Ho Chi Minh City hosts Summer Camp exploring 250 years of US history

The program, which opened on Monday, is designed for local students and residents interested in U.S. history and culture.

U.S. Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Melissa A. Brown and volunteers from the Peace Corps, a U.S. international volunteer organization established in 1961 under former U.S. President John F. Kennedy, attended the opening ceremony.

Speaking at the event, Consul General Brown said the program is part of a broader series of activities celebrating 250 years of the U.S. independence.

Participants will learn about key figures in U.S. history, including George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Abigail Adams, and others who played important roles in the nation’s founding.

The consulate also unveiled the Founders Museum photo wall, a collection of images from the White House showcasing the early years of the United States and individuals who contributed to its formation.

During the opening session, Consul General Brown and participants took part in an interactive game introducing U.S. geography.

The consul general introduced Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, where the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776, and Washington, D.C., the U.S. capital, while also highlighting locations associated with innovation and the growing partnership between Hanoi and Washington.

She underscored that while Vietnam–U.S. relations span areas such as economics, politics, and security, people-to-people ties remain the most important foundation.

Over the three-day program, Peace Corps volunteers will guide participants through U.S. history, core values, education, innovation, arts, music, student life, and the cultural and historical features of various states across the country.

Peace Corps volunteer Valerie Sartor, who teaches English at Trung Lap High School in Thai My Commune, Ho Chi Minh City, said she arrived in Vietnam in October 2025.

The volunteer, who previously served as a professor at the University of Akron in Ohio, the U.S., said Vietnamese and American students share many similarities.

“I find that Vietnamese and American students have a lot in common. They are very eager to learn, intelligent, and enjoy traveling and exploring new places,” she said.

On the occasion of the 250th anniversary of U.S. Independence Day, she expressed hope for expanded educational exchange programs between the two countries.

“I hope there will be more opportunities for exchanges among high school students, university students, and teachers from both countries,” she added.

Among participants on the opening day, 11th grader Le Minh Phuong from Nguyen Chi Thanh High School in Tan Binh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City said she was impressed by the organization and interactive activities.

“I was really impressed by the volunteers because they were very energetic and friendly,” Phuong said, adding that she hopes for more exchange activities between teachers and students from both countries.

She also said greater participation by foreign teachers and international exchange programs would help Vietnamese students access different cultures and broaden their perspectives.