This initiative is part of a broader collaboration between USAID and Vietnam's Ministry of National Defense (MND), which began in April 2019. The joint mission aims to remediate approximately 500,000 cubic meters of dioxin-contaminated soil and sediment in and around the Bien Hoa Air Base. Notable milestones include the 2022 remediation of the off-base Gate 2 Lake, now a community recreational area, and the completion of the Southwest area cleanup on the base, commemorated with a U.S.-funded park.

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In March 2023, USAID Administrator Samantha Power, alongside U.S. and Vietnamese officials, announced a contract of up to $73 million awarded to Nelson Environmental Remediation USA. This contract focuses on designing and constructing a treatment facility to decontaminate soil and sediment at and around the Bien Hoa Air Base.

The comprehensive dioxin remediation project at Bien Hoa is projected to span a decade, with an estimated total cost of $450 million. To date, the U.S. government has committed $218.255 million toward this effort, reflecting the enduring partnership between the United States and Vietnam. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the U.S.-Vietnam Comprehensive Partnership, underscoring the collaborative strides made in overcoming war legacies and fostering a shared vision for the future.

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The US Mission to Vietnam, throughthe US Agency for International Development (USAID), on July 27 announced a 32million USD contract to the US firm Tetra Tech to continue the cleanup ofdioxin-contaminated soil in and around the Bien Hoa air base in the southernprovince of Dong Nai, according to a media release by the US Embassy in Vietnam.

Under this contract, Tetra Tech will provide engineeringdesign, construction management, and environmental monitoring of civil worksand treatment activities for dioxin-contaminated soil and sediment to reducethe risk of exposure to people there as well as in the borderingcommunities to restore the land for full use.  

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In March, during her visit to Vietnam, USAID Administrator SamanthaPower joined other US and Vietnamese government officials to announce anothercontract of up to 73 million USD awarded to Nelson Environmental RemediationUSA to design and build a treatment facility to decontaminate soil and sedimenton and around the air base.

Since April 2019, USAID has worked with the Ministry ofNational Defence to remediate approximately 500,000 cubic metres of dioxin-contaminatedsoil and sediment on and around the air base. In 2022, USAID completedremediation of an off-base lake (Gate 2 Lake) and returned it to the communityfor use as a recreational area, completed remediation of the first on-base area(Southwest area), commemorating this milestone with a US government-funded parkon the site, and completed the construction of the long-term storage facilityfor soil with low levels of contamination.

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Dioxin remediation at Bien Hoa air base area project isexpected to take 10 years to complete and cost an estimated 450 million USD.To date, he US government’s contribution is 218.255 million USD out of a totalexpected commitment of 300 million USD.

This year, the US and Vietnam are celebrating the 10-yearanniversary of their Comprehensive Partnership. The close cooperation over thepast decades to overcome legacies of war is yet another example of how the twocountries work strategically together to create a better future for their peoples.