Editing Lê Duẩn (section)

==== Relations with the Eastern Bloc ====
[[File:Truong Chinh, Le Duan, Nicolae og Elena Ceausescu.jpeg|thumb|250px|Lê Duẩn and Trường Chinh with [[Nicolae Ceaușescu|Nicolae]] and [[Elena Ceaușescu]] from the [[Socialist Republic of Romania]]]]
Lê Duẩn visited the Soviet Union in October 1975. The result of the visit was an official communique, which stated that the Soviets would send qualified experts to the country to educate and train economic, scientific, technical and cultural personnel. The Soviet Union gave Vietnam economic assistance and supported several national economic projects on most favoured terms. The communique stated that cooperation was within the "frameworks of multilateral cooperation of socialist countries." Such a statement would normally have meant membership in [[COMECON]], but Vietnam was not a member, wanting to establish its sovereignty. Phạm Văn Đồng snubbed the Soviet ambassador during the anniversary of the [[October Revolution]] and rejected key Soviet foreign policies. Despite continued pressure from the Soviets to join COMECON, Vietnam declined. Instead Vietnam joined the [[International Monetary Fund]] and the [[World Bank]], moves the Soviet Union opposed.{{sfn|Van|Cooper|1983|pp=227–228}}

Vietnam relented in 1978, seeking economic aid to fund the Second Five-Year Plan.{{sfn|Van|Cooper|1983|p=228}} In 1978 Lê Duẩn and Phạm Văn Đồng{{sfn|Europa Publications|2002|pp=1419–1420}} signed a 25-year Treaty of Friendship and Mutual Cooperation with the USSR.{{sfn|Van|Cooper|1983|p=228}} Under Soviet protection, Vietnam [[Cambodian–Vietnamese War|invaded Kampuchea]]. In reaction China invaded Vietnam. Vietnam leased several bases to the Soviet Union to protect its territory from China. It was rumored that one of China's demands for peace was the ending of Soviet assistance to Vietnam. In Asia Vietnam played a role similar to Cuba's in Latin America: it supported local revolutionary groups and was a headquarters for Soviet-style communism. Vietnam supported the [[Soviet–Afghan War|Soviet invasion]] of Afghanistan and received $3 million a day in military aid.{{sfn|Van|Cooper|1983|p=229}}

At the 5th National Congress, Lê Duẩn reaffirmed Vietnam's relations with the USSR.{{sfn|Trung|1982|p=242}} He stated, "Solidarity and co-operation with the USSR: such is the corner stone of the external policy of our Party and of our State."{{sfn|Trung|1982|p=243}} He further noted that their alliance was "a guarantee of the victory of the defense of the motherland and the socialist edification of our people."{{sfn|Trung|1982|p=243}} Soviet official [[Mikhail Gorbachev]] echoed Lê Duẩn's sentiments and said "Vietnam can count on the solidarity and the support of the USSR."{{sfn|Trung|1982|p=244}}

Lê Duẩn's foreign policy was criticised by Hoàng Văn Hoan, who accused him of sacrificing the country's sovereignty.{{sfn|Van|Cooper|1983|p=230}} A delegation led by [[Vitaly Vorotnikov]], visited Vietnam during its [[National Day]], the holiday that celebrated the establishment of North Vietnam after the August Revolution and met with Lê Duẩn.{{sfn|Zemtsov|Farrar|2007|p=277}} Lê Duẩn attended the [[27th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union|27th Communist Party Congress]] and later met with Gorbachev.{{sfn|Zemtsov|Farrar|2007|p=285}} [[Premier of the Soviet Union|Soviet Premier]] [[Nikolai Ryzhkov]] and [[Anatoly Dobrynin]] attended Lê Duẩn's funeral.{{sfn|Zemtsov|Farrar|2007|p=291}}