Abstract

This article provides a qualitative approach to critically examine the interplay of personal and strategic relationships between Hồ Chí Minh and critical leaders of the Chinese Communist Party, including Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, and Liu Shaoqi, throughout the resistance war against the United States (1954-1975). The primary data were collected from archival materials of the Communist Parties of Vietnam and China, including meeting minutes, diplomatic correspondence, and political reports related to military and political aid decisions. Additionally, memoirs of the leaders and international studies provide a more comprehensive perspective. The research findings highlight that the personal relationship between Hồ Chí Minh and Chinese leaders was instrumental in securing comprehensive support from China. This article provides novel insights by delving into the personal dimensions of international relations, an aspect often overlooked in previous studies that primarily focused on strategic and national policy levels. Furthermore, it offers a more holistic view of how these personal relationships significantly contributed to Vietnam’s success in the resistance war against the U.S.