This week marks a significant milestone as we observe the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War’s conclusion. This brutal conflict came to an end when the capital of South Vietnam, Saigon, fell to the forces of the Communist North. Despite the passage of five decades, the legacy of the war lingers, particularly in the form of chemical weapon exposure that continues to afflict millions of Vietnamese citizens.
Approximately 3 million people, including many children, currently grapple with serious health issues stemming from the chemical agents deployed by US military forces during the conflict. Over the course of the war, around 72 million litres of defoliant were sprayed to eliminate the natural cover used by northern forces, with more than half of this being Agent Orange—a notorious herbicide linked to devastating health repercussions.
The impact of Agent Orange on Vietnamese lives
Among those affected is 34-year-old Nguyen Thanh Hai, whose daily life is marked by challenges that many might take for granted. Simple tasks such as buttoning a shirt, practicing the alphabet, or forming sentences are not easy for him. Hai resides in Da Nang, an area heavily contaminated by Agent Orange due to its proximity to a US air base where the chemical was stored and transported. This contamination has persisted for decades, affecting local food and water sources.
“The impacts on people in Vietnam have been primarily now in the 2nd, 3rd, and possibly 4th generations,” said Charles Bailey, co-author of the book From Enemies to Partners: Vietnam, the US, and Agent Orange.
He elaborated on the dire consequences faced by many: “The consequences are birth defects and, following severe disabilities, both physical and mental disabilities. The Agent Orange substance contains dioxin, a type of chemical linked to cancer, birth defects, and lasting environmental damage.”
Ongoing challenges and concerns about USAID cuts
Vietnam has invested decades into addressing the toxic remnants of the war, but the United States only began to contribute to cleanup efforts in the mid-2000s, after years of ignoring the mounting evidence of the harmful effects. However, these contributions are now at risk due to significant cuts to the US Agency for International Development (USAID) under the previous administration, raising concerns among millions in Vietnam as dioxin-contaminated sites continue to pose health risks across 58 of the country’s 63 provinces.
In Da Nang, where contamination remains a pressing issue, a €106 million cleanup was completed in 2018, yet large areas, roughly the size of ten football fields, remain heavily polluted. Nguyen Van An, chair of the Association for Victims of Agent Orange in Da Nang, expressed the impact of this disaster on the Vietnamese population: “The Agent Orange disaster has brought pain and misery to about 4 million Vietnamese people.” He asserted that both the US government and the manufacturers of this toxic substance should bear responsibility for assisting the victims.
Chuck Searcy, an American veteran of the Vietnam War who has dedicated himself to humanitarian efforts in the country since 1995, warned that the trust built over the years could rapidly diminish if support is withdrawn. “Innocent victims” are the individuals who benefit from US-funded initiatives aimed at addressing the war’s legacy, he stated, adding, “They’ve been victimised twice, once by the war and the consequences that they’ve suffered. And now by having the rug pulled out from under them.”
The environmental devastation caused by Agent Orange has also been profound. Vietnam has lost over half of its mangrove trees, which serve as natural barriers against powerful storms, and the herbicide’s application has led to irreversible damage to many of the nation’s forests while further degrading soil quality in some of its most vulnerable regions.
Since the end of the war, authorities have cordoned off the most contaminated locations, such as Da Nang airport, and have begun to support affected families even as the US continued to overlook the long-term health impacts of chemical warfare—effects that extend even to American veterans. Today, Vietnam identifies victims of Agent Orange through assessments of family and residential histories, correlating these with a range of health issues linked to the chemical.
Authorities believe that the health ramifications of Agent Orange exposure can persist for generations, posing threats to the descendants of those initially affected. Despite this, many scientists acknowledge that uncertainties still surround the precise health effects of Agent Orange, both for those exposed and for subsequent generations.