From enemies to partners: 30 years of Vietnam–US ties

Detroit, MI, April  30, 2026

A $600 bill at the dinner table became an unexpected test for Tran Xuan Phong, CEO of LeanMAC Hai Phong, a Vietnamese technology company specializing in providing Smart Factory solutions and digital transformation for factories, and a partner of leading manufacturing corporations such as LG and Foxconn.

At a Vietnam-US Business  Forum on July 10, 2026 organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Investment & Trade Promotion in cooperation with the US-Vietnam Business Council, Mr. Phong recounted that during a meal with an American business partner, instead of letting his American partner pay or politely refusing, he proactively suggested: "Let me split the bill with you."

"I found them quite surprised, but then the conversation became much more open," he recounted.

According to him, Americans value transparency and fairness. Seemingly small details in communication can sometimes make a bigger impression than a presentation on a company's capabilities. This is one of the many lessons he learned after his 10-day trip across six US states in search of clients.

For many years, numerous Vietnamese businesses wanting to enter the US market often started by participating in trade fairs, seeking connections through associations, or sending out mass emails offering their products or services.

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Mr. Phong chose a different approach. Instead of relying entirely on traditional marketing channels, his company built a customer acquisition process based on AI, starting with accurately identifying the ideal customer profile (ICP).

Replace cold emails with "warming" ones on LinkedIn.

Having a new customer list is just the first step. According to Phong, a common mistake many businesses make is immediately sending out sales emails. "Cold emails" typically have a very low response rate. Therefore, businesses spend about two weeks just... showing up.

"We don't call to sell anything, but to make sure no emails are missed," he shared.

From 500 businesses to 15 meetings

The process lasted nearly two months before the business trip. As a result, out of approximately 500 businesses screened and contacted by AI, 15 agreed to meet in person. According to Mr. Phong, this is a very positive rate. Especially with American businesses, their willingness to spend time meeting usually means they have thoroughly researched the partner and genuinely want to cooperate, rather than just having a polite meeting.

During the 10-day trip, Mr. Phong  -  with the support of the US-Vietnam Business Council which he is a member -  traveled through 6 states, visiting not only major economic centers but also many areas with specialized industrial clusters to meet with clients. The company is now entering the pricing phase for a series of collaboration opportunities that arose from this trip.

According to Phong, in the context of increasing competition in the US market, Vietnamese businesses not only need good products but also need to change their approach to customers.

"To sell successfully in the US, you have to proactively seek out customers, understand their culture, and prepare thoroughly before knocking on their door," he said.

Source: https://cafebiz.vn/bua-toi-600-usd-va-chuyen-di-qua-6-bang-nuoc-my-ceo-leanmac-chia-se-cach-dung-ai-de-san-15-khach-hang-tu-500-doanh-nghiep-176260713142004353.chn

Ho Chi Minh City, Sept. 26, 2024 -   In the afternoon of September 26, Mr. Vo Van Hoan, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, received Mr. Mark Chandler, Deputy Mayor, Director of Foreign Trade of the Mayor's Office of San Francisco City (USA) on the occasion of attending the Ho Chi Minh City Friendship Dialogue and Ho Chi Minh City Economic Forum 2024.

 At the meeting, the two sides discussed the challenges of industrial transformation and the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in economic and social life.

Mr.  Vo Van Hoan affirmed that AI is no longer a trend but has been present in daily life and is developing very quickly. At the inauguration ceremony of the Industrial Revolution 4.0 Center within the framework of the Ho Chi Minh City Economic Forum, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that the task of Ho Chi Minh City is to design policies for the Government to promulgate and deploy in the city first. 

For the Center to operate effectively and apply AI in management and operation, Ho Chi Minh City plans to send a delegation to San Francisco to learn from experience and share knowledge about regulations, processes, standards, and ways to manage and operate using AI, especially in the fields of health, education, and urban transportation.

 According to Mr. Mark Chandler, the San Francisco city government has always strongly supported industries through establishing artificial intelligence platforms and favorable conditions for businesses to operate. Mr. Mark Chandler affirmed that the city of San Francisco is ready to welcome the delegation, learn, exchange, and find the best solutions to respond to the rapid changes of AI to serve the operation, management of the government and the lives of the people.

Note: Mr. Mark Chandler is a member of the Advisory Board of the US-Vietnam Business Council 

Source:  SGGPO September 26, 2024 

https://www.sggp.org.vn/tphcm-va-tp-san-francisco-hoa-ky-hop-tac-phat-trien-tri-tue-nhan-tao-post760893.html#lg=1&slide=0 

Hanoi,  Dec.30, 2023 -US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper reaffirmed that Washington and Hanoi share a common vision for the region and said the two countries' economies are more connected than ever when reviewing achievements in US relations. -Vietnam in the past year. 

In a video released by the US Embassy in Vietnam on December 29, Mr. Knapper called 2023 a "great" year for relations. between the United States and Vietnam, from former enemies to comprehensive strategic partners. 

Mr. Knapper mentioned what he called President Joe Biden's "historic" visit to Hanoi in September as the most important event in relations between the two countries in the past year.

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During this visit, President Biden and General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong raised US-Vietnam relations to the highest level of partnership. Vietnam's two-level upgrade, making the US an equal partner with China in its diplomatic relations system, is unprecedented. 

Economic - trade - investment cooperation is a high priority area in bilateral relations. The US remains Vietnam's largest export market and Vietnam has become the US's 7th largest trading partner. 

Trade growth between the two countries increases from 450 million USD in 1995 to more than 123 billion USD in 2022.Accumulated to 2023, the US ranks 11th among investors in Vietnam with about 1,200 projects, total capital of nearly 11.4 billion USD. 

Vietnam currently has 230 investment projects in the US, with a total registered capital of 1.26 billion USD.

Source: VOA . Dec. 30, 2023