HANOI, May 29 (Reuters) - The United States will soon make its first foreign military sale of three Lockheed Martin LMT.N C-130 Hercules military transport planes to Vietnam, U.S. lawmaker Michael Baumgartner said.

• Baumgartner described the move as a "very significant development" in a post on X, adding in a separate post that a strong and growing strategic partnership between the U.S. and Vietnam is key for peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

• Reuters reported that the two countries had discussed the sale of the planes.

• Lockheed Martin LMT.N, Vietnam's foreign ministry, and the U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

• The C-130 can carry soldiers, military equipment and other supplies, and it would boost Vietnamese defence capabilities at a time of rising South China Sea boundary tensions with China and other countries in the region.

• U.S. defense exports to Vietnam have remained limited since a 2016 embargo was lifted, primarily comprising coastguard vessels and trainer aircraft. Concerns over costs, government approvals, and compatibility with existing military equipment have previously slowed such transactions.