Across the country, teachers are teaming up with USIP to integrate peacebuilding into their curriculum. One of these peace teachers, Erin Sullivan, and her student Michelle Mao discuss how their school in Wilmington, Delaware, recently worked with The 2 Sides Project on its “peace homes” rehabilitation program in Vietnam, which connects donors with Vietnamese families in need of major renovations or a completely new home. Together, they raised the money needed to help renovate the flood-prone home of the Cong family in Ho Chi Minh City — and even donated extra funds to buy two desks for the family’s school-aged children.
USIP Peace Teacher Highlights Vietnam Reconciliation with ‘Peace Homes’ Project
Related Publications
Andrew Wells-Dang on Biden’s Trip to Vietnam
The comprehensive strategic partnership announced during President Biden’s trip to Vietnam marks 50 years of progress between the two countries and an “upgrade of the U.S.-Vietnam relationship to the highest level,” says USIP’s Andrew Wells-Dang, while adding a caveat that “it doesn’t mean Vietnam is becoming a U.S. ally.”
Agent Orange Victims in Vietnam: Their Numbers, Experiences, Needs, and Sources of Support
Between 1961 and 1971, US forces sprayed an estimated 12 million gallons of Agent Orange in Vietnam. The effects remain one of the most contentious legacies of the Vietnam War. This report focuses on the hardships faced by Vietnamese people living with Agent Orange–related health problems and disabilities and suggests ways the US and Vietnamese governments can better address the legacy of Agent Orange to provide support to individuals and families, and to strengthen bilateral relations.
US Assistance to Vietnamese Families Impacted by Agent Orange
Addressing war legacies is a top priority for both the US and Vietnamese governments, although cooperation on the impacts of Agent Orange took more than 20 years to develop. This report reviews the history of that cooperation and examines assistance for those affected by Agent Orange, including families and caregivers, in Vietnam. The report identifies a need for comprehensive nonmedical support and offers recommendations to better address this need and further develop bilateral trust and respect.
U.S.-China Competition Presents Vietnam with Risks and Opportunities
In recent years as U.S.-China strategic competition has ramped up, Southeast Asia has been one of the key domains where this rivalry is playing out. Vietnam is the only Southeast Asian country that has suffered from direct military confrontations with several major powers. It suffered at the height of the Cold War, and also when the major powers entangled and realigned their relationships when geostrategic factors shifted, such as when the United States and China improved ties in the early 1970s. So, Vietnam is especially sensitive to this intensifying strategic competition and attuned to the impact on its relationships with major powers.