Key Takeaways:
- US-Vietnam relations continue to deepen with the handover of 12 T-6C training aircraft and expanded maritime support.
- Trade topped $150 billion in 2024 while education and tech ties strengthen, with 36,000 Vietnamese students in the US.
- Cooperation spans culture, humanitarian aid and environmental remediation, including dioxin cleanup at Biên Hòa.
- Joint exercises and training, plus participation in SelectUSA, highlight expanding defence and investment links.
Vietnam and the United States marked a banner year for bilateral cooperation in 2025, with a string of diplomatic, defence and economic initiatives that, according to US Ambassador Marc E. Knapper, reflect three decades of growing ties. The year closed with several high-profile milestones, from military equipment transfers to record levels of trade and expanded educational exchanges.
US-Vietnam relations step up in 2025
In the defence sector, the two countries completed the transfer of 12 T-6C training aircraft to the Vietnam Air Defence and Air Force, and the US provided a third patrol vessel to the Vietnam Coast Guard. High-level visits and port calls—including visits to Đà Nẵng by US naval vessels—reinforced defence and security cooperation. The pair also held important annual dialogues on security, defence and law enforcement in Washington during the autumn and winter.
Education and people-to-people ties continued to expand. The US hosted the largest delegation of American universities to visit Vietnam this year to boost academic exchange and collaboration. Vietnam remains a major source of international students in the US, with some 36,000 Vietnamese currently studying there. More than 9,000 Vietnamese alumni have taken part in US-sponsored exchange programmes, and the largest ever reunion of these alumni brought together leaders, scholars and past participants to celebrate their contributions to the bilateral relationship.
Cultural engagement has been prominent. Four friendship festivals were staged across Vietnam, and a collaborative music video by Vietnamese rapper Suboi titled “Never Before” celebrated connections between peoples. A special report, titled “Vietnam matters to the US, the US matters to Vietnam,” used data to map the depth of the partnership across sectors.
Economic links remain strong. Bilateral trade surpassed $150 billion in 2024, with the US continuing to be Vietnam’s top export market and its second-largest trading partner. Participation in the SelectUSA Investment Summit reached record levels for Vietnamese firms, with over 100 companies attending the 11th edition. Vietnam is also a top-10 global importer of US agricultural products, reflecting growing commercial integration.
Technology cooperation advanced through partnerships between Vietnamese institutions and major US companies including Meta, Google, NVIDIA, Qualcomm and AWS. These collaborations range from government programmes to university research and startup support, aiming to boost Vietnam’s digital ecosystem.
Humanitarian and environmental cooperation also featured prominently. The US provided $1.75 million in aid to help Vietnam respond to storms and floods in the north and centre. Joint training initiatives included a Pacific Friends programme in Quảng Trị that focused on medical readiness and disaster response. A new explosive ordnance training range opened at the National Mine Action Centre in Ba Vì, while progress continued on remediation of dioxin contamination at Biên Hòa airport, underlining ongoing US commitment to addressing war legacy issues.
Ambassador Knapper said the year’s activities signal an enduring commitment to deepen partnership and to work together for a safer, more secure and more prosperous Indo-Pacific. Looking ahead to 2026, both sides say they will sustain the momentum across defence, trade, education and people-to-people ties.
