And their displays of affection show a Vietnam that isn’t just modern, but also inclusive. Khaou is gay, and he said he wanted to show a gay relationship that wasn’t focused on sexual identity.

In 1995, the U.S. lifted its economic embargo against Vietnam, further advancing business and other relations. In 2007, Vietnam entered the World Trade Organization, completing the paving of the ...

Hue-Tam Ho Tai is Harvard University's Kenneth T. Young Professor of Sino-vietnamese History. Her specialty is the social and cultural history of modern Vietnam. Her current work is on public memory ...