As the United States and Vietnam celebrate 30 years of diplomatic relations, U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper and Kelly McKeague, Director of the U.S. Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, joined Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) Vice President Chu Hoàng Hà and senior leaders from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, National Defense, Home Affairs, the Vietnam Office for Seeking Missing Persons, and National Steering Committee 515 to inaugurate a state-of-the-art DNA laboratory in Hanoi.
The new laboratory, housed within VAST’s Center for DNA Identification, represents a groundbreaking step in identifying the remains of Vietnam’s wartime missing. Made possible through U.S. government funding for equipment and training by the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP), the facility underscores the power of science and technology in fostering healing and advancing our shared commitment to reconciliation.
“This facility is a testament to what our partnership can achieve,” noted Ambassador Knapper. “As our nations celebrate 30 years of bilateral relations, we reaffirm our shared commitment to address war legacies, using cooperation in science and technology to bring answers to families.”
The laboratory’s advanced DNA analysis capabilities will enable Vietnamese scientists to tackle the complex challenges of identifying degraded remains, including those recovered from high acidity soil, offering closure to families who have waited decades for answers. Over the coming months, ICMP will continue mentoring VAST scientists in the use of these cutting-edge protocols, ensuring the facility becomes a lasting resource for Vietnam’s efforts to honor and identify its wartime dead.
This initiative reflects the broader evolution of U.S.-Vietnam relations, which have grown from reconciliation cooperation to a robust partnership across diverse fields, including science, technology, and innovation.
The inauguration of the DNA laboratory is not only a symbol of the progress made in overcoming the legacies of war but also of the possibilities that lie ahead. Together, the United States and Vietnam are building on a relationship rooted in mutual respect, trust, and a shared vision for a brighter future.
Vietnam War Veterans’ Association actively participates in “All people protecting national security” movement 
