[Editor’s note: This guest post by Charles Bailey of the Ford Foundation was written Monday, March 7th. Due to the time difference, these updates will not be published in real time.]
After an exciting weekend of arrivals, the Common Cause Delegation on Agent Orange in Vietnam was kicked into gear today with a packed schedule of events and meetings.
We began by meeting with Dr. Le Ke Son, Deputy Director-General of the Vietnam Environmental Administration. The delegation then witnessed the impact first-hand at the Center for Children with Disabilities in District 12 and closed the day with a productive and stylish dinner at an early 20th century mansion in downtown Ho Chi Minh City.
Much was learned throughout, but the dinner was especially memorable because of the dynamic group in attendance:
- Ton Nu Thi Ninh of Tri Viet University.
- Dana Doan, Director of the LIN Center for Community Development.
- Robin King Austen, CEO of the VinaCapital Foundation.
- Robert Schiffer, Chief Executive of the U.S.-Vietnam Trade Council.
- Tran Thi Hieu Hanh of the Department of Foreign Affairs in Ho Chi Minh City.
- The members of the delegation.