Communist Review - People-to-people diplomacy has been an important content in President Ho Chi Minh’s diplomatic thought which has been successfully applied by the Communist Party of Viet Nam and the State in reality, especially in boosting the relations between the two peoples of Viet Nam and the United States.

History of Viet Nam-US People-to-People relations

From the 1940s of the 20^th century, the Viet Minh Front worked with the Office of Strategic Services - OSS. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of Viet Nam and President Ho Chi Minh, Viet Nam-American Friendship Association was established on October 17, 1945, soon after the national independence was gained. This was considered as the first bilateral friendship association of Viet Nam.

During the American resistance war, Viet Nam continued to take advantage of all opportunities to maintain the relationship with the U.S, which was marked by the Viet Nam-US people-to-people meeting held in Bratislava (Czechoslovakia) in September 1967 and the foundation of the Committee for Viet Nam and America Unity (known as Viet Nam-America Committee) in October 1968. These events were of great significance to the development of the relation and people-to-people ties between the two countries, contributing to guiding peace and anti-war movements in America, facilitating the signing the Paris Peace Accords in 1973, the agreement on ending the war and restoring peace, hence liberating the country in 1975.

In 1992, the Vietnam-American Committee was renamed to Viet Nam-USA Society in charge of the people-to-people diplomatic ties between the two countries. The society has been working with other organizations in Viet Nam to promote exchange activities between the two peoples at all levels, making great contributions to lifting the sanction, boosting conciliation and enhancing mutual understanding. Besides exchanges of veterans and scholars, various American non-governmental organizations have provided enormous support in war relief efforts, especially in handling the consequences of Orange Agent and unexploded ordnance, and in other poverty reduction and hunger eradication projects.

Significant developments in the Viet Nam-America People-to-People Relations

Since the establishment of the bilateral diplomatic relations on July 12, 1995, especially since the comprehensive partnership in July 2013, the Viet Nam-America People-to-People Relations have witnessed vigorous developments and gained noteworthy outcomes, positively contributing to boosting the relationship between the two countries. Such results are as follows:

Firstly, people exchange activities have enabled both parties to realize the policy of “leaving the past behind and looking forward to the future”, to turn “ideas” into “actions”, to develop mutual trust and understanding between the two peoples.

Working under the motto “active, flexible, creative, effective”, the Viet Nam-USA Society, an active member of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations, has expanded its network of friends and partners in such activities as exchange, cooperation, dialogue, and political mobilization on sensitive issues with the U.S. through people-to-people diplomatic channel.

The Viet Nam-USA Society has fostered relations with American peace organizations, left-wing advocacy groups, justice groups for victims of Orange Agent, and veteran organizations, including such big names as the Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc. - VVA, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund - VVMF, the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation - VVAF, The Veterans For Peace – VFP, the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States - VFW, the American Legion. These are the groups that pioneer in boosting conciliation and enhancing mutual understanding, normalizing and developing the Viet Nam and America relationship. Thanks to cooperation with the Friendship Force International - FFI, the association has set up diplomatic ties with more than 50 friendship force member clubs in the U.S. and dozens of force clubs across the globe, welcomed and accommodated a number of delegations to Viet Nam, including various American student delegations, which is highly appreciated by the American side. In return, the association has also dispatched many Friendship Force Ambassador delegations to visit and exchange with American people.

The delegation exchange program between the Viet Nam-USA Society and The American Council of Young Political Leaders - ACYPL has been implemented since 1996 with positive outcomes, enabling young leaders less than 40 years of age working in economic, political and social fields to gain more and share knowledge about the political system and policy making process in each country.

The society has also developed links with a large number of American universities and colleges, welcoming professor and scholar delegations to learn about the history, the people, the land of Viet Nam as well as the long-lasting relations between the two countries. Since 2015, the relations between the society and the 2 Side Project - 2SP organization has been promoted with various friendship, conciliatory, and humane exchanges between children of fallen American soldiers and those of Vietnamese war martyrs.

Many Americans, including war martyrs, senators…after visiting Viet Nam and eyewitnessing severe consequences that Vietnamese people have been suffering over half of a century have been able to realize the unjust nature of the American War, then decide to take action and make contributions to the joint war-consequence relief efforts and the development of Viet Nam as well as the relations between the two countries.

A number of scholars, researchers, journalists have come to Viet Nam to collect data for their works to provide an accurate reflection of the American War in Viet Nam and its consequences as well as the country’s achievements and difficulties in its national cause of construction and development.

Humbled by the forgiveness and generosity of Vietnamese people shown in their efforts to find the remains of lost American soldiers while many Vietnamese mothers haven’t found theirs, an increasing number of American martyrs together with their families have handed over hundreds of files, documents and war mementos to concerned agencies, families or museums in Viet Nam, allowing to locate the remains of a large number of Vietnamese fallen soldiers in the old battlefields.

