Many U.S. residents remain leery of this country’s warmer relations with the Communist-run nation of Vietnam.

That is understandable, considering America’s painful, protracted Vietnam War experience, which claimed the lives of more than 50,000 U.S. military personnel.

Nevertheless, now, nearly half a century after the Communist victory in the Southeast Asia conflict in 1975, the warmer relations between these two countries not only is benefiting Vietnam, but the United States as well, although some people here will continue to remain skeptical.

President Joe Biden’s visit to Hanoi provided several important indications how. First, as described by the Wall Street Journal on Sept. 11, the visit helped strengthen the U.S. diplomatic partnership with its former adversary “as Washington seeks to counterbalance China in the region.”

While the new status is symbolic and not a defense alliance, it gives American companies, including defense contractors, reassurance the warmer relationship will endure.

Translated, that means Vietnam will be promoted as a dependable location for U.S. manufacturing operations and initiatives abroad. Although some Americans continue to prefer a more isolationist vision regarding Vietnam, positioning Washington at the same level as China and Russia is expected to bolster security in the region, and enhance prosperity within Vietnam.

“The U.S. pledged a series of initiatives … including a new partnership to expand Vietnam’s semiconductor-production base in support of U.S. industry, as well as other investments in trade,” the Journal reported.

Annual trade between the United States and Vietnam has more than doubled during the past five years, as a number of American companies have continued to move manufacturing to Vietnam from China.

“American companies like Apple and Nike have expanded their production bases in Vietnam in recent years,” the Journal reported, “and Intel has boosted investment in its Ho Chi Minh City plant.”

Developments like those represent a complete turnabout from that time in 1975 when the U.S. imposed a trade embargo on Vietnam that remained in place until the 1990s.

The world can be considered at least a little safer when such partnerships are built and flourish.

Consider the viewpoint of Ted Osius, a former U.S. ambassador to Vietnam who currently is chief executive of the US-ASEAN Business Council, a trade group that advocates for U.S. businesses in Southeast Asia.

Many people harboring an isolationist viewpoint would prefer that American companies conduct all of their manufacturing operations in this country but, in the big picture, that is not a realistic expectation.

Hopefully, benefits realized by both the U.S. and Vietnam from their newly enhanced relationship will continue to demonstrate why.