64 years after the Agent Orange/dioxin disaster, there are still many issues that need to be resolved together.

Celebrating the 30th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-US diplomatic relations and the 64th anniversary of the Agent Orange/dioxin disaster, in Vietnam there are still many issues that need cooperation to resolve.

Major General Nguyen Hong Son walks with VAVA Association of Ho Chi Minh City - Photo: LINH TRAN

We talked with Major General, Associate Professor, Doctor - People's Physician Nguyen Hong Son. He is currently Vice President of the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin (VAVA), President of VAVA Ho Chi Minh City.

Remedial action

* The war is long gone, but the Agent Orange disaster in Vietnam is still very serious. Can you tell us how far the remedial activities are progressing?

- First of all, we acknowledge that the US, with goodwill, has been working with Vietnam to overcome the consequences of war over the years. Especially the detoxification of dioxin-contaminated soil at the airports of Da Nang , Phu Cat, and Bien Hoa. For victims of Agent Orange/dioxin, due to the sensitivity of the issue, they provide humanitarian aid to people with disabilities, but currently humanitarian assistance programs are on hold. We hope this issue will be resumed soon.

In the coming time, we will continue to maintain activities demanding justice, strengthen propaganda and education widely in society and international friends about the consequences of war and Agent Orange. Especially for the youth of Vietnam and the US to join hands to ease this pain.

In May, documentaries about American veterans returning to Vietnam to do charity work and coordinate with Vietnam to search for remains appeared, especially the films The Battle of Wills and Voice of Conscience by Lina Pham. Young Vietnamese people approached the issue of war consequences in an emotional way.

The visit of the King and Queen of Belgium to Agent Orange victims in Ho Chi Minh City in April 2025 also opened a new direction in the activities of the VAVA Association (Belgium is the first country in the world to ratify a resolution supporting Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange/dioxin), followed by the activities of Belgian Ambassador Karl van den Bossche and the Aquitara Impact Fund 1 confirming the support and companionship of the Belgian Government.

On August 10, the 64th anniversary of the Agent Orange disaster, we organized a walk to support the victims. The walk is expected to attract more than 5,000 participants from many backgrounds, creating opportunities for exchange and sharing both material and spiritual things.

* Sir, how is the "Orange Village project" with many positive meanings for Agent Orange victims being implemented?

- After the merger of Ho Chi Minh City - Binh Duong - Ba Ria Vung Tau, the number of Agent Orange victims in Ho Chi Minh City is estimated to be about 30,000 people with many generations. This is a very big challenge. Besides the support and care of the Party and the State, VAVA Association needs to be proactive, creative, dare to think and dare to do, find appropriate solutions in its operation methods.

We need to quickly and decisively put the "Orange Village Project" into operation to solve three problems: health care, education and training (vocational training), production organization... They will change their position from victims to inspirers, they will create products according to their abilities to affirm their own value. That is our goal to integrate them into life.

These issues need the cooperation of all of us, the leaders of Ho Chi Minh City and the authorities to soon make decisions on the land fund of "Orange Village". Organizations, individuals at home and abroad, kind hearts, and golden hearts also join in.

I often joke with American partners when working: "For the Vietnamese people, weapon brands, Coca, Pepsi... are familiar, but "made in USA" health care products are very poor. Health care is an extremely important and effective soft power in diplomacy and people's diplomacy. I really hope to soon have a Vietnam - US hospital in Vietnam.

The two countries have reached the level of comprehensive strategic partnership, but still need hearts and hands because Agent Orange victims are at the height of pain and poverty, and need the conscience and responsibility of each of us.

Belgian King Philippe and Queen Mathilde visited an Agent Orange victim at the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City on April 3 - Photo: HUU HANH

Medical diplomacy

* Recently, you have participated in many activities with American partners. Can you briefly review these activities?

- First of all, I would like to talk about the conference "Consequences of the Indochina War" of the US Institute of Peace as Vice President of VAVA. 50 years of war have passed but the consequences are still very severe and there have been many efforts to overcome them.

