Did america getting its ass kicked mean friendship? I hear alot that vietnam likes america more than china which doesnt sit right with me is that actually true, also they like america but hate the french? I heard vietnam be called the mexico of asia. Maybe its my own personal left wing bias but I literally cannot see any reason why vietnam would respect america and hate china.
Sure, in the abstract, we would like there to be a united communist front against the USA.
But in practice, what does Vietnam want? Survival. You think they are keen for another war with the USA? They already had to deal with decades of warfare and even more economic warfare.