Vietnam perseveres in seeking justice for AO victims
Despites a number of setbacks, the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/dioxin (VAVA) has persevered in its attempt to seek justice for Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin victims over the past decade.
Despites a number of setbacks, the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/dioxin (VAVA) has persevered in its attempt to seek justice for Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin victims over the past decade.
The fight for justice for AO victims has been a long and difficult journey and has yet to gain ultimate success, but its initial outcomes are very encouraging, VAVA President Nguyen Van Rinh said in an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the Day for AO victims (August 10).
The struggle has won support from people in Vietnam and across the world, especially in the US and countries whose armies fought during the war in Vietnam, Rinh said, adding that it has also persuaded the US Government to work with the Vietnamese Government to address AO/dioxin impacts on the environment and human health.
The US Government and congress decided to set aside 84 million USD to address the issue. Annually, the US provides 5 million USD in humanitarian aid for medical checks and healthcare for Vietnamese AO victims and people with disabilities, he noted.
The VAVA President recalled that before the lawsuits launched by Vietnamese AO victims, there were already several trials related to AO in the world, including one by US veterans in 1984 where 7 US chemical companies paid 180 million USD in compensation to the war veterans while refusing to acknowledge their wrongdoings. In 2006, a Seoul court issued a verdict demanding two US chemical companies – Dow Chemical and Monsanto, to pay 62 million USD for health care costs for 6,800 Korean war veterans who used to serve in Vietnam and their families. The verdict is yet to be enforced.
Rinh also noted that the US government spends around 1.5 billion USD every year to take care of US war veterans affected by AO/dioxin.
The VAVA has twice filed lawsuits in US courts against over 30 US chemical companies for producing and supplying the toxic chemical for use during the war in Vietnam. Despite being denied, the lawsuits helped people from many countries around the world better understand the impact of AO/dioxin on the environment and human health in Vietnam.
Regarding the Vietnamese-French AO victim Tran To Nga’s lawsuit against 26 US chemical companies, President Rinh said his association continually supports and accompanies Nga in her lawsuit in France.
He said the association sent an open letter to the French Court of Evry to call for support of Nga, and also invited Nga and her lawyers from the Paris-based William Bourdon & Forestier law firm to visit AO/dioxin “hot spots” and victims and join activities for Vietnamese AO victims in 2015.
VAVA is set to introduce more lawyers to support Nga in her lawsuit moving forward, Rinh confirmed, adding that the association has raised tens of thousands of euros for the law suit and will continue with fundraising activities.
The US military sprayed some 80 million litres of toxic chemicals from 1961 to 1971, 61 percent of which was AO containing 366 kilograms of dioxin, over nearly one quarter of the total area of South Vietnam.
Preliminary statistics showed that 4.8 million Vietnamese people were exposed to AO/dioxin and about 3 million people became victims. Tens of thousands of people have died while millions of others have suffered from cancer and other incurable diseases as a result. Many of their offspring suffer from birth deformities.
Since its establishment in 2004, the VAVA has raised nearly 1 trillion VND (46 million USD) to help AO victims build and repair houses as well as assist with production, health examination, and job generation, Rinh said, adding that 300,000 out of the three million people affected by the toxic chemical are benefitting from the support policies for AO victims.-VNA
A series of practical activities have been held in many cities and provinces to mark 50 years of the use of Agent Orange/dioxin in Vietnam and the Day for AO victims.
The Vietnam News Agency (VNA) has presented gifts to Agent Orange/dioxin victims in Dong Ha city of the central Quang Tri province and Tuy An district of central Phu Yen province, on the occasion of the Day for AO Victims (August 10).
A text-messaging drive to raise funds for Vietnamese Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin victims has been launched nationwide in response to the Day for AO victims (August 10).
An exchange highlighting the spirit of victims of Agent Orange/dioxin was held in Ho Chi Minh City on August 10 as part of activities nationwide to mark the 52nd anniversary of the first spraying of the toxic chemical by the US Army (1961-2013).
