But if you can sort of break it down for our American viewers, what's the reason of this miracle?

I would start with a decision to be open.

The country made a very important decision 40 years ago, 1986, to be open to the rest of the world.

They called that reform policy doi moi.

It meant renovation.

And they made a very considered choice to go for openness, engagement with the rest of the world, openness economically and in other ways.

And they never really varied from that path.

They

But I wondered if you could give people kind of a brief personal background of your history with Vietnam.

Sure.

And I mean, a fair amount of it involves this city.

The first time I came to Vietnam was in 1996.

And I came here to Saigon first.

It was an immersion city.

language immersion few weeks.

Because I think not everyone kind of understands what USAID, for example, did here.

Mm-hmm

... it's kinda small but mighty.

It's got two sides, and one lists prisoners of conscience.

And it's not a really long list.

It was kinda the top priority prisoners of conscience that we thought should, didn't need, should, did not need to be imprisoned.

And then on the other side, it focuses on policy reforms that would bring Vietnam's legal system in line with its 2013 constitution.

Vietnam's constitution is very progressive.

the United States, yeah, understand Vietnam's growing role in this enga- emerging in-industries, and what opportunities do you see for, like, a deeper connection there?