Society

Vietnam, US join efforts in dioxin cleanup, disability aid

Launched in 2021 across six provinces and cities, the Bien Hoa Air Base Dioxin Remediation Project has already supported more than 32,000 people with disabilities, including AO/dioxin victims, meeting over 60% of its targets. It will soon be extended to Ca Mau and Quang Ngai provinces.

Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien addresses the ceremony at Bien Hoa Air Base in Dong Nai on September 15. (Photo: VNA)
Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien addresses the ceremony at Bien Hoa Air Base in Dong Nai on September 15. (Photo: VNA)

Dong Nai (VNA) – The Bien Hoa Air Base Dioxin Remediation Project represents a key milestone in Vietnam – US cooperation to overcome the consequences of Agent Orange/dioxin, fulfilling commitments in the 2023 Joint Statement on upgrading bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace and sustainable development.

Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien made the remarks while presiding over some events on September 15 at Bien Hoa Air Base in the southern province of Dong Nai, including the handover of remediated land, the groundbreaking of a thermal treatment system, and the signing of a supplementary non-refundable ODA agreement to improve the lives of people with disabilities in priority provinces.

At the ceremony, representatives of the US Embassy in Vietnam granted the certification of the cleanup of about six hectares of land at Bien Hoa. Nearly half of the contaminated areas inside and around the air base have now been remediated and transferred to the Air Defence – Air Force Service and local authorities for socio-economic and defence purposes.

Vietnamese and US officials also launched construction of a thermal treatment system, described as a decisive technology for ensuring the project’s success. Sen. Lt. Gen. Chien, who heads the Standing Office of the National Steering Committee on post-war bomb and toxic chemical consequences, reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment to complete remediation at Bien Hoa by 2030.

vietnam-us-join-efforts-in-dioxin-cleanup-disability-aid.jpg
The signing of an agreement on an additional 32 million USD in non-refundable ODA from the US to expand disability support programmes in areas heavily affected by dioxin. (Photo: VNA)

On this occasion, US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc E. Knapper and Major General Nguyen Dinh Hien, Commander of the Chemical Corps and Director General of the National Action Centre for Toxic Chemicals and Environmental Treatment (NACCET), signed an agreement on an additional 32 million USD in non-refundable ODA from the US to expand disability support programmes in areas heavily affected by dioxin.

Launched in 2021 across six provinces and cities, the project has already supported more than 32,000 people with disabilities, including AO/dioxin victims, meeting over 60% of its targets. It will soon be extended to Ca Mau and Quang Ngai provinces.

Ambassador Knapper stressed that the handover of cleaned land and the launch of the new treatment system reflect the joint determination of Vietnam and the US to address wartime legacies and foster sustainable development cooperation./.

VNA
#Bien Hoa Air Base #dioxin remediation #Vietnam – US cooperation #Agent Orange #US Embassy in Vietnam #wartime legacies United States Vietnam
Follow VietnamPlus

Related News

Nakamura Goro, a renowned Japanese journalist, gives a presentation on the consequences of Agent Orange/dioxin in Vietnam. (Photo: VNA)

14th Vietnam Dioxin Day held in Japan

According to Nakamura, the AO issue in Vietnam has certain similarities to the atomic bomb tragedies in Japan’s Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. However, the AO tragedy is barely known to the world, including to the American public.

See more

The delegates at the workshop on promoting gender equality in the public sector (Photo: VNA)

Pilot gender equality index for public sector unveiled in Hanoi

The event organised by the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics (HCMA), in coordination with the Australian Embassy in Vietnam through the Vietnam–Australia Centre (VAC) aimed to introduce and discuss the findings of a study developing a specialised assessment tool to measure gender equality in the public sector, covering both central agencies and local authorities.

The Golden City social housing project in Long Xuyen ward, An Giang province, was handed over in July 2025. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam exceeds social housing target, completing 102,633 units

In the coming period, the Ministry of Construction will accelerate the development of social housing for the 2026–2030 period in accordance with the Government's new resolution, aiming to achieve the goal of at least one million social housing units for low-income individuals and workers in industrial zones.

Forces relocate MK81 bomb from residential garden in Khanh Hoa (Photo: qdnd.vn)

Khanh Hoa safely disposes 150kg MK81 bomb

An over-150-kg bomb left over from war was discovered after recent historic flooding in Khanh Hoa province eroded layers of sand, exposing the ordnance on the premises of a household in Khanh Vinh commune. Upon discovery, local residents promptly reported it to local authorities and military units.

The K53 Team of the Quang Ngai provincial military command carries out search and recovery operations for the remains of fallen soldiers in Laos. (Photo: VNA)

Five sets of Vietnamese martyr remains recovered in Laos, Cambodia

The remains of five Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who sacrificed their lives in Laos and Cambodia during wartime have been recovered by Team K53 of the Quang Ngai provincial Military Command after more than a month of search and recovery operations under the 2025-2026 dry-season mission.

National Assembly Vice Chairman Tran Quang Phuong presents a gift to the bishop’s office of the Can Tho Diocese during his pre-Christmas visit on December 17 (Photo: VNA)

NA Vice Chairman pays Christmas visit to Can Tho Diocese

A National Assembly delegation led by Vice Chairman Tran Quang Phuong on December 17 paid a visit and extended Christmas greetings at the bishop’s office of the Can Tho Diocese, which currently covers the Mekong Delta’s Can Tho city and Ca Mau province, with a total of 142 parishes of various sizes.

Students of Nguyen Hue High School in Yen Bai ward, Lao Cai province are at the new STEM education practice classroom. (Photo: VNA)

Deputy PM: STEM classrooms help students explore science, technology

The STEM classrooms should serve as meaningful and practical spaces where students can explore, experience and access knowledge, strengthen creative capacity and critical thinking, and achieve breakthrough learning outcomes that contribute to national development, said Deputy PM Pham Thi Thanh Tra.

Delegates attend the seminar. (Photo: The Courtesy of the Vietnamese Embassy in Greece)

Vietnam, Greece seek to unlock cooperation potential in labour field

According to statistics from the Department of Overseas Labour under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Vietnam has sent nearly 160,000 workers abroad annually in recent years. Currently, around 800,000 Vietnamese workers are employed in 40 countries and territories across more than 30 occupational groups.

At the app launch event (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam Women’s Union launches digital app to empower members

The “Vietnamese Women” app focuses on practical features tailored to the daily needs of VWU members and women nationwide, including real-time information feeds from the union, thematic sections providing essential life skills and knowledge, and online surveys to ensure women’s voices are heard more quickly and fully.