It's been almost 30 years since what the Vietnamese call "the American war" ended. Now with relationships normalized, U.S. companies are seeking new business opportunities in the communist country. Last year's passage of a new trade bill in Congress opened the door to these opportunities by lowering tariffs on Vietnamese goods imported into the U.S.
American companies are already taking advantage of the new situation. Firms like Nike, Procter and Gamble, and American Standard, which already had operations in Vietnam, are expanding. And new U.S. firms are moving in.
The opportunities are not limited to U.S. companies. Vietnamese businesses are looking to enter the U.S. market as well, and in some surprising areas. Software development is a booming business in Vietnam, and we will be talking to several large software firms (one of which develops incredible 3-D programs). Interestingly, these software firms do business in English - not in Vietnamese -and fluency in English is a requirement for employment.
