng Yên province, where the project takes place, is the hometown of VCP General Secretary Tô Lâm.^[168]

May 28—News outlets report that the Trump administration detains former Vietnamese refugees who have lived in the U.S. for decades. “We feel we got abandoned again,” says one interviewee.^[169]

May 30—The Trump administration announces new restrictions on student and work visas, including pausing interviews and tightening F-1 rules. These changes directly affect 36,000+ Vietnamese students in the U.S., who contribute over $800 million annually to the U.S. economy.^[170]

May 27–August—A visa interview freeze halts new F-1, M-1, and J-1 appointments, disrupting study plans for thousands of Vietnamese students.

June 1—DOGE suspends new USIP grants, halting joint research on Agent Orange impacts, veterans’ dialogues, and youth exchange programs in Vietnam. These activities are central to USIP’s mission of fostering reconciliation and mutual understanding between former adversaries.

June 30—The Vietnam NGO Resource Centre announces it will cease operations, citing the USAID freeze and loss of funding for TB and HIV/AIDS projects. This closure symbolizes the cascading effect of the aid suspension on Vietnam’s civil society and public health infrastructure.

July 1—USAID is officially dissolved after 63 years of operation. In Vietnam, this means the termination of Biên Hòa dioxin remediation, HIV/AIDS and TB prevention programs, and higher education and workforce initiatives, including STEM and digital economy cooperation. The closure marks the end of the largest U.S. development presence in the country.

July 2—Trump announces a new trade deal with Vietnam, imposing a 20% tariff on all Vietnamese exports and a 40% tariff on goods transshipped through Vietnam. U.S. goods can now enter Vietnam duty-free under the deal, while Vietnamese exports face steep tariffs.

Trump’s new tariffs are expected to produce a sharp impact on Vietnam’s labor market, particularly in textiles, footwear, furniture, and electronics, which employ millions of workers. Factories are forced to cut shifts, freeze hiring, or lay off staff. Wages are under pressure, and migrant workers in industrial zones are among the most vulnerable.

Analysts warn that while Vietnam is trying to pivot toward high‑tech sectors like semiconductors, the short‑term effect is widespread disruption in labor‑intensive industries that had powered Vietnam’s export boom.^[171]

July 21—USIP’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. is formally closed after DOGE seizes control of its operations. Staff are dismissed, and ongoing projects abroad—including in Vietnam—are terminated. For Vietnam, this means the abrupt end of U.S.-backed reconciliation programs, veterans’ exchanges, and scholarly dialogues that have been a cornerstone of bilateral healing since the 1990s. Analysts warn that the shutdown of USIP weakens U.S. soft power, leaving a vacuum in reconciliation and conflict mediation work in Southeast Asia. Without USIP, Vietnam loses a trusted platform for addressing war legacies outside of formal government channels.

July 25—A U.S.–Vietnam team returns possible remains of missing U.S. service members from the Vietnam War during a repatriation ceremony in Da Nang Province. The remains are transported to Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam, Hawaii, where forensic experts conduct DNA and anthropological analysis to confirm identities. This mission highlights the continued success of joint recovery operations under DPAA and the Vietnam Wartime Accounting Initiative (VWAI).^[172]

September 2—The U.S. removes interview waivers for F-1, H-1B, and B-1/B-2 visas, while DHS introduces a new F-1 framework with stricter rules. This affects both students and Vietnamese professionals on work visas.

September 4—The U.S. Department of Defense issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) under the Vietnam Wartime Accounting Initiative (VWAI), offering up to $2 million in program funding to support cooperative projects between American institutions and Vietnamese counterparts. Individual awards ranged from $284,000–$550,000, with eligible partners including Texas Tech University’s Vietnam Center & Archive, Mission POW/MIA, and the U.S.–ASEAN Business Council Institute. The grants were designed to advance archival research, forensic analysis, and capacity-building programs aimed at locating and identifying missing personnel from the Vietnam War.^[173] 

October 26—Vietnam and the U.S. release a Joint Statement on a framework for negotiating a Reciprocal, Fair, and Balanced Trade Agreement that will deepen economic ties, expand market access, and reduce trade barriers between the two countries. The framework emphasizes transparency, fair competition, and sustainable growth, while also highlighting cooperation on supply chain resilience, digital trade, and environmentally responsible practices. The Joint Statement notes that the U.S. will maintain the 20% reciprocal tariffs set forth in Executive Order 14257 of April 2, 2025, on originating goods of Vietnam, while Vietnamese companies agree to purchase over $2.9 billion worth of U.S. agricultural commodities, and Vietnam Airlines will purchase 50 Boeing aircraft with a total worth of over $8 billion.

Both governments underscore that this effort is not only about economic benefits but also about strengthening their broader strategic partnership in support of regional stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.^[174] This agreement is part of Trump’s second term’s protectionist policies.^[175] 

October 31—Vietnam and the U.S. sign a Memorandum of Understanding on War Legacy Cooperation in Hà Nội. Drawing on the 2024 Vietnam—US Joint Vision Statement on Defense Cooperation and updating the 2011 MoU between the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense and the U.S. Department of Defense (which was revised in 2022), this MOU strengthen collaboration in 5 key areas: clearing unexploded ordance, improving the quality of life for people with disabilities in provinces heavily affected by Agent Orange, remediating dioxin contamination at Biên Hòa Airport, supporting the search, recovery, and identification of Vietnamese soldiers’ remains, and delivering comprehensive cooperation in locating American MIAs in Vietnam.^[176]

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