Discussion on the 65th Anniversary of the Agent Orange Disaster in Vietnam

Overview of the discussion

Attendees of the discussion included: Mr. Dong Huy Cuong, VUFO Vice President; Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, former Vietnamese Ambassador to the United States, and President of the Vietnam-USA Society; Lieutenant General Nguyen Huu Chinh, President of the VAVA; and Mr. Do Hong Quan, President of the Vietnam Union of Literature and Arts Associations. Also present were representatives from the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi, international organizations, and foreign non-governmental organizations involved in addressing the consequences of Agent Orange in Vietnam. The event was further attended by representatives from various government ministries, agencies, mass organizations, research institutes, universities, businesses, friendship associations, veterans' associations, local chapters of VAVA, as well as scholars, scientists, social activists, students, and numerous international friends both in person and online.

During the discussion, delegates, experts, and scientists focused on three key areas: conducting a comprehensive assessment of the living conditions of Agent Orange victims, and proposing practical solutions to support their livelihoods, provide medical care, and ensure long-term rights and benefits for the victims; sharing international experience, applying technology, and mobilizing financial resources are essential to accelerating the remediation of areas still contaminated with dioxin; leveraging the role of people-to-people diplomacy, non-governmental organizations, international bodies, and networks of international friends for fostering connections, advocating for legal support, and gathering global resources to address the consequences of Agent Orange and alleviating the suffering of its victims.

The delegates heard a presentation by Senior Colonel Dr. Nguyen Quoc Hung, Foreign Affairs Assistant at NACCET, who provided an overview of the aftermath of Agent Orange and the efforts undertaken by the Communist Party and the State of Vietnam to address the consequences of Agent Orange/dioxin resulting from the war.

Lieutenant General Nguyen Huu Chinh addresses at the discussion

At the discussion, Lieutenant General Nguyen Huu Chinh, President of VAVA, presented an overview of the Association’s efforts to mobilize support for AO victims. Since 2004, VAVA chapters nationwide have raised over 5.1 trillion VND to provide care and assistance to the victims. This includes funding the construction or repair of more than 15,000 “solidarity houses”"; distributing over 6 million gift packages; providing ongoing care for more than 6,000 victims both in social protection centers and within the community; offering scholarships and employment opportunities to over 53,000 victims; and providing livelihood capital to nearly 10,000 affected families.

 In addition to domestic resource mobilization, VAVA has expanded its international cooperation to secure material support for AO victims. Since 2004, the Association’s central office has hosted and worked with 150 international delegations, thereby strengthening the effectiveness of its people-to-people diplomacy. Based on these achievements, Lieutenant General Nguyen Huu Chinh outlined six key lessons learned in the process of mobilizing resources. These insights serve as a vital foundation for VAVA to further enhance its mobilization efforts, ultimately contributing to the improvement of the material and spiritual well-being of AO victims in the time ahead. On this occasion, Chinh expressed his sincere gratitude to VUFO, VNMAC as well as various agencies, organizations, experts, and international friends who have stood by the cause of addressing the aftermath of Agent Orange/dioxin.

 In her remarks, Ms. Vuong Thi Quyen, a second-generation victim of Agent Orange, shared the profound pain and losses that the Agent Orange catastrophe has inflicted across multiple generations. Drawing from her own personal experience, she affirmed that the resilience and the yearning for justice among AO victims remain unyielding. She expressed her appreciation for the international friends and all those who have consistently supported the victims, while also calling upon the younger generation to harness their creativity and compassion to join in the pursuit of justice, environmental decontamination, medical support, and the creation of sustainable livelihoods for the victims. She emphasized that seeking justice for the AO victims in Vietnam is also an affirmation of human dignity, for no war has the right to strip away the future of generations to come.

Ms. Vuong Thi Quyen delivered her remark at the discussion.

During the session, participants also heard a presentation by Ms. Ton Nu Thi Ninh, former Vice Chief of the National Assembly’s Committee on Foreign Affairs and former head of the Vietnam-U.S. Track II Dialogue Group on Agent Orange/Dioxin, who discussed the role of people-to-people diplomacy in addressing the consequences of Agent Orange, drawing on the experiences of the aforementioned Dialogue Group.

 Dr. Nguyen Huu Huyen, Director of the International Cooperation Department at the Ministry of Justice, presented a paper titled “Addressing the consequences of Agent Orange/Dioxin: practical actions to ensure fundamental human rights”. The presentation emphasized that addressing the aftermath of Agent Orange goes beyond environmental remediation; it also requires ensuring the rights of victims to healthcare, social security, rehabilitation, and community integration. The author highlighted existing shortcomings in intersectoral coordination, data connectivity, and access to support policies. Consequently, the presentation proposed strengthening institutional frameworks, enhancing inter-agency cooperation, mobilizing stable resources, fostering international collaboration, and developing support programs tailored to the actual needs of the victims. It further asserted that the effectiveness of efforts to address the consequences of Agent Orange should be measured by tangible improvements in the health, quality of life, dignity, and integration opportunities of those affected.

In his concluding remarks at the seminar during which an appeal for support for victims of Agent Orange/dioxin was adopted, Lieutenant General Nguyen Huu Chinh, President of VAVA, emphasized: “While we look toward the future, setting aside the past without forgetting our ongoing responsibility toward the suffering that still persists, let us transform compassion into action and commitments into tangible results, ensuring that no one is left behind”.

Marking the 65th anniversary of the Agent Orange catastrophe in Vietnam, VUFO, VAVA, and VNMAC earnestly call upon Vietnamese citizens at home and abroad, non-governmental organizations, businesses, benefactors, the scientific community, social activists, and friends across the globe to continue joining hands in support of the victims of Agent Orange/dioxin. At the same time, these organizations express their sincere gratitude to the international friends who have stood by Vietnam’s side. Every act of kindness, every initiative, and every responsible contribution can help foster a better life for the victims, provide strength to their families, and cultivate trust among nations.

Delegates pose for a commemorative photo

During the discussion, participants shared their heartfelt insights and highly commended Vietnam’s efforts to address the consequences of Agent Orange/dioxin. They emphasized the necessity of further strengthening international cooperation, mobilizing resources, and leveraging the roles of various organizations and individuals in supporting the victims. Many expressed deep empathy for the losses endured by the victims and their families, while affirming their commitment to continue standing with Vietnam on its journey to overcome the aftermath of war, striving toward justice and a future defined by compassion and peace.

 The discussion served as an opportunity for agencies, organizations, experts, and international friends to reflect on the efforts made to address the consequences of Agent Orange/dioxin in Vietnam, while also strengthening connections, sharing responsibilities, and promoting practical actions for the benefit of the victims. The ideas, initiatives, and commitments shared during the event will help spread a spirit of compassion and foster international cooperation, with the ultimate goal of comprehensively improving the lives of the victims, gradually overcoming the legacy of war, and building a future rooted in peace, justice, and sustainable development.

Dinh Trong