First US Peace Corps volunteers since war arrive in Vietnam

The U.S. Embassy in Hanoi swore in the first cohort of Peace Corps volunteers to arrive in Vietnam since the Vietnam War, the embassy announced. 

The first nine volunteers, who came to Vietnam in October, have been trained to deliver English language lessons together with Vietnamese teachers. Each volunteer’s assignment is expected to last two years.

“As the 143rd partner country of the Peace Corps, Vietnam  is a welcome addition to our global community, and I look forward to seeing how volunteers and teachers work together to inspire the next generation,” Peace Corps Director Carol Spahn said during the ceremony. 

U.S.-Vietnamese relations have seen a transition in the last decade after chilly ties in the aftermath of the Vietnam War. When U.S. President Barack Obama visited Vietnam in 2006, both countries inked an agreement that paved the way for Peace Corps volunteers to begin operating in the country. 

The Peace Corps is an independent agency under the U.S. government’s executive branch administering a volunteer program that supports overseas governments in carrying out development priorities. The Peace Corps was established by President John F. Kennedy in 1961.

Translated by Anna Vu. Written in English by Nawar Nemeh.