Vietnam

Support for Mine Action

Last updated: 11 December 2017

The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is heavily contaminated by explosive remnants of war (ERW), mainly unexploded ordnance (UXO) dating back to the war with the United States (US) in the 1960s and first half of the 1970s. Vietnam contains some of the most widespread and extensive contamination from cluster munition remnants in the world.[1]

In 2016, as in previous years, Vietnam did not report national contributions to mine action, but it was reported in the media that Vietnam was spending $30 million per year on mine clearance work.[2] The lack of transparency and legislative oversight makes tracking government expenditures for mine action difficult. In April 2010, Vietnam released its 2010–2025 National Mine Action Plan. Although the plan did not include projected costs, a media article at the time of the plan’s release reported Vietnam “annually invests hundreds of billions of dong on disposing UXO [sic] and supporting victims.”[3]

In 2016, five donors contributed US$12.3 million for clearance, victim assistance, and risk education; this was $3 million less than in 2015 (a 20% decrease).[4] As in 2015, the US provided the largest contribution with a total of $10.7 million, which represents 87% of total international assistance provided in 2016.

International contributions: 2016[5]

Donor

Sector

Amount (national currency)

Amount (US$)

US

Various

$10,709,000

10,709,000

Norway

Clearance and victim assistance

NOK5,611,177

668,507

Japan

Clearance

¥62,537,090

575,530

United Kingdom

Clearance and risk education

£157,073

212,912

Ireland

Clearance and risk education

€100,000

110,720

Total

 

 

12,276,669

 

International contributions to mine action in Vietnam have totaled some $59 million since 2012, representing an average of $12 million per year.

Summary of contributions: 2012–2016[6]

Year

Amount (US$)

% change from previous year

2016

12,276,669

-20

2015

15,255,098

+6

2014

14,329,784

+59

2013

8,990,313

0

2012

8,960,550

+14

Total

59,812,414

 

 



[1] For more details, see, Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor, “Country Profile: Vietnam: Mine Action,” updated 11 August 2017.

[2]VN calls on donors to help with clean up of explosives,” Vietnam News, 15 March 2014.

[3]PM approves programme on unexploded ordnance,” Vietnam News (Hanoi), 29 April 2010. The equivalent of VND100 billion is approximately $5.28 million. Average exchange rate for 2009: US$1=VND17493.10, Oanda.com, Historical Exchange Rates.

[4] Ireland, Convention on Conventional Weapons Protocol II Annual Report, Form E, and Annex 1, 30 March 2017; Japan, Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, Form J, 30 April 2017; United Kingdom, Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, Form J, 30 April 2017; and emails from Ingrid Schoyen, Senior Adviser, Section for Humanitarian Affairs, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 31 May 2017; and from Steve Costner, Deputy Office Director, Weapons Removal and Abatement, US Department of State, 30 October 2017.

[5] Average exchange rate for 2016: €1=US$1.1072; NOK8.3936=US$1; £1=US$1.3555; ¥108.66=US$1. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 4 January 2017.

[6] See previous Monitor reports. Totals for international support in 2015 and 2014 have been rectified as a result of revised US funding data. Total for 2012 has also been rectified as a result of database clean-up.