Vietnam Veterans Association
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| Vietnam Veterans Association | |
|---|---|
| Name | Vietnam Veterans Association |
| Caption | Emblem of the Vietnam Veterans Association |
| Formation | 1970s |
| Type | Veterans' organization |
| Headquarters | Hanoi; Ho Chi Minh City |
| Region served | Vietnam; international chapters |
| Membership | Veterans; family members |
Vietnam Veterans Association. The Vietnam Veterans Association is an organization representing former Army of the Republic of Vietnam, People's Army of Vietnam, Republic of Vietnam Navy, United States Armed Forces, Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force, Royal New Zealand Navy, and other combatants who served during the Vietnam War and related conflicts. It engages with institutions such as the Ministry of National Defence (Vietnam), the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the Australian Department of Veterans' Affairs, and nongovernmental groups like the Vietnam Red Cross Society and the International Committee of the Red Cross to coordinate assistance, commemoration, and historical preservation.
History
The association traces roots to post-war veterans' groups formed after the 1975 fall of Saigon, incorporating members from regions including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and Can Tho. Early interactions involved international exchanges with delegations to the United States Congress, Australian Parliament, the United Kingdom Parliament, and the French National Assembly to address issues from repatriation to archival access. Over time, it engaged with organizations such as the United Nations agencies, the World Health Organization, the International Labour Organization, and the International Committee of the Red Cross to respond to wartime legacies including unexploded ordnance and Agent Orange contamination documented by studies from the Harvard School of Public Health and reports to the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Mission and Activities
The association's declared mission includes veteran welfare, historical research, and public commemoration, coordinating with entities like the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, the Vietnamese National Archive, the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Institution, and university centers such as the Vietnam Center and Archive at Texas Tech University. Activities involve commemorative ceremonies at sites such as the Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, the War Remnants Museum, the Long Tan Cross, and battlefield preserves of the Battle of Dien Bien Phu legacy, and partnerships with cultural institutions including the National Museum of Vietnamese History and the Australian War Memorial.
Membership and Organization
Membership spans former members of the People's Army of Vietnam, veterans of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces, members of the Lao People's Armed Forces, and international veterans from the United States Marine Corps, United States Army Special Forces, US Air Force, and volunteer organizations such as the Peace Corps and Mercy Corps. Internal governance mirrors structures found in associations like the American Legion, the Royal British Legion, and the Returned and Services League of Australia, with national committees, provincial chapters, and liaison officers assigned to ministries like the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (Vietnam) and municipal authorities in Hue. The association also liaises with legal institutions including the Supreme People's Court of Vietnam on pension and benefits disputes.
Programs and Services
Programs address healthcare, rehabilitation, and social reintegration, delivered through partnerships with hospitals such as 108 Military Central Hospital, research centers like the Pasteur Institute Ho Chi Minh City, and universities including Vietnam National University, Hanoi and University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Ho Chi Minh City. Services include assistance with disability compensation tied to laws such as Vietnam's social protection statutes and coordination with international aid from the United States Agency for International Development, the Australian Agency for International Development, and the International Monetary Fund-supported programs. The association runs memorial restoration projects, family reunification efforts similar to initiatives by Amnesty International and the Red Cross, educational outreach with the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union, and vocational training linked to technical colleges like Hanoi University of Industry.
Advocacy and Public Policy
The association advocates on policy issues including veteran pensions, land restitution, environmental remediation of dioxin/Agent Orange sites remediated by contractors like Vietnamese-German remediation consortia and companies referenced in reports to the United States Congress. It engages in legislative consultation with bodies such as the National Assembly of Vietnam and international advocacy via forums at the United Nations Human Rights Council, collaborative research with institutions like Yale University and Stanford University, and participation in bilateral dialogues with the United States Department of State, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Vietnam).
Notable Events and Milestones
Notable milestones include national commemorations aligned with anniversaries of the Tet Offensive and the end of the Second Indochina War, international delegations hosted in cities like Washington, D.C., Canberra, London, and Paris, and major projects such as collaboration on demining with the Mine Action Coordination Centre of Afghanistan-style models and international NGOs including MAG (Mines Advisory Group) and HALO Trust. The association has participated in exhibitions at the Smithsonian Institution and joint conferences with the Vietnam War Commemoration programs of the United States and partner commemorative initiatives by the Australian Government. It has also been involved in litigation and policy debates following studies by the National Academy of Sciences and submissions to hearings before the United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs.