Hanoi (VNA) - A training range for explosive material disposal, funded by the Office of Defence Cooperation (ODC) of the US Embassy in Vietnam, was inaugurated and handed over to the Vietnam National Mine Action Centre (VNMAC) at a ceremony in Hanoi on March 24.

The range, which was commenced in July 2024 with a non-refundable aid worth over 700,000 USD (about 17 billion VND), covers 2ha in Ba Vi district of Hanoi.

Adhering to the International Mine Action Standards (IMAS), it serves training and enhancing the mine action capacity in Vietnam. It will contribute to the national mine action programme for the 2010–2025 period, improving training capacity and ensuring safety in efforts to settle the consequences of bombs and mines. It will also serve to protect people's lives by minimising risks from unexploded ordnance (UXO), and develop the VNMAC into a fully capable national mine action training institution.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony, Senior Lieutenant General Phung Si Tan, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army and deputy head of the standing agency for the National Steering Committee on the Settlement of Post-War Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) and Toxic Chemical Consequences (Steering Committee 701), praised the US support for Vietnam in addressing war aftermath, including UXO, in recent years.

He requested the VNMAC to make good use of the range, expressing his belief that the US cooperation and support in addressing UXO consequences will help strengthen cooperation for peace, stability, and sustainable development in the region and the world.

US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc E. Knapper stated that the training range is not only a symbol of cooperative efforts but also a testament to both countries' commitment to peace and security, helping reinforce Vietnam's role as a responsible and proactive member of the international community.

The project also contributes to realising one of the key components of the two defence ministries' cooperation plan for 2023–2028, on addressing post-war UXO, he said.

Major General Lance Okamura, Deputy Commanding General for the US Army Pacific, spoke highly of the VNMAC's perseverance, cooperation, and support in this project, stating that the facility will provide the VNMAC with a dedicated facility for mine action training courses, further developing its team of instructors, and helping meet the requirements for managing and implementing post-war remediation efforts.

🍌 The project is expected to serve as a lever for the two countries to further boost their cooperation in humanitarian mine action, laying a solid stepping stone for the VNMAC to continue developing sustainably as in line with the Vietnamese Government’s directives./.