US Defense Chief Seeks to Advance Ties with Vietnam 3 hours ago U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin with Vietnamese Defense Minister Phan Van Giang, left, inspects an honor guard in Hanoi, Vietnam, Thursday, July 29, 2021. Share share The URL has been copied to your clipboard 0:00 0:05:25 0:00 Pop-out player U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin looked to improve military relations with Vietnam during talks Thursday. The two countries are slowly gaining closer ties as they watch China’s activities in the South China Sea with growing concern. The closer security relations come more than 40 years after the Vietnam War ended in 1975. President Joe Biden's administration, however, has said there are limits to the relationship unless Hanoi makes progress on human rights.