U.S.-Vietnam cooperation in overcoming consequences of the Second Indochina War

From the normalization of diplomatic relationships between the USA and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in 1995, countries started to work together to overcome the consequences of the Second Indochina war (late 1950s -1975), which still have been affecting people’s health and the environment. More than four decades after the end of the War, the USA and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam build strong trade linkages and security cooperation. However, the US – Vietnam relationship faces constraints, including historical background and Vietnam’s residual distrust, so it seems relevant to study the influence of the War and of the cooperation in overcoming the consequences of the War on development of relations between countries. This paper investigates the history of the development of political relations between the USA and Vietnam after the War, and humanitarian cooperation as one of key point of U.S.-Vietnam relations.