High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Ngo Dinh Diem, the President of South Vietnam, made a state visit to the United States, the main ally of his government, in 1957. Diem received a glowing welcome and was heaped with praise as a leader of a "free country" in the midst of the Cold War. The receptions during the visit were in large part organized by the American Friends of Vietnam (AFV), a lobby group dedicated to resolute US support of South Vietnam and which included many politicians from both major parties. The visit was mainly celebratory and ceremonial, rather than being a policy or planning mission. It was part of a year of travelling for Diem, as he made a visit to Australia in September, as well as to fellow anti-communist countries South Korea and Thailand.