Captain John White of the United States Navy had been the first American to make contact with Vietnam, arriving in Saigon in 1820.

Minh Mạng was willing to sign a contract, but only to purchase artillery, firearms, uniforms and books.

White was of the opinion that the deal was not sufficiently advantageous and nothing was implemented.

In 1821, a trade agreement from Louis XVIII was turned away, with Minh Mạng indicating that no special deal would be offered to any country.

That same year, British East India Company agent John Crawfurd made another English attempt at contact, but was only allowed to disembark in the northern ports of Tonkin; he gained no agreements, but concluded relations with France posed no threat to Company trade.