July 1995Primary sourceWell documented

America and Vietnam Reconcile

On the timeline · around July 1995 ·

What happened

Two decades after Saigon fell, President Bill Clinton normalized diplomatic relations with Vietnam in 1995. Former enemies became trading partners, and by the 21st century the U.S. and Vietnam were close economic and strategic partners.

Why it matters

The reconciliation closed one of the most painful chapters in American history — turning a bitter war into an unlikely partnership between the two former foes.

Sources

U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian. A Guide to the United States' History of Recognition, Diplomatic, and Consular Relations, by Country: Vietnam · Primary source

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American History → — From enemies to partners

Part of a timelineThe Vietnam War23 events · The Cold War's most divisive conflict — from Ho Chi Minh's fight for independence, through the American war and the fall of Saigon, to reconciliation. Three decades of war in Vietnam.View all →