Reporters' Diary: U.S.-Vietnam relations? U.S.-DPRK relations?

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‍So here's something you may not know about me. In 2015, my brother lived in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) for a year and a half. I now understand better what drew him to this country.

In my two days driving around Hanoi, capital of Vietnam, I saw farmers working in the rice paddies, wearing that cone-shaped, palm-leaf hat known as the “non.” But I also saw factories producing concrete nearby and skyscrapers in the distance.

In nearly 40 years since Vietnam's government began implementing its reforms, this country has been transformed.

Police stand guard outside the Melia hotel, operated by Melia Hotel International SA, ahead of the DPRK-U.S. summit in Hanoi, Vietnam, February 26, 2019. /VCG Photo

Trang Tuyet Nga, founder of medical device manufacturer MTTS, tells me in the 14 years she's run her company, she's seen financial incentives tied to Vietnam's status as a developing economy disappear due to progress.

Trang founded the first medical device manufacturer in Hanoi.

Le Dang Doanh, a former Vietnamese economic adviser during the Doi-moi reforms who also consults with the visiting Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) officials, told me that there's a connection between Vietnam's economic success and diplomatic relations with Washington.

People wave the DPRK and the U.S. national flags near security personnel as they wait for the motorcade of DPRK's leader Kim Jong Un outside the Melia hotel ahead of the DPRK-U.S. summit in Hanoi, Vietnam, February 26, 2019. /VCG Photo

"It's no way to integrate with the world economy, without normalizing relations with Washington," he said.

Economist Le Dang Doanh advised Hanoi during its economic reforms and now speaks to the DPRK about what they can learn from Vietnam's experience.

On his first visit to Vietnam as U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo began drawing the parallel that led to the choice of Vietnam as the host city to U.S. President Donald Trump's second summit with Chairman Kim Jong Un.

"I hope that the United States, that one day we can share the same relationship with the DPRK,” he said.

"We know it's a real possibility because we see how Vietnam has traveled this remarkable path."

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Vietnamese-American entrepreneur, Daniel Nguyen, suggests Pyongyang can rely on its study of Marxism to find its own balance between progress and protection.

"There are pros and cons to everything of course, but opening up gives you options, and options are never bad," he told me.

Daniel Nguyen, Song Cai Distillery, shows me how he and business partner Michael Rosen make gin.

Whether or not the summit I came here to cover actually can lead to an outcome like what the Vietnamese people are experiencing is certainly an open question. And there are lots of skeptics who will tell you that it's unlikely.

But I'm pleased to be able to experience this vibrant country and culture for myself... even if my brother can no longer show me around.

2327km