After the bilateral meeting, President Donald Trump told reporters: "They just made a very large order in the United States - and we appreciate that - for many billions of dollars, which means jobs for the United States and great, great equipment for Vietnam,"
Meanwhile, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc told the Heritage Foundation after his meeting with Trump he had signed deals for U.S. goods and services worth $15 billion during his three-day U.S. visit, most involving the import of U.S. equipment.

The Hanoitimes collected opinions from some think-tanks, ambassador about this historic trip:

“Of course, it was great that the meeting happened, but one meeting doesn’t necessarily tell us very much about the relationships going forward. We will now have to watch how the new Trump administration colors in the detail with Vietnam, with Southeast Asia, with China and the South China Sea.

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Mr. Donald Trump in the bilateral meeting on May 31 . Photo: Reuters

Vietnam was a big beneficiary of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement. Recently the Trump administration raised concerns about Vietnam’s giant trade surplus with the US. Vietnam signed agreement to buy about 8 billion USD worth of goods and services which is a good start. But the new administration will also be watching what Vietnam will doing in the months ahead to reduce the deficit.”
Mr Murray Hiebert (CSIS)
"This is the earliest that any Vietnamese Prime Minister has visited a new American president and most significant is that the Prime Minister’s visit is the one of the first from any ASEAN leader."
Mr Larry Berman, Professor Emeritus at UC Davis
“I think it is a very good time when Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s visit to US happened. A lot of Asian countries leaders coming to US like Japanese PM Abe, Chinesse President Xi. So Vietnamese leader goes probably very good time. There are a lot of economic interest tie between 2 countries. And then security interest which are not the same but a lot of overlapp. Because always address a freedom navigation on South China Sea. I think Vietnam is very important country in ASEAN for American point of view. Obviously, Vietnam is growing rapidly and which share many interest with America.

Vietnamese PM had signed deals for U.S. goods and services worth $15 billion during his three-day U.S. visit. Photo: Reuters

On South China Sea issue, I think President Trump never lost attention. US has freedom navigation rights and ship visit to demonstrate its position on issue. So they don’t have to do that every month but they have to sail near islands which China illegally built in term of being allowed by international law. Now Mr Trump’s priority so far is North Korea but it does not mean any change in South China Sea policy in Trump presidency.”
Charles Morrison (Senior Researcher, East - West Center, Hawaii, America)

Vietnam has gone from being a bitter adversary of the U.S. during the Cold War to an important partner in the Asia-Pacific. Photo: Reuters

 “I am glad that he will visit the White House and meet our new President.  US - Vietnam relations have steadily strengthened over the past 20 years, moving from resolving legacy issues left from the war to developing a strong economic relationship and, lastly, to developing the trust to be able to cooperate on security issues.  I am sure that President Trump and PM Phuc will discuss how to further strengthen our economic times, despite the fact that the US will not be joining TPP, and also will discuss regional issues including challenges posed by North Korea and the situation in the South China Sea.”
 Mr Raymond Burghardt – U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam (2001-2004)