Spreading compassion for victims of Agent Orange.

On the morning of May 27th, in Hanoi, the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin held its 5th Congress of Outstanding Exemplars "For Victims of Agent Orange" (2026-2031).

Celebrating profound human values.

Comrade Bui Thi Minh Hoai, Member of the Political Bureau, Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and Chairwoman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, attended and presented a congratulatory flower basket.

Comrade Bui Thi Minh Hoai, Member of the Political Bureau , Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and Chairwoman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, presented a congratulatory flower basket to the Congress. Photo: Mai Hoa

In his opening remarks, Lieutenant General Nguyen Huu Chinh, Chairman of the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin, emphasized: "The Congress not only summarizes the emulation movement of the past five years, but also serves as an opportunity to honor outstanding collectives and individuals, strongly spreading the spirit of emulation for victims of Agent Orange and the tradition of mutual support and compassion of the nation. The Congress affirms the responsibility of the entire society towards those who still bear the heavy burden of war, making the emulation movement a truly reliable bridge connecting victims with the community."

Lieutenant General Nguyen Huu Chinh, Chairman of the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin, delivers a speech. Photo: Thu Hieu

During the period 2021-2026, despite facing numerous challenges from natural disasters, epidemics, and the streamlining of the administrative apparatus and the merger of administrative units according to the two-tiered government model, the Association's emulation movement still achieved comprehensive results.

By the end of 2025, more than 252,850 former resistance fighters exposed to chemical toxins and their children nationwide will benefit from preferential policies; more than 45,000 of their grandchildren and great-grandchildren will receive social welfare benefits. From 2021 to the end of 2025, the entire Association has mobilized a very large amount of resources, reaching over 2,424 billion VND (a significant increase compared to the nearly 1,926 billion VND of the previous period). From these resources, nearly 2,314 billion VND has been directly spent to support the construction and repair of houses (over 172 billion VND), Tet and holiday gifts (over 1,114 billion VND), and support the care of victims at social welfare centers.

On the people-to-people diplomacy front, the Association has consistently supported the lawsuit filed by Ms. Tran To Nga in France for victims of Agent Orange/dioxin. This lawsuit has become a symbol of enduring support, prompting the US government to increase its disability support package in Vietnam for the period 2021-2030. In particular, the unanimous approval by the Belgian House of Representatives of Parliament of the United Kingdom of Belgium of a resolution supporting Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange is a tremendous moral victory on the international stage.

Innovation, focusing strongly on the grassroots.

The congress honored individuals who, despite suffering from the effects of Agent Orange, have written extraordinary stories. One such story is that of Ms. Nguyen Thi Ha (Hai Phong). Born into a family where her father and three siblings all suffer from the effects of Agent Orange, and with severe mobility impairment herself, Ms. Ha has overcome numerous surgeries, opened a hair salon to stabilize her life, and provided free vocational training to over 100 young people in similar circumstances.

Similarly, former soldier Le Van Tong (Ca Mau), whose wife and children were all affected by Agent Orange, started with 6 acres of precarious land. Through self-learning, he built a chain of 3 effective economic models (timber sawing, fruit tree cultivation, and fish farming), achieving an income of over 200 million VND per year and lifting his family out of poverty sustainably.

The congress also honored dedicated caregivers such as Ms. Hua Hoa (Ho Chi Minh City), who single-handedly cares for her blind husband, her daughter with congenital mental illness, and two young grandchildren with developmental delays. Or Ms. Pham Thi Ly (Hung Yen), who, despite suffering from second-generation Agent Orange effects and mobility difficulties, has persistently maintained a free charity class at her home for elementary school children for 15 years, embodying the spirit of "disabled but not defeated."

Entering the 2026-2031 period, the Congress unanimously voted on the direction and objectives with the motto: "Innovation - Focusing on the grassroots - Focusing on victims". The Association aims to strive for 100% of eligible communes and wards to establish Association branches; the entire Association will mobilize resources to reach 400 billion VND/year or more. At the same time, the Association will strongly shift its assistance method from emergency humanitarian aid to ensuring sustainable livelihoods according to the motto "Livelihood and integration".

At the Congress, the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin awarded commemorative medals to eight outstanding individuals who have made significant contributions to the care and assistance of victims, including: Mr. Karl Hendrik Margareta Van den Bossche (Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Belgium to Vietnam); Mr. Charles Mathes Searcy (Veterans for Peace of America - VFP), and many leaders and project staff from the international humanitarian organization CRS...

Commemorative medals were awarded to outstanding individuals who have made significant contributions to the care and assistance of victims of Agent Orange/dioxin. Photo: Mai Hoa

The association also decided to award Certificates of Merit to many outstanding collectives and individuals who have achieved excellent results in the emulation movement.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/lan-toa-nghia-tinh-vi-nan-nhan-chat-doc-da-cam-972310.html