Views on China have changed in Vietnam

Dozens of young Vietnamese women lined up for hours last month to catch a glimpse of “cool” troops marching through Hanoi in a huge military parade.

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But it was not their own soldiers they were looking out for. It was the Chinese contingent. The scene reflects a shift in attitudes towards China — amid trade tensions with the United States —which has allowed Vietnamese leaders to push forward with sensitive projects, such as high-speed rail links and special economic zones close to China, that may significantly boost bilateral ties.

Only a few years ago, with many Vietnamese wary of a powerful neighbour with which they have fought multiple wars, such projects were seen as too controversial and caused violent protests, reported Reuters.

But views are softening, posts on social media, online searches and language learning data show. Nearly 75% of Vietnamese respondents prefer the United States to China as a partner, but the share favouring China is rising faster than anywhere else in Southeast Asia, bucking the regional trend, according to a poll conducted at the start of the year by the Singapore-based ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute.