They bully us at sea and want to take our islands,” university student Tran Hoang Nam, 21, said Monday, while strolling past the granite monument to Vietnam’s patriarch. "They sell us fake products and toxic food. So, we have to be very cautious when dealing with this so-called good friend."
The two-day state visit comes at a time of change in both Vietnam’s government and its relations abroad, and Xi will be looking to shore up China’s position on both fronts. A planned leadership transition in the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam next year could see China critics gain more power. Meanwhile, Hanoi has drifted increasingly toward its former foes in Washington, signing defense cooperation pacts and joining the U.S.-led Trans Pacific Partnership trade deal.