Vietnam has over 4.8 million people exposed to AO/dioxin, including hundreds of thousands in the second, third, and even fourth generations. Many live with severe disabilities, facing high medical costs and loss of earning capacity.

Despite enduring pain, AO victims have showed their determination and tireless efforts in their journey for justice.

Among the most prominent voices is Tran To Nga, an 82-year-old former war correspondent, who has spent over 16 years pursuing legal action in France against US chemical companies that supplied Agent Orange to the US military. Her family, like millions of others, bears the scars of the war, with severe AO impacts. Although health challenges have forced her to pass legal authority to her successor, she vows to fight until her last breath.

Local officials and advocacy groups stressed the need for stronger medical, financial, and legal support. In Ho Chi Minh City alone, more than 13,000 victims are officially recognised, but estimates suggest over twice that number lack formal status.

For nearly two decades, the city’s “Walk for AO victims” campaign has raised funds for health care, housing, and vocational training for the victims, drawing contributions from citizens and overseas Vietnamese. Organisers said that no victim should be left behind, and their stories should inspire compassion and solidarity.

French opinion supports Tran To Nga’s justice fight for AO victims

Immediately following the Paris Court of Appeal's decision on August 22 to reject the civil lawsuit filed by Tran To Nga, an 82-year-old French-Vietnamese, against 14 US chemical companies for supplying Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin to the US army during the Vietnam War, many French media outlets have reiterated her decades-long arduous and challenging fight for justice.