PPI Leads Bipartisan Congressional Staff Delegation to Vietnam

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PPI Leads Bipartisan Congressional Staff Delegation to Vietnam

A couple weeks ago, PPI brought a bipartisan delegation of senior congressional staff to Vietnam for a week of high-level government meetings, site visits, and on-the-ground learning. The trip came during the 30th anniversary of U.S.-Vietnam diplomatic relations and at a pivotal moment in ongoing tariff negotiations between the two countries. Designed to connect congressional staff directly with the people and institutions shaping Vietnam’s economic trajectory, this trip offered an up-close view of how trade policy, supply chain shifts, and strategic cooperation are influencing one of the United States’ most dynamic and fast-changing bilateral relationships.

Exploring Economic and Strategic Ties

The delegation engaged with senior Vietnamese officials, business leaders, and policy experts to discuss trade policy, investment conditions, supply chain resilience, and Vietnam’s long-term economic strategy. Meetings in Hanoi included the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Central Commission for Policy and Strategy, and members of the National Assembly. Conversations touched on Vietnam’s integration into global markets, opportunities for U.S. investment, ongoing tariff negotiations and shared priorities for regional security and economic cooperation.

Lessons from U.S. and Local Stakeholders

The delegation met with U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Mark Knapper and senior Embassy officials in Hanoi, as well as representatives from the U.S. Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City, for briefings on economic engagement, trade priorities, and the broader strategic goals of the bilateral relationship. They also engaged with Vietnamese academic experts at the Fulbright School of Public Policy and Management, discussing Vietnam’s modernization efforts and the role of educational partnerships in strengthening U.S.-Vietnam ties. Across both cities, the group also met with American business leaders, gaining candid perspectives on the opportunities and challenges of operating in Vietnam, the country’s efforts to modernize its industrial base, and the balancing act between economic growth and regulatory reform.

On the Ground Insights

One of the more impactful moments of the trip was the visit to Bien Hoa Air Base, a wartime Agent Orange storage center and now the largest remaining dioxin-contaminated site in Vietnam. The delegation saw firsthand the U.S.-funded cleanup efforts and learned how the closure of USAID, including layoffs of its Vietnam staff experts, has slowed progress on a project that is critical to public health, environmental recovery, and U.S.-Vietnam trust-building. The visit underscored how legacy war issues remain an active part of the bilateral relationship and how continued engagement is essential to completing this work.

Additional site visits provided further context for policy discussions, including a briefing along the Saigon River to better understand the scale of the former U.S. naval presence, and a drive through Vietnam’s industrial and agricultural heartland en route to Ha Long Bay, where conversations touched on the balance between tourism, economic development and environmental preservation in coastal regions.

PPI is proud to have been able to sponsor this visit to Vietnam, which offered congressional staff a rare opportunity to connect with leaders shaping the country’s economic future and to see firsthand how U.S.-Vietnam relations are unfolding on the ground. The discussions, site visits, and exchanges over the course of the week will surely help inform future policy conversations in Washington on trade, investment, and regional strategy in the Indo-Pacific.

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