BANGKOK – As Vietnam prepares to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War on April 30, the government anticipates a significant U.S. presence at the ceremonies, notwithstanding reports suggesting the Trump administration has advised diplomats to refrain from attending.
Vietnam’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Pham Thu Hang, stated that the ceremonies in Ho Chi Minh City will welcome delegations from various high-level leaders, political parties, international organizations, and peace movements, including representatives from the U.S.
The New York Times reported, citing four anonymous U.S. officials, that the Trump administration has instructed senior diplomats, including U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper, to avoid events commemorating this anniversary.
The newspaper also indicated that U.S. veterans have been informed they would not receive official assistance for organizing anniversary-related activities.
In response to the New York Times report, Hang emphasized the significance of the South’s surrender 50 years ago in what was then Saigon, stating, “Vietnam’s victory on April 30, 1975 is a victory of human conscience and righteousness, one that put an end to the losses and sufferings, for not only the people of Vietnam, but also to countless American families.”
Reports from some U.S. officials suggest that the Trump administration may be hesitant to engage in an event marking a U.S. defeat on the same day as the 100th day of the president’s tenure.
Radio Free Asia reached out to the U.S. State Department for clarification on the New York Times claims but had not received a response at the time of publication.
Carlyle Thayer, an emeritus professor at Australia’s University of New South Wales, commented on the situation, suggesting it is indeed in the U.S. national interest to attend the ceremony.
He argued that U.S. participation would help to reinforce their comprehensive strategic partnership with Vietnam, enabling the country to play an independent role in regional security rather than becoming overly influenced by China.
According to Thayer, the Trump administration has been undermining U.S.-Vietnam relations in several key areas, including disrupting USAID programs aimed at demining, health care for victims of Agent Orange, and dioxin remediation.
He also noted the imposition of unilateral tariffs on Vietnamese exports to the U.S., particularly the new high tariffs on solar panels, showing a lack of respect for a significant historical ceremony in Vietnam.
Hang reiterated the importance of Vietnam-U.S. relations, which have reached the highest level of comprehensive strategic partnership since 2023.
The upcoming events are designed to celebrate cooperation between the two nations.
“The April 30 anniversary is an occasion to honor the values of benevolence, of peace, of reconciliation and in the spirit of putting the past aside and striving towards the future,” Hang stated.
The situation unfolds amidst growing uncertainty in U.S.-Vietnam relations, particularly following a steep 46% tariff on Vietnamese exports to the U.S., which poses a substantial challenge to the country’s export-driven industrialization.
This development has disappointed officials in Hanoi, with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressing that the tariff does not reflect the strong bilateral relations between the two countries.
Reports indicate that officials from both nations are currently discussing a potential trade agreement, which may lead to reduced tariff rates, although the specifics of any adjustments remain uncertain.
image source from：https://www.rfa.org/english/vietnam/2025/04/25/us-war-ceremony-snub/
