Post Reports: Decades of Trust-Building in Vietnam, Coming Undone by Trump
Published April 30, 2025

Hosts: Martine Powers and Elahe Izadi
Reporter: Rebecca Tan, Southeast Asia Bureau Chief

Introduction: Lingering Legacies of War

In the latest episode of Post Reports, Rebecca Tan delves into the enduring consequences of the Vietnam War, highlighting the ongoing efforts to mitigate its hazardous remnants. The episode, released on the 50th anniversary of the war's end, underscores how recent policy shifts under the Trump administration have jeopardized decades of trust and cooperation between the United States and Vietnam.

Unexploded Ordnance: A Persistent Danger

[00:06]
Rebecca Tan opens the episode in Gangchu province, Vietnam, where a team of deminers is actively addressing a reported unexploded ordinance. This dangerous task involves identifying and safely detonating remnants from the Vietnam War, which continue to pose significant risks to local communities even half a century later.

[00:37]
Colby Ikowicz introduces Rebecca Tan and the deminers, explaining their crucial role:
"These are people with a dangerous task. They respond to community reports of munitions and unexploded bombs from the Vietnam War... These bombs are still all over the region, even though the war ended 50 years ago." [00:48]

[02:02]
Rebecca describes the meticulous process of handling these explosives:
"They build a little mound around the cluster munition and they surround it with their own explosives. And then they fan out in five different directions... it's so laborious. It's so difficult." [02:02]

Historical Context: The Fall of Saigon

[04:07]
The episode provides a poignant historical backdrop, marking April 30, 1975, the day the North Vietnamese forces captured Saigon, leading to the end of the Vietnam War. This event not only resulted in immense loss of life—over 3 million Vietnamese and 50,000 U.S. service members—but also left lasting scars through unexploded ordnance and chemical agents like Agent Orange.

[06:07]
Colby narrates the chaotic evacuation of Saigon:
"Saigon, April 30, 8:00. The last American helicopter on the roof of the American Embassy prepares to lift off the last of the evacuees..." [06:16]

Personal Stories: The Human Cost of War

[10:06]
Rebecca shares her interaction with General Hong, a retired Vietnamese general dedicated to supporting the families of fallen soldiers:
"He felt haunted by the people that he saw who had been killed on the battlefield. His comrades, his brothers." [10:39]

[14:36]
The episode introduces Steve Morrissey, a Vietnamese-American searching for his father's remains:
"I felt like I was saying to my dad, I brought her here. I brought her back to you, Mom." [15:17]

Steve's heartfelt experience highlights the profound personal impact of the war's unresolved legacy.

Decades of Reconciliation: Building Trust

[19:32]
Rebecca and Colby discuss the extensive efforts undertaken since the normalization of U.S.-Vietnam relations in 1995. Initial cooperation focused on addressing war legacies, such as demining and searching for missing soldiers, which laid the foundation for broader collaboration in areas like public health and climate.

[21:13]
Colby outlines the progression of bilateral programs:
"There’s the demining that started in the 1990s. There was dioxin removal, and that’s the removal of these very toxic dioxins left behind by chemical agents like Agent Orange." [21:13]

These initiatives not only addressed immediate post-war challenges but also fostered a strong commercial relationship, with Vietnam becoming a significant export-dependent economy largely influenced by U.S. policies.

Trump's Policy Shift: Undermining Decades of Progress

[22:40]
The episode shifts focus to the Trump administration's abrupt changes, which have severely impacted U.S.-Vietnam collaboration. Significant funding cuts to USAID and the U.S. Institute of Peace have halted crucial programs dedicated to war legacy issues.

[23:41]
Colby provides specific examples of halted initiatives:
"At least 34 of 43 USAID contracts with Vietnam have been dropped entirely. There were 100 or so USAID employees... who have all been terminated." [23:42]

[25:27]
The administration's lack of consideration for the consequences of these cuts is evident:
"The Trump administration hasn't addressed the cuts in Vietnam specifically... They've said that they're a burden to the American taxpayer." [25:50]

Deteriorating Relations: A Shift Toward Transactionalism

[26:47]
The imposition of a 46% tariff on Vietnamese goods marks a significant deterioration in trade relations:
"A lot of what was made in China moved to being produced in Vietnam during Trump's first trade war. So it's actually since 2016 that that trade relationship has grown exponentially." [26:47]

[27:48]
Rebecca highlights the sense of betrayal felt in Vietnam:
"Vietnam's government has been pretty muted on what they think about the aid cuts... But in private conversations... the Trump administration has managed... to generate a level of distrust toward the US that has not been seen in Vietnam in a really long time." [27:48]

Voices of Opposition: Advocating for Continued Cooperation

[28:43]
Senator Patrick Leahy, a retired Democratic senator, voices strong opposition to Trump's policies:
"Trump is making a colossal mistake... He thinks Trump quote that threatens to sabotage 30 years of cooperation with a key partner." [28:43]

Susan Hammond, daughter of a Vietnam veteran, expresses her sorrow over the erosion of progress:
"She felt like her heart was breaking for all the progress that had been made that was now being eroded in the span of a couple of months, a couple weeks." [28:43]

Future of U.S.-Vietnam Relations: A Loss of Sincerity

[30:12]
Rebecca reflects on the concurrent marking of the war's end and the undermining of reconciliation efforts:
"There was meant to be this joint first-of-its-kind exhibition... to bring the story of cooperation and repairing the consequences of war forward... But that exhibition has been left in indefinite limbo because the USAID and the USIP officials who were in charge of it are no longer allowed to work." [30:12]

[31:28]
Experts predict a shift towards more transactional relations:
"The relationship will become more transactional. It'll be about what I can get from you, what you can get from me... The sincerity that existed for a few decades will kind of be lost." [31:28]

Conclusion: A Fragile Future

The episode concludes with a somber outlook on the future of U.S.-Vietnam relations. While Vietnam remains pragmatic and continues to seek beneficial agreements, the deep-seated trust built over decades is at risk of diminishing under the current administration's policies. The loss of cooperative spirit not only threatens ongoing war legacy projects but also the broader bilateral relationship that has been instrumental in Vietnam's post-war recovery and growth.

Notable Quotes:

• "These are people with a dangerous task. They respond to community reports of munitions and unexploded bombs from the Vietnam War." – Colby Ikowicz [00:48]

• "He felt haunted by the people that he saw who had been killed on the battlefield. His comrades, his brothers." – General Hong [11:26]

• "I brought her here. I brought her back to you, Mom." – Steve Morrissey [15:17]

• "The Trump administration has managed in four months to generate a level of distrust toward the US that has not been seen in Vietnam in a really long time." – Rebecca Tan [27:48]

• "The relationship will become more transactional. It'll be about what I can get from you, what you can get from me... The sincerity... will be lost." – Huang Le Tu, International Crisis Group Analyst [31:28]

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the critical discussions from the episode, providing insights into the historical context, personal narratives, reconciliation efforts, the impact of recent U.S. policies, and future implications for U.S.-Vietnam relations.