Secondly, the support and aids of numerous American non-governmental organizations in alleviating hunger and poverty as well as overcoming war consequences. At present, Viet Nam has developed ties with more than 1000 non-governmental organizations, a third of which are from the U.S., with the total of aid up to 300 million dollars per year. Statistically, some 159 such organizations have been undertaking regular activities in Viet Nam, focusing on such fields as healthcare, education, economy and war consequence handling. The value of aids from American non-governmental organizations account for between 45% and 50% of the total aids from foreign ones in Viet Nam. This figure witnesses an annual increase, reaching 100 million dollars a year. Specifically, it is the American organizations that contribute the most to the construction of infrastructure and technical facilities in the field of healthcare in Viet Nam.

With their professional and large-scale activities, high disbursement rate, long-term commitment and effective cooperation with Vietnamese partners, American non-governmental organizations play a vital role among assisting countries. In the normalization process of the Viet Nam-US diplomatic relations, various American non-organizations played an active, pioneering and “ice-breaking” role, establishing the practical and effective people-to-people exchange channel. They have provided assistance and support via comprehensive projects on handling unexploded ordnance, aiding Orange Agent victims and raising public awareness of the disabled, which has generated positive results, contributing to dealing with social problems, boosting community development and improving managing skills for various Vietnamese agencies and organizations.

The participation of American non-governmental organizations has been recognized as a special people diplomatic form. Apart from economic and social benefits, their projects have made significant contributions to enhancing the understanding of the two countries’ diplomatic relations and to fostering the normalization of the relations on the basis of mutual respect for independence and sovereignty, equality and mutual benefit.

Thirdly, contributing to enhancing cooperation on such activities as: mobilizing the U.S to provide technical support for Viet Nam on its way to join the World Trade Organization, not applying anti-dumping taxes on Vietnamese aquatic products imported into the U.S, connecting and promoting cultural and arts exchanges, as well as information sharing in an effort to find cooperation and business opportunities among small and medium-sized enterprises of the two countries.

Fourthly, implementing non-official dialogue channel on human rights and religion with the U.S, promoting mutual understanding, and through people-to-people diplomacy mobilizing the U.S not to adopt erroneous bills and resolution on Viet Nam. Viet Nam has received a number of delegations from The Institute for Global Engagement – IGE, a non-governmental organization on religion, during their visits to do research and learn about religious freedom in Viet Nam. Viet Nam has also opened training courses on religious policies, held international seminar and conferences on religion and jurisdiction with the participation of a number of well-known scholars, researchers, religion dignitaries and social activists.

Fifthly, applying a variety of forms of information sharing, Viet Nam has timely informed American friends and partners of the situation in the South China Sea and its legitimate political stance, many of whom have raised their voice in favour of the country’s position on the case.

The people-to-people diplomatic ties in the coming years

The world has been witnessing complicated and unpredictable developments, featured by both opportunities and challenges. Strategic competition between significant powers has been on the rise, especially in Asia-Pacific region. The escalating situation in the South China Sea has posed serious threats to the regional peace, stability and security as well as the national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In addition, Viet Nam is on its way to industrialization and modernization, which requires the country to have a peaceful and stable environment to mobilize capital, technology, intelligence and international support for national construction and protection.

The relationship between Viet Nam and the U.S. within the framework of “strategic partnership” has been vigorously developing in all aspects. In the next 10 years, the people-to-people diplomatic ties should be further promoted to be on par with their potentials, aiming for the mobilization of American people’s support for the strong and sustainable development of Viet Nam, for the strengthening of Viet Nam-USA relationship, and for peace, stability and conflict-settlement by peaceful means in accordance with international laws.

The people-to-people relation between Viet Nam and the U.S are characterized by the following features:

Opened relationship: Beside strengthening diplomatic relations with traditional partners, it is necessary for Viet Nam to establish links with people organizations representing different people stratum in the American society, especially the Vietnamese American community and the youth.

Comprehensive relationship: Diplomatic ties are promoted in all aspects including economy, culture, science and technology.

Profound and practical relationship: This will positively foster economic and commercial ties, untie and lift all barriers and difficulties along the way.

Sincere and trustful relationship: It is essential to conciliate, enhance understanding and promote trust among the two peoples.

For such vision to be realized, there should be a close coordination between the State diplomacy, the Party diplomacy and people diplomacy. People diplomacy has been a promising area for development. With flexible policies, dialogue and cooperation would help build and promote the profound friendship with American people, gradually settle disagreement especially in such issues as democracy, human rights, race, religious and other interests of the Vietnamese Americans.

In the coming time, it is necessary that the Viet Nam-USA Society and other local member associations further enhance their internal strength, attract the participation of enterprises, scholars, researchers, and students to establish a relation network, and connect domestic people organizations with American individuals and organizations as well as Vietnamese overseas living in the U.S. It is also essential to pay attention to deepening relationship with American peace organizations, left-wing advocacy groups, non-governmental and charity organizations.

President Ho Chi Minh once highlighted the way to win people’s hearts by morality, to change people by humanity and to persuade people by justice. Promoting understanding of mutual demands and interests, handling consequences from the past, building up trust between the two peoples will serve as a solid foundation for the diplomatic ties between the two countries to be heightened, satisfying the needs of the two peoples, contributing to regional and international peace, stability and development.

This article was published in the Communist Review No. 942 (May 2020)