The Association of Agent Orange/Dioxin (AO) Victims in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho held a meeting on August 4 to mark the day for AO victims (August 10).
Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists’ Association (VJA) Le Quoc Minh has called for technology to be leveraged not to replace identity, but to enhance it—allowing Vietnamese journalism to reach both local and global audiences.
In recent years, with strong support from the Party and State, and building on its tradition as a heroic news agency, the VNA has not only actively participated in OANA but also proactively proposed various ideas for cooperation, helping shape a fresh image of effective media collaboration in the digital era, said VNA General Director Vu Viet Trang.
The education sector has been one of the foundations playing a vital role in deepening Vietnam – New Zealand ties, said Prof. Damon Salesa, Vice-Chancellor of the Auckland University of Technology (AUT).
Tien Giang province has addressed the housing needs of 608 poor, near-poor, and policy-beneficiary families facing housing difficulties. Of these, 370 houses were newly constructed while 238 underwent major renovations.
Dr Pham Minh Hung from the University of Economics and Business under Vietnam National University, Hanoi, said the fixed-term contract mechanism is a correct step, liberating the entire system from traditional constraints which have long stood in the way of innovation.
The partnership will focus on studying and recommending LRT routes that connect the city’s transport network with urban development zones, industrial parks, and TOD areas. The research will cover Thu Dau Mot city and surrounding areas, with completion scheduled before August 15, 2025.
Media must not only serve as a channel for information but also act as a vanguard in shaping public opinion, combating misinformation, upholding the Party’s ideological principles, and reinforcing unity between Vietnam and Laos.
In Vietnam, the voluntary blood donation movement was first launched on January 24, 1994. In 2008, the Prime Minister established the National Steering Committee for Voluntary Blood Donation.
Currently, 20 Vietnamese citizens remain in Iran, including embassy staff and personnel. All are safe, mentally stable, and in regular contact with the embassy.
A VietnamPlus survey of 764 young people shows that 83.9% of Gen Z use smartphones to read news, only 12% use computers, and the rest access content via tablets.
GVB Startup 2025 attracted the participation of nearly 150 individuals and organisations from across Vietnam. The event seeks to promote bold and ambitious startup ideas and projects, contributing to the future of global innovation, and supporting startups through the provision of resources, networking opportunities, and market insights.
AI could not replace human judgment in verifying information and sensitive political events, and that humans remain the final gatekeepers of content, said Leonid Kovachich, head of the Asian department at Sputnik's international broadcasting division.
A veteran journalist of Argentina has praised the modern evolution of Vietnam’s press, which now serves a dual purpose: introducing Vietnam to the world while bringing global perspectives to domestic audiences.
The court announced that Quyet had submitted a written request to be tried in absentia, citing serious health issues. According to an official statement from Hospital 19/8, the defendant is suffering from multiple illnesses, experiencing fatigue and shortness of breath, with doctors warning of a “very high risk of death.”
A senior Party official highlighted the VNA’s consistent role over the past eight decades, noting that it remains a mainstream, uninterrupted, timely, accurate, and authoritative source of news that helps shape public opinion, strengthen public trust, and safeguard the ideological foundation of the Party.
Dr. Kobelev, born in 1938 in Ulyanovsk, was among the first Soviet scholars to specialise in Vietnam. As a former TASS correspondent during the war in Vietnam, he worked closely with Vietnamese institutions and later helped found Russia’s Centre for Vietnamese and ASEAN Studies.
The 22 million THB (680,000 USD) hall construction is slated for completion within three years, just in time for the 2028 centennial of President Ho Chi Minh’s arrival in Thailand.
Among those receiving reduced sentences were Tran Tung, former Deputy Director of the Thai Nguyen provincial Department of Foreign Affairs, whose prison term was cut to 10 years from 12, with six years for accepting bribes and four for abusing power while performing official duties.
A walk in support for AO victims (Source: VNA)
