Vietnam and the United States have begun talks "on bilateral economic and trade issues" following the threat of US tariffs, Hanoi reported.
This month, US President Donald Trump threatened Vietnam with huge 46 percent levies, with Washington accusing the country of facilitating Chinese exports to the US and allowing Beijing to circumvent the tariffs.
Vietnam's Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien had a telephone conversation with U.S. Trade Representative Jameson Greer, the ministry said on its website after the meeting.
"This is an important meeting to discuss issues of principles, scope and roadmap for the negotiations," the statement said.
The United States was Vietnam's biggest export market in the first three months of the year.
According to a document seen by AFP, Vietnam's Ministry of Commerce has ordered authorities to strengthen controls on the origin of goods to avoid sanctions.
During his visit to Vietnam last week, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged the communist neighbour to join efforts to maintain free trade.
Beijing has also indicated it "firmly opposes" other countries striking trade deals with the United States at Beijing's expense, warning it would take "countermeasures" against them.
In 2024. Vietnam was Southeast Asia's largest buyer of Chinese goods with a bill of $161.9 billion.
The country's Prime Minister Pham Minh Trinh stressed that any negotiations were "so as not to affect another market".
During the phone call, Dien affirmed Vietnam's willingness "to negotiate and resolve issues of interest to the United States and find reasonable solutions for mutual benefit, in the spirit of harmonious interests and shared risks."
Greer expressed his belief that the two countries "will soon reach appropriate solutions by promoting stable and mutually beneficial economic and trade relations."
Vietnam has long pursued a "bamboo diplomacy" approach - seeking to maintain good relations with both China and the United States. | BGNES