Socialist Republic of Vietnam

NB: On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the end of the war, the Vietnam-USA Society has publicized the following open letter.

Open Letter of the Vietnam-USA Society

Thirty years ago, the war ended and peace was restored in Vietnam. This made it possible to open up a new stage in Vietnam-US relations.

On this occasion, we would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all peace-and-justice loving Americans for their opposition to the American war in Vietnam. At the same time, we express our deep sympathy with the pain of American families who lost their loved ones in the war. We highly appreciate the great efforts Americans, including veterans, made in promoting relations of friendship and cooperation between the people of our two countries.

Vietnam today is no longer a land of war, but a country of growing prosperity. Our people's earnest desire is to live in peace, independence and freedom, to develop the country along the path of our own choice and to have relations of friendship and equal cooperation with all countries. We welcome all Americans to come and see firsthand the changes in all aspects of life in Vietnam.

The two countries experienced a difficult and complicated period in their relations. They now enjoy a normal relationship. The past ten years since the establishment of diplomatic relations have seen multi-faceted bilateral cooperation taken shape. In the spirit "shelve the past while not forgetting it, and look forward to the future", we wish to contribute to building equal and mutually beneficial cooperation with the United States on a lasting and stable basis. In pursuit of their humanitarian tradition, the Vietnamese people have been willingly working with the American side to address the war legacy, including the POW/MIA issue. We look forward to the goodwill of the American side in solving the war consequences on Vietnamese people.

On this occasion, we call on all Americans to join the common efforts in healing the war wounds of the past and build friendly relations between Vietnam and the United States for a better future of the people of our two countries.

We wish you a life of peace and prosperity.

 Hanoi, April 2005