Timeline

 

August 24-26, 2021: US Vice President Kamala Harris visits Viet Nam.

 

May 6, 2020: Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc holds phone talks with US President Donald Trump on the relationship between two countries and bilateral cooperation in coping with the COVID-19.

 

March 5-9, 2020: US Navy aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt visits Viet Nam, at Da Nang.

 

February 27, 2019: Party General Secretary and President of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc warmly welcome the U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to Vietnam for the second DPRK-USA in Hanoi.

 

September 17, 2018: Vietnamese Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United States of America Ha Kim Ngoc presents Letter of Credential to President Donald J. Trump.

 

March 5-9, 2018: The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson visits Viet Nam, at Tien Sa Port, Da Nang city.

 

November 11 - 12, 2017: U.S. President Donald Trump visits Viet Nam and attends the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting.

 

May 29 - 31, 2017: Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc visits the United States. 

 

May 22 - 24, 2016: U.S. President Barack Obama visits Viet Nam. May 23, U.S. President Barack Obama announces the U.S. is fully lifting its embargo on sales of lethal weapons to Viet Nam.

 

August 31 - September 09, 2015: Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Sinh Hung visits the United States.

 

July 6 - 10, 2015: General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong visits the United States. The two countries adopt a joint vision statement on Viet Nam – U.S relations.

 

June 1, 2015: Defense Minister Phung Quang Thanh and U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter sign a joint vision statement on defense relations.

 

February 23, 2015: Vietnamese Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Pham Quang Vinh presents Letter of Credential to U.S. President Barack Obama.

 

October 2, 2014. The United States partially lifts its longtime ban on the provision of lethal weapons to Viet Nam.

 

July 24 - 26, 2013: President Truong Tan Sang visits the United States. On July 25, President Truong Tan Sang and President Barack Obama announce a Comprehensive Partnership between the two countries.

 

July 7, 2011: Vietnamese Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Nguyen Quoc Cuong presents Letter of Credential to U.S. President Barack Obama.

 

June 23 -26, 2008: Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung visits the United States.

 

January 22, 2008: Vietnamese Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Le Cong Phung presents Letter of Credential to U.S. President George W. Bush.

 

June 18 - 23, 2007: President Nguyen Minh Triet visits the United States.

 

December 08, 2006: Approval by U.S. House of Representative of the Bill to extend the Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status to Viet Nam. Dec 9 2006, the Bill was passed in the U.S. Senate.

 

November 17 - 20, 2006: U.S. President George W. Bush visits Viet Nam and attends the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting 2006.

 

May 31, 2006: Signing of bilateral agreement on Viet Nam's accession to the World Trade Organization.

 

June 19 - 25, 2005: Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai visits the United States.

 

December 9, 2004: United Airlines launches the first direct service between U.S. and Viet Nam.

 

April 2, 2004: The formation of the U.S. - Viet Nam Caucus is announced.

 

December 10, 2001: Bilateral Trade Agreement enters effect after exchange of ratification letters by Viet Nam's Trade Minister Vu Khoan and U.S Trade Representative Zoelick at Blair House.

 

November 24, 2001: Viet Nam's National Assembly approved Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA).

 

October 18, 2001: U.S. President George W. Bush signed Resolution of ratification of Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA).

 

October 10, 2001: Vietnamese Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Nguyen Tam Chien presents Letter of Credential to U.S. President George W. Bush.

 

October 8, 2001: U.S Senate approved the Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) between the U.S and Viet Nam.

 

July 2-6, 2001: Viet Nam and the U.S agreed to conduct two research projects on Agent Orange.

 

November 16-19, 2000: U.S. President Bill Clinton pays an official visit to Viet Nam.

 

July 13, 2000: The two sides sign a landmark trade agreement a quarter of a century after the end of the Vietnam War.

 

June 19, 2000: The U.S. pledges 1.7 million dollars in humanitarian aid to help Vietnam detect and destroy mines and unexploded ordnance.

 

January 1999: Viet Nam grants Most Favored Status to American companies working in Viet Nam although the two countries don't have bilateral trade agreement yet.

 

October 1, 1998: Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Nguyen Manh Cam visits the U.S., the first official visit to the U.S.

 

March 11, 1998: U.S. President Bill Clinton announces a waiver that excludes Vietnam from the Jackson-Vanick amendment.

 

May 1997: The two countries exchange Ambassadors. Mr. Le Van Bang becomes Vietnamese Ambassador to the U.S. Mr. Douglas Peterson becomes U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam.

 

August 5, 1995: Secretary of State Warren Christopher inaugurates the U.S. embassy in Ha Noi as he pays the first official visit by a U.S. Secretary of State to Viet Nam.

 

July 11, 1995: U.S. President Bill Clinton and Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet announce of establishment of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Viet Nam.

 

January 28, 1995: The two countries announce the opening of liaison offices.

 

February 3, 1994: U.S. President Bill Clinton announces the lifting of the trade embargo against Viet Nam, a week after it is approved by the U.S. Senate.

 

September 14, 1993: U.S. President Bill Clinton allows U.S. firms to take part in development projects financed by international institutions in Viet Nam.

 

July 2, 1993: U.S. President Bill Clinton authorizes the International Monetary Fund to refinance Viet Nam's foreign debt (140 million dollars), clearing the way for Viet Nam to receive international financial aid.

 

April 25, 1993: The first U.S. company, Vatico (consultancy), opens an office in Viet Nam.

 

December 14, 1992: U.S. President George H. W. Bush allows U.S. companies to open representative offices in Viet Nam and to sign contracts once the US trade embargo is lifted.

 

November 11, 1991: U.S. Government officially allows American tourists, veterans, journalists, businessmen to visit Viet Nam.

 

April 09, 1991: U.S. Government announced a "4-step Roadmap" for the normalization of relations with Viet Nam.

 

September 29, 1990: Foreign Minister Nguyen Co Thach meets U.S. State Secretary James Baker in New York.

 

September 29-31, 1988: Second visit of U.S. General John Vessey to Viet Nam on humanitarian issues in which both sides have mutual interest.

 

August 1-3, 1987: Special Envoy of U.S. President Ronald Reagan, General John Vessey first time visits Viet Nam to discuss humanitarian issues of mutual interest.

 

April 30, 1975: A U.S. trade embargo, already in effect against North Viet Nam since 1964, is extended to the whole of Viet Nam.