Knapper visited the late leader's Kim Lien relic site in Nghe An Province's Nam Dan District during a working trip on Wednesday.
The complex is associated with the childhood of Ho Chi Minh and a revered destination in Nghe An, attracting more than two million visitors a year.
It is situated in the communes of Kim Lien and Nam Giang and about 15 km from the provincial capital Vinh.
The first visit by a U.S. envoy to the Kim Lien relic site comes amid a rapid improvement in bilateral ties following their upgrade into a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Knapper and his entourage listened intently to a tour guide who explained about Ho Chi Minh's hometown, family and childhood.
The relic site consists of many smaller zones. One of them is Hoang Tru, which spreads around 3,500 m2, where the late leader was born and lived for five years as a child. It also consists of the five-room house of Ho Chi Minh's grandparents and the three-room house of Nguyen Sinh Sac, his father.
Tran Khanh Thuc, director of the Nghe An Department of Foreign Affairs (R) tells Knapper about the items at the Kim Lien relic site.
The U.S. ambassador then visited the Lang Sen relic complex, where items Ho Chi Minh used as a child from 1901 to 1906 and during his two visits in 1957 and 1961 are exhibited.
Knapper asked the tour guide: "Was the life of President Ho Chi Minh's family different from that of others in the village?"
She replied that Ho Chi Minh's family had maintained a simple and affable lifestyle, and Knapper nodded and seemed to be impressed.
The tour guide said Knapper was very knowledgeable about the background and life of President Ho Chi Minh, and frequently gesticulated with his hands to express admiration.
The diplomat then visited the Vinh Martyrs Cemetery, where he and some other embassy staff went over the names of martyrs engraved on a stone stele.
He burned incense in the cemetery. In January Knapper similarly paid respects at the National Martyrs Cemetery in Dong Ha, the capital of Quang Tri Province. He said such occasions help "review the history between the two countries."
He also called on the Veterans Association of Nghe An and met with Major General Nguyen Sy Hoi, its chairman.
Knapper told the veterans that Vietnam – U.S. relations are progressing well in all areas and opening up opportunities for cooperation after the two countries upgraded them into a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Knapper paid a courtesy call on Nghe An People's Committee chairman Nguyen Duc Trung (4th, L).
Knapper said his visit would further deepen the relationship between the U.S. and Vietnam and with Nghe An Province in particular.
Vietnam and the U.S. announced the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during U.S. President Joe Biden's visit on September 10-11.
At a press conference on September 13, Knapper had said the U.S. is committed to cooperating with Vietnam in a number of important areas such as science and technology, semiconductors and education and training to ensure the latter has the human resources to use the opportunities and meet the challenges of the 21st century.
