US veterans visit AO victims at Peace Village, meet association in Ho Chi Minh City

The veterans' first stop that morning was the Peace Village, a center located at and sponsored by Tu Du Obstetric and Gynecological Hospital in the city.

The center provides care, support, and rehabilitation for children affected by AO/Dioxin.

The group visited the children, encouraged them and learned about their lives, care and treatment at the facility.

For veterans who had directly participated in the war, seeing the lasting consequences of the conflict through the lives of younger generations was an emotional experience.

The visit also gave them a better understanding of Vietnam's efforts to care for AO/Dioxin victims and address the consequences of the war.

After the Peace Village visit, the veterans met with the Ho Chi Minh City Association for Victims of AO/Dioxin.

Major General, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hong Son, chairman of the association, and other association officials welcomed the delegation.

The two sides shared information about the consequences of AO/Dioxin and efforts to care for and support victims.

They also discussed exchanges and possible programs to continue working together to help address the consequences of the war.

The meeting was held in an open and sincere atmosphere, with discussions looking beyond the past toward greater understanding, cooperation and humanitarian efforts between the younger generations of Vietnam and the United States.

The association then invited the U.S. veterans to enjoy Hanoi-style 'bun cha' (grilled pork meatballs with vermicelli noodles), creating a warm and informal setting for the guests and their Vietnamese hosts.

The simple Vietnamese meal also evoked former U.S. President Barack Obama’s famous 'bun cha' meal during his 2016 visit to Vietnam, which became a memorable symbol of friendship and cultural exchange between the two countries.

The September 8 visit went beyond an exchange between veterans and AO/Dioxin victims.

It brought together people who had experienced war but had chosen the path of peace and shared concern for victims who continue to suffer from its consequences.

Overall, the visit served as a bridge of friendship, helping extend the journey of healing the wounds of war, strengthen ties between the two peoples and promote increasingly strong people-to-people relations between Vietnam and the United States.