More than 5,000 people join in a walk in support of AO/dioxin victims on the occasion of the Action Month for Victims of AO/Dioxin in August 2023. (Photo: VNA)

VAVA Vice President Major General Nguyen Hong Son said on Tuesday at an event to introduce a charity walk program in support of AO/dioxin victims that for the last nearly 20 years, VAVA has repeatedly submitted petitions to courts in the US regarding the US army's use of toxic chemicals including AO/dioxin in the Vietnamese territory, which has led to serious consequences.

The US military has only conducted environmental remediation of dioxin contamination in some severely impacted areas like Bien Hoa airfield and Da Nang airport, which is not enough. Thus, VAVA has decided to sue 37 US chemical companies that supported the US military in carrying out the spraying during 1961-1971, to hold them accountable for their actions. 

About 4.8 million people in Vietnam were exposed to AO/dioxin, which has been passed on to their children. 

Ho Chi Minh City’s association for AO/dioxin victims will organize a charity walk program in support of AO/dioxin victims at Dam Sen Cultural Park on Sunday to commemorate this years’ National Day for Vietnamese AO/dioxin Victims (August 10).