U.S. Mission to Vietnam Builds Primary School in Ben Tre Province

U.S. Defense Attaché in Hanoi Colonel TJ Bouchillon and Vice Chairwoman of Ben Tre Provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Thi Be Muoi inaugurate Trinh Viet Bang Primary School. (Photo: U.S. Embassy in Vietnam)

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

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 the 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. 

At the transfer ceremony, U.S. Defense Attaché Colonel TJ Bouchillon stated the “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.”

Speaking at the ceremony, Vice Chairwoman of 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.

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 the 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 we mark the 10-year anniversary of the Comprehensive Partnership between the United States and Vietnam, we also reflect on how much we have accomplished together during that time. We look forward to elevating our relationship to deepen engagement even further towards our common goals,” said the U.S. Embassy in Vietnam./.