Xi Jinping honors Ho Chi Minh as China deepens Vietnam ties amid U.S. tariffs

Xi's Hanoi visit ends with symbolic tribute as China and Vietnam strengthen cooperation while facing U.S. tariff pressures.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam (R) welcomes Chinese President Xi Jinping (2nd R) during a ceremonial reception at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi on April 14, 2025. Photo by Luong Thai Linh/AFP

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Chinese President Xi Jinping wrapped up his visit to Vietnam on Tuesday by paying a symbolic tribute to Ho Chi Minh, the country's late revolutionary leader, in a move that reflects the deepening strategic and economic ties between the two communist neighbors. This act, part of Xi's broader Southeast Asia tour, marked a notable moment of diplomacy as China seeks to strengthen regional alliances in the face of rising tensions with the United States, especially over trade. Xi Jinping honors Ho Chi Minh at a time when Beijing and Hanoi are forging closer partnerships to resist the mounting pressure from U.S. tariffs.

Xi's three-day visit to Hanoi came amid a backdrop of intensified global economic uncertainty. It also followed the United States’ decision to impose a 46 percent levy on Vietnamese goods, a blow to one of Washington’s most significant trade partners in Southeast Asia. Although the U.S. tariffs have since been paused, their announcement rattled supply chains and prompted China to accelerate its regional outreach. The Xi Jinping honors Ho Chi Minh moment served both as a diplomatic gesture and a public display of the shared ideological history between the two nations.

A tribute rich in symbolism

In a poignant ceremony on Tuesday morning, President Xi laid a red wreath inscribed with his name and “Long live Vietnam’s great leader President Ho Chi Minh” at the late leader’s mausoleum in central Hanoi. This gesture, while ceremonial on the surface, was rich with political meaning. It signaled Beijing’s commitment to reinforcing ideological and historical bonds with Hanoi, particularly at a time when global politics are testing old alliances and forcing countries to choose new paths.

China’s state media highlighted the moment as a symbol of mutual respect and a reaffirmation of the “comprehensive strategic partnership” that the two countries have maintained for years. For Vietnam, the tribute helped affirm its delicate balance between two global powers, in line with its long-standing “bamboo diplomacy” approach—flexible yet resilient, maintaining good relations with both China and the United States.

A broader regional strategy

Xi's Hanoi visit was the first leg of a regional tour that also includes Malaysia and Cambodia. Chinese officials have framed this trip as “bearing major importance” for the geopolitical stability of Southeast Asia. It comes as the U.S. seeks to tighten its grip on global trade through tariffs and political leverage, while China positions itself as a stabilizing force in the region.

Beijing’s aim, as underscored by the Xi Jinping honors Ho Chi Minh moment, is to strengthen its partnerships with neighboring countries through economic cooperation, trade deals, and infrastructure investment. On Monday, China and Vietnam signed 45 cooperation agreements covering sectors ranging from artificial intelligence and joint maritime patrols to railway development and logistics.

Xi described this new phase of cooperation during his meeting with Vietnamese President To Lam as a “turning point of history.” He emphasized the need for both countries to “move forward with joint hands,” underlining a future of economic synergy and mutual political understanding.

Trump’s reaction and the U.S. angle

Back in Washington, the symbolism of Xi Jinping’s Hanoi visit did not go unnoticed. President Donald Trump, in remarks to reporters at the White House, accused Xi’s trip of being part of a broader plot to undercut the United States.

“I don’t blame China. I don’t blame Vietnam,” Trump said. “I see they’re meeting today, and that’s wonderful. That’s a lovely meeting... like trying to figure out, how do we screw the United States of America.”

Trump’s reaction highlights the growing anxiety in Washington over the shifting alliances in Southeast Asia. Vietnam, which has benefited from a surge in manufacturing investment due to the U.S.-China trade war, finds itself once again at the center of global economic diplomacy.

Strengthening supply chains and infrastructure

Perhaps one of the most significant outcomes of Xi’s visit was the planned Vietnam-China Railway Cooperation initiative. The project, which includes an $8-billion railway linking Vietnam’s largest northern port city to the Chinese border, is expected to enhance trade logistics and reduce dependence on maritime routes increasingly subject to geopolitical risk.

The railway agreement is part of China’s broader Belt and Road Initiative, a massive infrastructure program aimed at improving connectivity and fostering regional interdependence. For Vietnam, this cooperation offers both an economic boost and a diplomatic signal that Hanoi remains open to deeper integration with China—despite its growing military ties with the United States and lingering tensions in the South China Sea.

Resisting unilateralism

Throughout the visit, Xi repeatedly stressed the importance of resisting “unilateral bullying” and preserving the global free trade system. In an article published Monday in Vietnam’s official newspaper Nhan Dan, Xi argued that protectionism and trade wars would “produce no winner,” echoing Beijing’s long-standing narrative against U.S.-led tariff regimes.

By invoking such language, Xi sought to cast China as a victim of unfair trade practices while also promoting it as a collaborative partner for Southeast Asia. This aligns with China's broader diplomatic efforts to paint itself as a responsible global power, in contrast with the unpredictability of American trade policies.

An evolving partnership

Despite their deep economic ties, Vietnam and China continue to harbor mutual suspicions—particularly in the South China Sea, where both nations have overlapping territorial claims. However, the Xi Jinping honors Ho Chi Minh tribute was intended to show that such differences can be managed within a larger framework of cooperation.

Vietnam’s leadership appeared receptive to the message. President To Lam noted that both sides had “reached many important and comprehensive common perceptions” during their discussions. This included reaffirming commitments to peace, development, and the protection of regional interests through multilateral institutions.

The diplomatic balancing act

Vietnam remains a country that adeptly walks the tightrope between its two major partners. While it continues to benefit from American investment and security guarantees, Hanoi is also increasingly turning to China for infrastructure and supply chain resilience. This balancing act—termed “bamboo diplomacy”—was clearly in play during Xi’s visit.

The message from Hanoi was clear: Vietnam is not choosing sides, but rather, choosing stability. It is aligning with whoever can deliver long-term economic growth while maintaining regional peace. And in this instance, the optics of Xi Jinping honoring Ho Chi Minh—one revolutionary leader paying respect to another—played well in a country where symbolism is deeply valued in statecraft.

A message beyond Hanoi

Xi Jinping’s tribute to Ho Chi Minh was more than just a ceremonial gesture. It was a calculated move in a broader strategy to realign China’s relationships in Southeast Asia as the world’s economic order faces new fault lines. By solidifying ties with Vietnam through shared ideology, infrastructure, and trade cooperation, Xi is sending a message—not just to Washington, but to the entire region.

As China deepens its presence and partnerships across Southeast Asia, moments like these will continue to carry both symbolic and strategic weight. And in the face of mounting trade tensions, the image of Xi Jinping honoring a legendary revolutionary leader in Hanoi may linger longer in diplomatic memory than any single tariff.