where is vietnam located in relation to the united states
After a 20 - year hiatus of severed ties , then - U.S. President Bill Clinton announced the formal normalization of diplomatic relations between the United States of America and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on July 11 , 1995 . Subsequent to President Clinton 's normalization announcement , in August 1995 , both countries upgraded their Liaison Offices opened during January 1995 to embassy status . As diplomatic ties between the nations grew , the United States opened a consulate general in Ho Chi Minh City , and Vietnam opened a consulate in San Francisco , California .