US Defense Attaché Colonel TJ Bouchillon and Deputy Chairwoman of Bến Tre Province's People’s Committee Nguyễn Thị Bé Mười at the handover ceremony. Photo courtesy of the US Embassy in Hà Nội

BẾN TRE — A newly built primary school has been transferred to the southern province of Bến Tre under a joint project between the US Office of Defence Cooperation Vietnam and the province.

Trịnh Viết Bàng Primary School in Định Trung Commune includes eight fully furnished classrooms and two teacher’s rooms as well as a handicap-accessible ramp, said a press release by the US Embassy in Hà Nội.

Speaking at the hand-over ceremony on Friday, Deputy Chairwoman of Bến Tre Province's People’s Committee Nguyễn Thị Bé Mười said: “This valuable assistance improves primary education facilities in Bình Đại District’s Định Trung Commune and helps send children to school which is a part of our local development strategy.”

US Defense Attaché Colonel TJ Bouchillon said: “This project reflects our commitment to a strong, prosperous, resilient, and independent Việt Nam, and a free and open Indo-Pacific region.”

“It underscores the common belief that a successful future lies with preparing the next generation to successfully tackle challenges they will face, whether local, national, or global.”

The new school is expected to help support Bến Tre Province to better facilitate education for children in the commune and provide safe shelter during natural disasters. 

The project was constructed and supported by the Chương Dương Company, the New Horizon Company, the US Army Corps of Engineers, and the Bến Tre Province's People’s Committee. US Indo-Pacific Command under the Overseas Humanitarian Disaster Assistance and Civic Action Programme funded the construction project. 

Việt Nam and the US mark the 10-year anniversary of the Comprehensive Partnership between the two countries in 2023. VNS