The VUFO leader told Common Cause Interfaith President Dr Bob Edgar and his delegation, who are on an eight-day working visit to Vietnam that will end on May 29, at a reception in Hanoi on May 28.

Hong informed the US guests of the Vietnamese Government’s efforts to fully recover from the lingering after-affects of the war, including Agent Orange/dioxin victims.

The guests said they witnessed the miserable lives of AO/dioxin victims in the central coastal city of Da Nang and HCM City as well as the severe impact of the toxic chemical, sprayed by US troops during the war in Vietnam, on the country’s environment.

The US inter-religious delegation visit represents more than 50 million US people following different faiths who, for different reasons, have forgotten or are unaware of the consequences of the war in Vietnam over the past 35 years, said Edgar.

He pledged that when back home the delegation would tell others about what they have witnessed and recognised in Vietnam.

On the lawsuit filed by Vietnamese AO/dioxin victims against US chemical firms, he said the issue can be resolved if the two governments take joint action.