1993 – PRESENT | CURRENT IMPLEMENTERS: DEPARTMENT OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (USAID) | TOTAL FUNDING $166 MILLION
Thirty years of conflict from World War II through the Vietnam War left much of Vietnam contaminated with UXO. The majority of this UXO is concentrated in provinces that adjoin the former Demilitarized Zone, including Quang Tri, Quang Binh, Thua Thien Hue, and Quang Nam Provinces. Parts of southern Vietnam and the country’s northern border with China also remain contaminated with UXO and some landmines. U.S. support for the Vietnam National Mine Action Center (VNMAC), the host government’s lead for issues related to UXO and landmines, continued in 2020 with the provision of a technical advisor, support for the information management unit within VNMAC headquarters, and a technical survey pilot project in Hue Province. Supporting VNMAC’s development will ensure Vietnam maintains the capacity to deal with residual UXO and landmine threats independent of U.S. assistance. The United States continued to fund large-scale survey and clearance work in Quang Tri in support of the provincial government’s goal to become UXO-impact free by 2027.
CONCEPT OF SUPPORT
From 1993 to 2020, the United States invested more than $166 million for Conventional Weapons Destruction (CWD) programs in Vietnam that cleared mines and UXO, provided explosive ordnance risk education (EORE) and survivor assistance, and supported national capacity development.
2020: EXPANDING REMOVAL EFFORTS
Based on the success of operations in Quang Tri and with the support of local government partners, the United States expanded support in 2020 to increase survey and clearance operations in Quang Binh Province. Working with indigenous and international NGOs, the United States increased support to help Quang Binh build its capacity to clear UXO and return clearedland back to communities to create economic opportunities. Additionally, the United States also initiated projects in recognition of the 25th anniversary of U.S.-Vietnam diplomatic relations. UXO survey and clearance continues to be an important foundation for U.S. engagement with the people of Vietnam.
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE SUPPORT
Thanks to DoD contriutions totaling $6.2 million since 1993, Humanitarian Demining Research & Development Program technologies have been used in the clearance of 5,979 mines and UXO from 1,247,425 square meters (308 acres) of land to date. Late in 2019, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), in partnership with VNMAC and Engineering Command of the Vietnamese Army conducted Explosive Ordnance Disposal/Blast Trauma train-the-trainer engagement.