On July 10, at the headquarters of Vietnam's Ministry of Education and Training (MOET), MOET Vice Minister Nguyễn Văn Phúc signed the agreement which was witnessed by U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel J. Kritenbrink and other distinguished guests. Under this agreement, Peace Corps Volunteers will teach English at rural secondary schools in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. This program launch has taken more than 20 years to negotiate and is yet another concrete example of the United States' steadfast commitment to bolstering Vietnam’s English language learning capacity, a crucial skill for any globally connected economy.
USAID/Vietnam served as U.S. Embassy Hanoi's lead for launching the new Peace Corps program since 2016, shortly after the signing of the Peace Corps Country Framework. During the past four years, USAID staff have collaborated closely with Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and MOET to achieve agreement. This momentous agreement is a fitting tribute on the eve of the anniversary of U.S.-Vietnam diplomatic relations, a bold and visionary journey embarked upon on July 11, 1995.
So What? Speaking at the event, Ambassador Kritenbrink said: "The success of the Peace Corps is built on people-to-people ties at the grassroots. I have no doubt that this major achievement will serve to promote mutual understanding between Americans and Vietnamese citizens, while further strengthening our bilateral partnership as we look to the future." For photos of the event, visit: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmPkNPFb.