Fifty years after the Vietnam War, the United States and Vietnam are transforming their painful past into a platform for cooperation. A recent milestone—the US Army’s handover of a landmine clearance training facility in Ba Vi—highlights a growing partnership rooted in reconciliation. From unexploded ordinance (UXO) clearance to defense diplomacy, both countries work to heal old wounds through practical collaboration.
From March 22 to 25, Major General Lance Okamura, Deputy Commanding General for Homeland Affairs of the US Army Pacific, joined US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper in opening a new Humanitarian Mine Action Demolition Training Range in Ba Vi, near Hanoi, Vietnam. The range, built with support from the United States and Vietnam’s Ministry of National Defense, symbolizes the US' commitment to clearing unexploded ordinance (UXO). It supports Vietnam’s demining capabilities and honors a shared responsibility to address war legacies—turning a once-devastated battlefield into a training ground for peace.
The facility spans over two hectares and is equipped with advanced technology and testing areas, empowering Vietnamese engineers to manage UXO threats independently. The handover of this facility provides important technical knowledge, laying a quiet foundation for deeper military collaboration in the future.
Major General Okamura and Ambassador Knapper also joined Colonel General Phung Si Tan, Deputy Chief of Staff of Vietnam People’s Army, in discussing cooperation as outlined in the US-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the US-Vietnam Joint Vision Statement on Defense Relations, including other reconciliation cooperations such as dioxin remediation at Bien Hoa airbase, Dong Nai, and the return of war artifacts.
On April 2nd, Ambassador Knapper visited Quang Binh province and met with local officials on reconciliation projects. Over the years, the United States has supported numerous initiatives to clear UXO, aid victims, and promote public safety awareness. These efforts have significantly reduced danger, clearing nearly 9,000 mines and UXO from almost 310 acres of land from 1993 to 2021, paving the way for socio-economic development in the region. Later, Ambassador Knapper joined Vietnam’s Deputy Foreign Minister Do Hung Viet and multiple US and Vietnamese experts in a search operation for MIA remains in Cop village of Huong Phung commune, Huong Hoa district, Quang Tri province. Quang Tri is the province most heavily contaminated by landmines in Vietnam, with 82% of its land affected. In the last 50 years, more than 1,200 sets of remains have been recovered and returned to the United States, with more than 735 casualties of war identified, thanks to tireless cooperation from both countries in reviewing data, transferring personal effects, and conducting on-site excavations.
These reconciliation efforts not only foster mutual respect but also help reshape public perception, opening the door for deeper collaboration beyond the sensitive realm of hard security and arms sales. In a region marked by rising tensions, such legacy-focused cooperation underscores the United States’ role as a committed and responsible partner—one invested not just in strategic interests, but in shared prosperity and long-term development.
Alex Vu is a Spring 2025 Young Professional at the East-West Center in Washington. Alex is currently a junior at the University of South Florida, studying Econometrics & Political Science.
Security and Defense
War Memorials