HANOI, Vietnam, Nov. 17, 2000 - In an unprecedented act, the authorities broadcast his speech live. His immediate audience was mostly students at Vietnam National University, listening to a translation through earphones.
Passers-by along Hanoi's Hai Ba Trung street, a stretch of TV and stereo shops, stopped to watch - at least a few at every shop, over a dozen at some. Simultaneous translation of the speech as broadcast on state-run Vietnam Television largely drowned out the original English.
CBS News Correspondent Bill Plante reports most of President Clinton's remarks were rendered clearly, but the translation became hopelessly garbled when the subject turned to human rights.
For example, President Clinton's words: "In our experience, guaranteeing the right to religious worship and the right to political dissent does not threaten the stability of the society; instead it builds people's confidence in the fairness of the institution" were translated as: "According to our experience, the issue of allowing worshipping, allowing, (pause) that does not affect the regime but to improve our regime."
Mr. Clinton's exhortation to the people that "only you can decide how to weave individual liberties and human rights into the rich and strong fabric of Vietnamese national identity" was translated as "only you can decide (pause) on how to live with the issue, um, (pause) in the issue that human rights in Vietnam and in the society then you make a decision on your own."
Vietnamese who listened to the speech said the poor translation made Mr. Clinton's remarks on human rights totally incomprehensible.
Speaking of the long war he opposed and avoided by maneuvering around the draft three decades ago, President Clinton said the suffering shared by Americans and Vietnamese alike in the war "has given our countries a relationship unlike any others."
The pain, he said, is shared through the 1 million Americans of Vietnamese ancestry, the 3 million U.S. veterans and others who served here during the conflict, and "are forever connected to your country."
"Finally, America is coming to see Vietnam as your people have asked for years, as a country, not a war," said Mr. Clinton, calling the country one that is "emerging from years of conflict and uncertainty to shape a bright future."
President Clinton urged that it be a future built on freer trade - and the freedom to explore, travel, think, speak, worship and dissent.
"All this makes our country stronger in good times and in bad," said Mr. Clinton. "We do not seek to impose these ideals, nor should we. Vietnam is an ancient and enduring country."
"You have proved to the world that you will make your own decisions," he said. "Let us continue to help each other heal the wounds of war, not by forgetting ... but by embracing the spirit of reconciliation."
War veteran Nguyen Van Kich, 67, said the speech was "very interesting. He talked about the past, but also talked about a better future for our relationship."
Le Thanh Hai, a 40-year-old physician, thought Clinton should have said more about U.S. forces' use of Agent Orange during the war.