The Philippines–Vietnam relations refers to the bilateral relations of the Republic of the Philippines and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Since the end of the Cold War, relations between the two countries have warmed significantly. Vietnam is sometimes referred to as the only communist military ally of the Philippines. Both nations have cooperated in the fields of education, tourism, agriculture, aquaculture, trade, and defense. Additionally, both nations have similar positions on the South China Sea issue, with Vietnam backing the Philippine victory in the ICC against China, and the Philippines backing to a certain extent the claim of Vietnam in the Paracels. Both nations have overlapping claims in the Spratlys, but have never made military confrontations as both view each other as diplomatic allies and ASEAN brethren. Early history Relations between the Philippines and Vietnam began centuries ago. There was proof that inhabitants of both countries were already involved in maritime trade prior to the arrival of Europeans. Ships from Luzon in the Philippine archipelago came to the great port of Vietnam in the Gulf of Tonkin to trade. By 2000–1500 BC, Jade that was manufactured in the Philippines using raw materials from Taiwan, ended up in Vietnamese ports. Likewise, by 1000 BC, bronze drums from the Dong Son Culture in Hanoi, were exported to ports in the Philippines. The Song dynasty's "The History of Song", show that the Filipino nation of Ma-i at Mindoro was a mere two days’ sail from Champa (A nation that once occupied central Vietnam) and that Champa’s and Mai’s merchants traded frequently with each other. During 1000 AD, there was a commercial rivalry for Chinese trade between the Champa Civilization in Central and South Vietnam vs the Rajahnate of Butuan in Southern Philippines. The Chams then migrated to the Sulu archipelago, home of the then Hindu would-be Sulu Sultanate. These Chams in southwestern Philippines were called Orang Dampuan. Champa and Sulu engaged in commerce with each other which resulted in merchant Chams settling in Sulu during the 10th-13th centuries. The Orang Dampuan were slaughtered by envious native Sulu Buranuns due to the wealth of the Orang Dampuan. The Buranun were then subjected to retaliatory slaughter by the Orang Dampuan. Harmonious commerce between Sulu and the Orang Dampuan was later restored. The Yakans were descendants of the Taguima-based Orang Dampuan who came to Sulu from Champa. Sulu received civilization in its Indic form from the