US Secretary of State Antony Blinken delievered speech at the Groundbreaking Ceremony of the US Embassy Complex in Hanoi on April 15. (Photo: WVR/Minh Quan)

On the US side, there were the attendance of Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Ambassador Marc Knapper.

On the Vietnamese side, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc, Vice Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee Duong Duc Tuan, Vice Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly Le Thu Ha; representatives of a number of ministries, branches, agencies, Vietnamese and international reporters attended the event.

A journey of more than three decades

Speaking at the event, US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper thanked tireless contributions from people of both sides, including the previous Ambassador, Assistant Secretary of State in charge of East Asia affairs Daniel Kritenbrink, diplomats, Embassy staffs, as well as the Vietnamese related parties who have created favorable conditions for this project.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken recalled the process of formation and development of the US Embassy in Vietnam, starting from the time when former US Secretary of State Christopher Warren visited Hanoi and laid the foundation for the bilateral cooperation relationship between the two countries (1995). Up to now, the number of diplomatic officers and employees working at the US Representative Mission in Vietnam has increased from 30 to 600.

He affirmed that, over the past 27 years, the US diplomatic staffs in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have contributed and built a stronger and more effective bilateral relationship for the benefit of the people, of the two countries as well as the region and the world at large, especially on the occasion that the two countries are celebrating the 10-year Comprehensive Partnership (2013-2023).

US Secretary of State Blinken hoped that the Complex would open more "bridges of cooperation" between the US and Vietnam.

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, US Secretary of State A. Blinken and other delegates at the groundbreaking ceremony of the project. (Photo: WVR/Minh Quan)

New symbol of Vietnam-US relations

The project to build the US Embassy in Vietnam complex was first announced during the visit to Vietnam by US Vice President Kamala Harris in August 2021.

The complex has an area of 3.2 hectares, with a construction scale of 39,000 m² at Lot D30, Pham Van Bach street, Cau Giay district, Hanoi. The project was designed by EYP Architecture & Engineering and built by B.L Harbert International.

The design of the project is a combination of modern urban landscape and natural beauty of Hanoi. The project construction is inspired by Ha Long Bay.

The basalt architecture in the main building represents strength and stability, while the glass roof and stainless steel panels reflect the sky and create a feeling of openness.

In the Embassy campus, there will be a lotus pond, with Vietnam's national flower symbolizing nobility, commitment and optimism about the future.

The complex also reflects the US commitment to environmental sustainability and climate change resilience, with the goal of achieving Silver certification or higher under the International Standard for “Leading Energy and Environmental Design” (LEED) of the American Green Building Council.

The complex will also display artworks such as painting, sculpture, ceramic recycling and printing by many Vietnamese and American artists, thereby conveying the message of common values between the two people, reflecting the diversity and depth of the cultural heritage of Vietnam and the United States.

The US Embassy affirmed that, once completed, the project will play an active role in expanding diplomatic, security and trade relations between the two countries. At the same time, this will be a symbol of the two countries' common interest in sustainable economic development, strengthening cooperation on global issues.