Warm Hanoi welcome for Clinton

President Clinton got a grand popular welcome

US President Bill Clinton has been given a red-carpet welcome in Hanoi by President Tran Duc Luong.

I'm looking forward to building the future

President Clinton

Mr Clinton, the first American president to pay an official visit since the Vietnam War ended a quarter of a century ago, said he found his reception "very moving".

Speaking beneath a large bust of Vietnam's legendary leader Ho Chi Minh, Mr Clinton told President Tran he was "glad to be here" and looked forward to building a new future between the two countries.

Clinton officially opened his visit by meeting Tran Duc Luong.

Later in the day, Mr Clinton is to make an address at the National University in Hanoi, which as an exceptional honour is to be broadcast live on Vietnamese television.

Despite little advance publicity for the visit, thousands of people on mopeds, bicycles and on foot lined the route from the airport when the president arrived on Thursday evening.

Thousands more stood in front of the hotel where President Clinton was staying.

No apology

Mr Clinton is the first serving US president ever to visit Hanoi, then capital of North Vietnam, which the Americans bombed during the war.

War and peace

1964: US backs south as Vietnam war starts

1975: Humiliation as US troops pull out of Saigon

1995: Diplomatic relations restored

March 2000: US Defence Secretary, William Cohen visits Vietnam

November 2000:President Clinton in Hanoi

The president has made it clear he does not intend to apologise for the war, which left more than 1.5 million Vietnamese dead.

But the BBC Hanoi correspondent says Vietnamese officials appear to accept this, and will be looking for actions rather than words.

Vietnamese Foreign Minister Nyuyen Dy Nien said he would be calling for more aid to deal with the consequences of the war - a reference to unexploded landmines and health problems associated with the defoliant Agent Orange.

Mr Clinton, who as a young man opposed the conflict, wants his visit to further the process of reconciliation and cement a new era of trade-led relations.

Both sides hope that the visit will build bridges between the two countries

Since entering office in 1993, he has lifted the economic embargo on Vietnam and restored diplomatic relations.

Earlier this year, the two countries signed a bilateral trade agreement.

Mr Clinton is accompanied on his trip by scores of American executives keen to do business in the country.

Vietnam Airlines announced it would sign a letter of intent with Boeing on Friday to buy three 777 aircraft.

The state-owned company's general director said he had the government's permission to do so, but he did not yet know the price of the aircraft.

"We need to wait for Boeing's offer," he said.

Earlier this month, the Vietnamese media reported that the state airline wanted to buy new aircraft worth some $300m to increase flights to Europe and possibly to start flights to the United States.

MIAs

One crucial issue for America is the 2,000 US servicemen and civilians who went missing during the war and are designated Missing In Action (MIAs).

Old mines continue to kill 25 years on

Mr Clinton has said that accounting for MIAs and repatriating their remains is the administration's highest priority in its dealings with Vietnam.

For its part, Hanoi wants Washington to do more to help reduce deaths and injuries caused by unexploded ordnance and mines left over from the war.

They are also concerned about dioxins left behind by Agent Orange, the defoliant which the US military sprayed over 14% of Vietnam to deny their Communist enemies cover.