According to US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper, over the past 30 years, the two countries have seen a clear broadening of their bilateral relationship and a deepening of trust and understanding. The two nations share many interests and goals, particularly in light of the numerous challenges facing the world today.
The US and Vietnam have a stake in working together to tackle these challenges, whether they are related to health, such as the pandemic.
Among the most significant fields of cooperation, the US Ambassador also mentioned cybercrime as a “big one". “This is something that the world has to deal with, criminals who take advantage of the Internet to harm people and steal resources. So the US and Vietnam are working very closely on cybersecurity,” the Ambassador said, adding that the two sides also cooperate closely in preventing and combating other forms of transnational crime, such as human and drug trafficking. These crimes represent new threats in the 21st century and require close cooperation from both countries.
“I was here 20 years ago, and the biggest difference for me is just how many significant ways our two countries’ interests and goals are now overlapping. And I think we’re going to continue to see that moving forward,” said Ambassador Knapper.
Regarding the prominent pillars of Vietnam-US cooperation, Knapper described the economic relationship as a significant one, noting that Vietnam has become the US’s eighth-largest trading partner, while the US is Vietnam’s largest export market. US investment in Vietnam continues to grow, and Vietnamese investors are increasingly exploring opportunities in the US.
A largest-ever delegation of over 100 Vietnamese investors, led by Deputy Minister of Finance Cao Anh Tuan, attended the 2025 SelectUSA Investment Summit in May, underscoring Vietnam’s growing interest in investing in the US.
Another key pillar, he said, is educational cooperation. Vietnam is now the sixth-largest source of foreign students in the US, with around 30,000 Vietnamese students currently studying there and up to 300,000 participating in short-term programs such as summer camps and semester exchanges. Knapper also expressed hope that more US students, scholars, and researchers would come to Vietnam.
In April, a delegation of representatives from 21 US universities visited Vietnam, and 20 of them are actively engaged in discussions with Vietnamese higher education institutions to increase the exchange of students and scholars. The US’s Fulbright Program, including Fulbright University Vietnam, remains a flagship initiative supported by both governments.
The US is committed to supporting Vietnam’s efforts to gradually make English a second language in schools, viewing it as a crucial step toward expanding opportunities in high-tech and education, he said.
Health cooperation has also become a key pillar of the bilateral relationship, beginning with joint efforts to combat HIV/AIDS through the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in 2005, and later expanding to address tuberculosis and COVID-19.
He recalled Vietnam's provision of protective equipment to the US in its time of need, followed by the US’s donation of 44 million doses of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine to Vietnam. Looking ahead, the Ambassador emphasized that cooperation in health surveillance will be essential for dealing with future pandemics.
In high-tech collaboration, the Ambassador referenced the Vietnam–US Joint Statement of September 2023 as a historic milestone, marking a “double upgrade” in bilateral relations. High-tech cooperation, particularly in semiconductors, is a key component of the agreement.
“This is something that, of course, would benefit Vietnam, but it's also going to benefit the US. I think the more collaboration our two countries have in high-tech fields, the better it is for both our people and economies,” said the Ambassador. Both sides recognize Vietnam’s potential to play a larger and more significant role in global high-tech value chains. They aim to ensure that Vietnam can fulfill its potential as a regional and global semiconductor hub, where the country’s innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit can be fully realized.
At the government level, both countries are working together to support US universities such as Arizona State University in developing high-tech curricula, including semiconductors, in partnership with Vietnamese institutions. Additionally, Purdue University and Portland State University (in collaboration with Intel) are also implementing educational initiatives in Vietnam.
US businesses are actively participating in training and upskilling the Vietnamese workforce to meet the demands of semiconductor factories and microchip design centers. CEOs from Apple and Nvidia have visited Vietnam. Leading semiconductor corporation Qualcomm also recently announced a partnership with VinAI, marking a strong step forward in linking the Vietnamese and US AI communities.
Another example of bilateral cooperation is in promoting English education in Vietnam. “I think it was a bold, significant, and important decision by Vietnam’s government to make English the second official language in the education system. We support it. We think it's a great idea. We want to support Vietnam’s English-language aspirations, because that unlocks so many doors, especially in high-tech and education,” said Ambassador Knapper.
Ambassador Marc Knapper also praised Vietnam’s efforts in administrative reform, saying these steps are important for promoting investment, especially through improved decision-making. These reforms will help make Vietnam an even more attractive destination for trade and investment. He added that the US hopes to see a more vibrant wave of Vietnamese investment in the US as well.
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