- Title: Hanoi residents hopeful as Obama arrives for Vietnam trip
- Date: 22nd May 2016
- Summary: VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WAITING VARIOUS OF OBAMA'S MOTORCADE ARRIVING, PULLING INTO THE HOTEL SECURITY OFFICER GESTURING (SOUNDBITE) (Vietnamese) NGUYEN THI THANH, SAYING: "I hope and expect President Obama's visit will open up new opportunities for Vietnam." REPORTER ASKING: "What kind of opportunities?" "May be TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership) and the arms embargo will be completely lifted." PEOPLE WAITING (SOUNDBITE) (Vietnamese) DUONG THI THUY HUONG, SAYING: "The U.S. will support Vietnam in the areas of diplomacy and especially over the South China Sea issue. If we get the U.S. and its allies' support, we could be stronger at sea." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE LOOKING ON VARIOUS OF HOTEL EXTERIORS
- Embargoed: 6th June 2016 18:40
- Keywords: Obama Vietnam Hanoi arrival Air Force One
- Location: HANOI, VIETNAM
- City: HANOI, VIETNAM
- Country: Vietnam
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0034IW3KUF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: U.S. President Barack Obama arrived in Vietnam late on Sunday (May 22) for a three-day trip aimed at sealing the transformation of an old enemy into a new partner.
Four decades after a war with Vietnam that deeply divided opinion in America, Obama aims to boost defence and economic ties with the country's communist rulers while also prodding them on human rights, aides say.
His visit has been preceded by a debate in Washington over whether Obama should use the three-day visit, starting on Monday, to roll back an arms embargo on Hanoi, one of the last vestiges of wartime animosity.
That would anger China, which resents U.S. efforts to forge stronger military bonds with Beijing's neighbours amid rising tensions in the disputed South China Sea.
Vietnam's poor human rights record is a sticking point, but the Obama administration appears increasingly swayed toward giving Hanoi some leeway to build its deterrent against Beijing.
People lined up the streets outside the hotel where Obama will stay, as his motorcade passed by.
Some expressed hope that the visit would result in better diplomatic and economic relationship.
Obama will hold talks with the country's top leaders including President Tran Dai Quang, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, and Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong on Monday. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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