US President Barack Obama reached Vietnam on Monday to kick-start a three-day diplomatic visit as Washington seeks to foster relations with its former wartime enemy to counter China's growing influence in the region.

A number of important topics would be discussed during Obama's historic three-day visit. Obama is only the third sitting US President to visit Vietnam and also the second US leader to visit after post the Vietnam War.

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The lifting of the US arms ban on Vietnam would be one of the top most agendas to be discussed during the visit. The move to lift the arms ban, which has been in place since 1984, would give Hanoi much needed arsenal to counter China's assertive claim over the disputed South China Sea.

However, many US officials consider Vietnam's poor track record in human rights as a major impediment to this. The popular view among US officials is that any move to revoke the arms ban must be made on the basis of Vietnam's commitment to improve its human rights track record.

Obama is expected to meet many dissident leaders and political activists during his three-day visit. The move is believed to be aimed at keeping sustained pressure on Vietnamese government on human right issues.

Another important issue that is likely to be discussed is Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal. The deal is very important for the development of trade ties between the two countries. The US is especially keen on the deal as it would open access to Vietnam's burgeoning middle class consumers.

"As middle-class consumers emerge, they want more of everything that the United States is well-positioned to make and to export. But we face significant barriers to those exports," US Trade representative Michael Froman said.

After completing his historic visit to Vietnam, Obama would fly to Japan to attend the G7 Summit. Obama would be the first US President to visit the historic Hiroshima site, which the US bombed with a nuclear bomb in 1945 after the Pearl Harbor attack.

Tagschina, Obama, Vietnam, US and Vietnam, Obama's Visit to Vietnam