​    On the morning of April 26, 2024, the 2^nd Congress of Dong Nai province Vietnam - United States Friendship Association for the 2024 - 2029 term took place successfully, marking an important milestone in the development process of Dong Nai province Vietnam - United States Friendship Association (Association).

The first journey has got many achievements

 The Campaign Committee for the establishment of the Association (in 2018)

On December 14, 2018, the Vietnam - United States Friendship Association of Dong Nai province held its 1^st Congress. The Congress elected 15 members of the Association's Executive Committee and 03 members of the Association's Inspection Committee. Associate Professor, PhD. Nguyen Duy Anh Tuan was elected as Chairman of the Association. When the Association was initially established and put into operation, it attracted 200 members. So far, the Vietnam - United States Friendship Association of Dong Nai province has gathered more than 300 members with 03 affiliated branches at Dong Nai University, Lac Hong University and Dong Nai University of Technology.

 Exchange activities of the Association with the United States Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City.

Members of the Association include officials, civil servants, lecturers, students of universities and people from all walks of life who have worked, studied and have relationships with US partners and wish to learn more about the country and people of the United States. Therefore, during the past term, friendship exchange activities between people of Dong Nai and those of the United States have been organized and implemented smoothly and achieved many positive results.

Accordingly, during the first term, the Association has organized approximately 20 people-to-people exchange events with many outstanding activities such as exchange programs and seminars on study opportunities in the United States with the participation of about 1,000 officials, members, parents and pupils in Bien Hoa city; 05 thematic conferences for about 2,000 officials, members and people from all walks of life in the province, especially the symposium on "the role of people-to-people diplomacy in the "Vietnam – United States Comprehensive Strategy Partnership" presented and chaired by Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh - Former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Former Vietnamese Ambassador to the United States, Chairman of Vietnam – United States Society as United States - Vietnam relations is  elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership in September of 2023. Every year, the Association coordinates with the Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin to present gift to families of victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin in the province on the occasion of public holidays and New Year holidays and to households with financial difficulties during the Covid-19 pandemic, …

 
People-to-people exchange activities of the Association, term I

With the goal of building and strengthening the relationship of solidarity, friendship, and cooperation between people of Dong Nai province and people of the United States, the Association regularly updates documents and propaganda information from the Central Association, Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, departments, agencies and sectors in the province to provide accurate, quick and timely information to members and people of all walks of life in the province for more understandings about the country, people and culture and national development achievements of the American people as well as the friendship relationship of the two countries, important foreign events between Vietnam in general, Dong Nai province in particular and US partners.

Thanks to the initial, flexible and creative operational ways in the past term, Dong Nai province Vietnam – United States Friendship Association has built an increasingly strong organization, highly appreciated by the central and provincial levels. It can be said that 5 years is not a long journey but enough to see the collective efforts of the Vietnam - United States Friendship Association of Dong Nai province. These practical and effective activities have contributed significantly to creating a favorable social foundation and promoting the comprehensive strategic partnership for peace, cooperation and sustainable development between Vietnam and the United States.

People-to-people diplomacy implemented by the Association has made progress

The 2^nd Congress of Vietnam - United States Friendship Association of Dong Nai province, term 2024 - 2029, took place solemnly on April 26, 2024 with the participation of more than 200 delegates.  There was the attendance of Mr. Thomas Zia, Acting Deputy Consul General of the United States in Ho Chi Minh City; Ambassador Bui The Giang, Vice President of Vietnam – United States Society; Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Acting Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Vo Tan Duc; Leaders of provincial agencies and departments and 146 official delegates representing more than 300 members of the Vietnam - United States Friendship Association of the province. At the Congress, official delegates of the Congress voted to approve many important contents of the Congressional Documents, and negotiated to elect 16 members to the Executive Committee, term II, led by Mr. Dao Van Phuoc, Member of the Provincial Standing Party Committee, Head of the Provincial Party Committee’s Organizing Commission as Chairman of the Association.

 

Mr. Vo Tan Duc - Acting Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Mr. Bui The Giang - Vice Chairman of Vietnam – United States Society and Mr. Thomas Zia, Acting Deputy Consul General of the United States in Ho Chi Minh City and the Executive Committee of the Association, term II.

The attendance of delegates showed the interest and support of the Vietnam – United States Society’s leaders, provincial leaders, and United States partners such as diplomatic representative agencies, businesses, and organizations. foreign non-governmental organizations and numerous officials and members of the Associationand their appreciation for the achievements that the Association has been attaining in the past and in the coming time.

This is shown even more clearly by the statement of Mr. Thomas Zia, Acting Deputy Consul General of the United States in Ho Chi Minh City. He expressed his joy and showed interest in people-to-people diplomacy’s activities in the province. Especially, since Dong Nai province Vietnam - United States Friendship Association was established in 2018, it has deepened the friendship and cooperation relations between the province and US partners. Simultaneously, he expected that the two sides would work together to boost people-to-people diplomatic relations to a new level in the next 5 years.

Regarding the attention and direction of the Provincial People's Committee, Acting Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Vo Tan Duc highly appreciated the operational results of the Association in the past term. The province authority would continue to pay attention and provide timely direction for Association's activities. Currently, American businesses have 33 projects with nearly 330 million USD invested in the province. Dong Nai has signed a Memorandum of Understanding and a Provincial-level International Cooperation Agreement with three US partners, including: the states of Arkansas, Virginia, and Oklahoma. Therefore, Acting Chairman of Dong Nai province People's Committee Vo Tan Duc proposed that the Association in the next term should strengthen the establishment and development of relationships with US people's organizations, businesses, and partners; promote propaganda and promote the images of Dong Nai with friends and people of the United States and regularly follow the policies and orientations of people-to-people diplomacy of the Party, the Government, the Vietnam – United States Society and Dong Nai province Authority.

Ambassador Bui The Giang - Vice Chairman of the Vietnam – United States Society also suggested 3 key people-to-people diplomacy contents that Dong Nai province Vietnam - US Friendship Association focus on, including: strengthening people-to-people exchanges between Vietnam and the United States, especially in the fields of culture, education, science and technology; proactively and actively cooperating with US partners; being dynamic and creative in socializing resources to maintain and promote the effectiveness of the Association's operation in a sustainable way.

Acting Chairman of Dong Nai province People's Committee Vo Tan Duc awarded Certificates of Merit to groups and individuals with outstanding achievements in the activities of the Association

Closing the first journey of many achievements, the 2nd Congress of Vietnam - United States Friendship Association of Dong Nai province opens a new development path for the Association with an enthusiastic Executive Committee, inheriting and promoting the achievements of the first term to continue to build and develop an increasingly strong Association, demonstrating the role of the bridge connecting the sustainable friendship and fruitful development between people of Dong Nai province and people of the United States in the coming time.