U.S. mission to Vietnam builds primary school in Ben Tre province

The new school includes eight fully furnished classrooms and two teacher’s rooms as well as a handicap accessible ramp. The project was constructed and supported by Chuong Duong Company, the New Horizon Company, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Ben Tre Provincial People’s Committee. U.S. Indo-Pacific Command under the Overseas Humanitarian Disaster Assistance and Civic Action Program funded the construction project.

Inauguration of the school

At the transfer ceremony, U.S. Defense Attaché Colonel TJ Bouchillon stated this “project reflects our commitment to a strong, prosperous, resilient, and independent Vietnam, and a free and open Indo-Pacific region. It underscores the common belief that a successful future lies with preparing the next generation to successfully tackle challenges they will face – whether local, national, or global.”

The project was jointly implemented by the U.S. Office of Defense Cooperation Vietnam and Ben Tre province in January 2019

Delegates touring the unveiled school

Speaking at the ceremony, Vice Chairwoman of the Ben Tre Provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Thi Be Muoi acknowledged the support of the U.S. Mission in Vietnam and the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. “This valuable assistance improves primary education facilities in Binh Dai district’s Dinh Trung commune and helps send children to school which is a part of our local development strategy,” she said.

During the handover ceremony

The new Trinh Viet Bang Primary School will help support Ben Tre province to better facilitate education for children in Dinh Trung and provide safe shelter during natural disasters.

The U.S. Mission to Vietnam and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command are proud to transfer Trinh Viet Bang Primary School to the people of Ben Tre. This project is a strong example of the continued cooperation between the United States and Vietnam since normalizing diplomatic relations.

In 2023, as the two countries mark the 10-year anniversary of the Comprehensive Partnership, Vietnam and the United States also reflect on how much the two countries have accomplished together during that time. Vietnam and the United States look forward to elevating bilateral relationship to deepen engagement even further towards common goals.

Reported by Song Anh