Thailand And Vietnam Celebrate 35 Years Of Diplomatic Ties

[Lite Beer]

EDITORIAL

Thailand and Vietnam celebrate 35 years of diplomatic ties

By The Nation

The future looks bright, but one must not forget years of work were needed to overcome times of intense division

Thailand and Vietnam - former arch-enemies, but now best friends - yesterday commemorated 35 years of strong relations and solidarity. At the prestigious Ho Chi Minh Museum in Hanoi, there is an impressive month-long exhibition of photos marking Thai-Vietnamese diplomatic relations. The pictures show how the countries have come together despite the ups and downs of some turbulent years. Quite often, the outside world forgets how two former adversaries have been able to bridge past difficulties and remain friendly. As members of Asean, both countries are now working to ensure that the Asean Community will become a reality in 2015. Both are major driving forces in promoting community-building in the region.

At this point, Thailand and Vietnam enjoy excellent relations because they have settled their differences in the most admirable ways. During the Cold War, the two countries had cut-throat relations because of their political differences and affiliations. Those days are gone. Now, relations have prospered and future progress cannot be stopped. Visits between the two countries have increased and encompass all aspects, including social and cultural spheres. Vietnamese tourists come to Thailand in the hundreds of thousands each year - a good sign that people-to-people relations have blossomed now there are no visas imposed on Asean tourists. Gone are days when visiting each other was liked climbing Mount Everest. Dozens of flights link major cities both in the North and South. It is also easy to travel by land to Vietnam via Route 9. Vietnamese food, especially pho, is become one of the most popular dishes on Thai menus.

It took time for the two countries to reach this level of trust and confidence. Leaders from both countries have gone through a series of consultations and of course, trials and errors. They have learned to trust each other and solve their mutual problems sincerely without interfering with the internal affairs of one another. Their leaders are willing to work together without using personal judgement or emotions. In the past, there were unpleasant incidents that caused mistrust between the two governments - such as the troubles caused by followers of the former South Vietnamese regime hiding in Thailand. The status of Thai and Vietnamese people in each others' respective countries were points of contention. These issues have been solved satisfactorily.

Future prospects for Thai-Vietnamese relations are great because both countries are embarking on economic expansion and progress. On some projects the two countries work together as part of Asean connectivity and intra-Asean cooperation, while in others they work on their own.

Quite often, some pundits point out that Thailand and Vietnam are in fact competitors, because they export the same commodities to the same markets. These analysts argue that one day the two countries will clash in a zero-sum game. That is not the case so far. Thai and Vietnamese leaders are insightful, as they have cooperated with each other to promote mutual interests. Most importantly, their leaders have no malicious intent. Both countries also realise that mutual cooperation will bring more prosperity to their nations and the region.

-- The Nation 2011-08-07

[bushwacker]

"Thai and Vietnamese leaders are insightful, as they have cooperated with each other to promote mutual interests. Most importantly, their leaders have no malicious intent."

Hahahahaha hihihihihihihi The Sunday morning funnies.

[lonewolf99]

At the prestigious Ho Chi Minh Museum in Hanoi, there is an impressive month-long exhibition of photos marking Thai-Vietnamese diplomatic relations. The pictures show how the countries have come together despite the ups and downs of some turbulent years.

I wonder if they have photographs showing the results of the carpet bombing raids, napalm attacks, phosporous rockets which rained death and destruction down on Vietnam from American Aircraft which were based at Udon Don Thani, Nakon Panom and Uta Pao ......

The reason Thailand has the infrastructure it has compared to all its neighbours is because these "bases" needed to be supplied to maintain the massive war effort to attack the Ho Chi Min trail in Cambodia.

This whole article smacks of propoganda.

I have personally asked many Thai nationals what they know about the Vietnam war......and basically they have no clue. I wondered if in some cases they did not want to talk about it, but in most cases I am sure there is total ignorance of its existance. They have no knowledge of any wars other than some seem to know about the Burmese burning down the old capital...a long tme ago....Ask any Thai what Adolf Hitler, Neil Armstrong, Ho Chi Min, Daffy Duck or Fred Flinstone did and you will get a standard "Mai Roo". But they might think Harry Potter is for real.......

[Thaddeus]

They don't share a border, I'm sure that helps.

[RickBradford]

They don't share a border, I'm sure that helps

Yes, but in the 1960s and 1970s, the Thais were so concerned that the VN barbarians were at the gates that they generously allowed the US Air Force to upgrade the airbase at Ubon Ratchatani and base planes there to bomb the s**t out of the Communist forces, both VC and NVA in schemes such as Operation Linebacker.

With so many US military in-country, there had to be some seaside place for R&R, and they chose a little fishing village called ... Pattaya.

Plenty of historical ties there.

Edited August 7, 2011 by RickBradford

[lonewolf99]

I have cut and pasted the information below that most Vietnamese will not know about....

During the war in Vietnam, Thailand was a close American ally. Although the Thais had customarily gotten along with the Vietnamese, they were dubious of Communist intentions, feared the fall of Cambodia and Laos to guerrillas, and wanted above all else to safeguard their independence. By 1969, the Thais had a total of nearly 12,000 combat troops in Vietnam, including the elite Queen's Cobras and the Black Panther Division of the Royal Thai Army Volunteer Force. The United States 46th Special Forces Company assisted Thai forces in resisting Communist guerrilla activity along the Laotian border and in the south on the Malay Peninsula. The last of the Thai troops left Vietnam in April 1972. The United States also had a formidable military presence in Thailand, including the 8th, 355th, 366th, and 388th Tactical Fighter Wings and the 307th Strategic Wing. Strategic bombing operations over North and South Vietnam frequently originated in Thailand.

The whole American Forces operation in Thailand - was supposed to be a secret --- What I do not understand is that in 1976 - the relationship turned "sour" and the Amercans were ordered out and the bases removed. Only Uta Pao remains - and has been used in the Iraq and Afghan conflicts.....

[geriatrickid]

Left unreferenced is the plight of the Vietnamese boat people refugees. At the height of the crisis, tens of thousands of refugees were robbed, terrorized and raped by Thai based pirates. At first, Thailand refused to do much. However, under the leadership of Australia and with strong support from the UK and Canada, actions were taken to protect and help the refugees.

As a piece of trivia, approx. 30,000 Canadians volunteered for service in the US military during the Vietnam war. They receive no benefits from the USA. Approx. 60,000 Australians served under the Australian flag during the Vietnam conflict. After the war, there was political disappointment with the US position, particularly the lack of recognition and appreciation for the Australian and Canadian participation and the tacit support of the Canadian and Australian governments. Both Australia and Canada made efforts to normalize relations with Vietnam long before the USA considered such a step. Thailand served as third party through which attempts to reconcile with Vietnam were made. Thailand was used as a local meeting point during the process..