Leaders from the Vietnam Ministry of National Defence, US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Evans Knapper, and representatives of international organizations on September 15 witnessed the key events under the chair of Senior Lieutenant General and Deputy Minister of National Defence Hoang Xuan Chien, and Head of the Standing Agency of the National Steering Committee on the Settlement of Post-War Unexploded Ordnance and Toxic Chemicals in Vietnam.

The ceremony was joined by US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Evans Knapper, head of the US delegation, and representatives of international organizations including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Speaking at the event, Senior Lieutenant General Chien underlined that the Bien Hoa airbasse area dioxin remediation project is one of the most important undertakings, demonstrating effective Vietnam-US cooperation in overcoming the consequences of toxic chemicals/dioxin after the war. He stressed that the project contributes to realizing commitments made by the two countries’ senior leaders in their 2023 Joint Statement on upgrading bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace and sustainable development.

At the event, representatives of the US Embassy in Vietnam handed over the certification for detoxified land covering approximately six hectares at Bien Hoa Airport.

Since its launch in December 2019, the project has remediated nearly half of the dioxin-contaminated land at Bien Hoa Airport and part of the surrounding area to safe standards. These areas have been handed over to the Air Defence-Air Force Service and local authorities for socio-economic development as well as defence and security purposes.

Also at the ceremony, the Ministry of National Defenve, the US Ambassador, and relevant agencies broke ground on a thermal dioxin treatment system, described as a core technology to ensure the project’s success. Senior Lieutenant General Chien reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment to completing the remediation of dioxin contamination at Bien Hoa Airport before 2030.

Within the framework of the event, US Ambassador Marc Knapper and Major General Nguyen Dinh Hien, Commander of the Chemical Corps under the Ministry of National Defence and Director General of the National Action Center for Toxic Chemicals and Environmental Treatment (NACCET), signed an agreement on an additional US$32 million in non-refundable ODA to further expand the project supporting improved quality of life for people with disabilities in provinces heavily affected by Agent Orange/dioxin.

This initiative builds on the success of the ongoing project carried out since 2021 in Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue, Da Nang, Gia Lai, Quang Ngai, and Dong Nai provinces and is expected to expand to Ca Mau and Quang Ngai provinces.

After three years, the project has assisted more than 32,000 people with disabilities, victims of Agent Orange/dioxin, achieving over 60% of its targets. It has contributed to national goals in healthcare, medical support, and employment for Agent Orange/dioxin victims.

Ambassador Marc Evans Knapper emphasized that the handover of detoxified land and the groundbreaking of the thermal dioxin treatment plan show the joint efforts of the Governments of Vietnam and the US.

Vietnam, US strengthen cooperation on dioxin pollution treatment

Vietnam's Ministry of National Defence and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) have reaffirmed their commitment to cooperation in addressing the war aftermath, particularly in treating dioxin pollution.

Deputy Defence Minister hails dioxin remediation progress at Bien Hoa Air Base

Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien has praised the progress and efforts of units involved in the dioxin remediation at Bien Hoa air base area project.