Sandwiched between giants, Vietnam seeks assurances from Obama

Hanoi

DWARFED by its Communist neighbour and still bearing the scars of a war with the US four decades ago, Vietnam has become a focal point of the race between the two powers for influence in the western Pacific.

The tussle over Vietnam will be on display during a three-day visit next week by President Barack Obama. The third sitting US president to travel to the country since the end of the war, Mr Obama is expected to meet with the regime's top leaders on Monday.

The trip to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City is part of US efforts to preserve clout as China expands its economic and military influence across Asia and argues with countries such as Vietnam over territory in the South China Sea. For its part, V…