The Vietnam-US joint project, launched in December 2019, has so far treated nearly half of the airport’s contaminated land to safe levels, enabling its use for socio-economic development and defense purposes.
At the event, US Ambassador Marc Knapper and Major General Nguyen Dinh Hien, head of the National Action Centre for Toxic Chemicals and Environmental Treatment (NACCET), signed an agreement for an additional USD 32 million in US non-refundable aid to expand support programmes for people with disabilities in areas heavily affected by Agent Orange/dioxin.
Deputy Minister of Defense Hoang Xuan Chien stressed that the handover marks both a milestone achievement and a demonstration of effective bilateral cooperation.
Leaders from the defense ministry and the US Embassy also broke ground on the project’s largest facility, a dioxin treatment plant, scheduled to begin operation in 2026. The system is expected to accelerate cleanup efforts and help complete the project before 2030 as directed by the Prime Minister.
The Bien Hoa initiative reflects joint efforts to address war legacies, contributing positively to Vietnam-US relations as the two nations celebrate 30 years of diplomatic ties.