Especially over the past 30 years since the normalization of diplomatic relations and now Vietnam - US have become comprehensive strategic partners, Vietnam's economic development, political stability and increasingly deep international integration have affirmed its position in the international arena.

The issues of missing people, bombs and mines, and toxic chemicals (Agent Orange) were the topics of great concern through two plenary sessions and eight roundtable dialogue sessions.

Celebrating the 30th anniversary of Vietnam - US diplomatic relations, many people are truly happy that Vietnam has achieved peace, unity, overcome the heavy consequences of war and developed the country to become more and more prosperous.

There are people who are determined to return to Vietnam to do humanitarian work, to heal, and even to stay in Vietnam because they love it so much. And there are people who have been tormented for the past 50 years with the question of why? I often tell my American friends: "Because it was a just war", "Putting aside the past and looking to the future is the humane tradition of the Vietnamese people in the history of building and defending the country"...

On the 30th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-US diplomatic relations, General Secretary To Lam also affirmed that "Vietnam-US relations over the past 30 years are a model in international relations".

* The US is a major partner of Military Hospital 175. How does that cooperation process take place?

Ambassador Daniel Krittenbink and Major General Nguyen Hong Son performed music during their visit and work at Military Hospital 175 in January 2018 - Photo: NVCC

- It can be said that this is a stroke of luck in my medical career and military career. In the early 1990s, President Le Duc Anh directed the promotion of activities to normalize Vietnam - US diplomatic relations and medicine was chosen as a pioneer...

When Vietnam and the US established diplomatic relations, military medical cooperation between the two countries also increased quite closely and effectively.

Training programs, exchanges, medical ships, warships visiting, and especially the PEPFAR program (The president's Emergency Plan For AIDS) in Vietnam.

But perhaps for me, the peak of the Vietnam-US relationship was the 10-year period of engagement in the UN Peacekeeping mission. This was the time when we had more opportunities to interact with politicians, generals, diplomats and many partners. Visits from headquarters, commands, fleets... perhaps Military Hospital 175 was also the military medical unit that worked with American partners the most.

We have worked with four US ambassadors (David Shear 2011-2014, Ted Osius 2014-2017, Daniel Kritenbrink 2017-2021, Marc Knapper 2021 to present). In particular, Ambassador Ted Osius and Ambassador Daniel Kritenbrink visited and worked with Military Hospital 175.

And American patients were also treated at Military Hospital 175... Until now, I continue the "people's diplomacy" activities of the VAVA Association and the Development Peace Fund chaired by Ms. Ton Nu Thi Ninh.

* Can you tell us more about your memories with your American friends?

- During my work, I had the opportunity to tell my American friends about President Ho Chi Minh's goodwill for diplomatic cooperation with the US and that in history, Vietnam and the US have missed the opportunity to establish diplomatic relations more than 10 times. They were very surprised and interested.

I said I also could not explain all the reasons why you made us enemies for a long time? Vietnam was forced to take up arms to fight for the desire for peace, now because of the UN peacekeeping mission we are friends. 50 years ago we were very close but very far, now we are still very far but very close...

50 years ago, Military Hospital 175 was the Republic General Hospital, where every tree branch, blade of grass, and old brick still bears the soul of American soldiers. You come here to work and should work even harder because we work not only for the present, for the future but also for the past, which is to heal the pain of war. Our work is real, conscientious and imbued with humanity...

We have many exchanges of picnics, cuisine, culture and arts... Ambassador Daniel Kritenbink once told me: "I have seen images of Vietnamese soldiers in combat, in natural disasters, in increased production, and today I am living in a wonderful musical space, I understand much more about Vietnamese soldiers...".

HONG MINH

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/64-nam-tham-hoa-chat-doc-da-cam-dioxin-van-con-nhieu-van-de-can-hop-tac-giai-quyet-20250810080723472.htm