This thesis researches how the U.S. and Vietnamese Governments have cooperated to deal with the consequences of Agent Orange in Vietnam. Between 1962 and 1971 during the Vietnam War, the U.S. military conducted Operation Ranch Hand to spray around 19 million gallons of herbicides, of which over 11 million was Agent Orange, over South Vietnam. As many as four million Vietnamese people have been exposed to Agent Orange. The toxic chemical has also effected the local environment and ecology so far. Decades after the war, Agent Orange has still remained among the most sensitive issues between the U.S. and Vietnam, which has also continued to impact the bilateral relations. Since 2000, the U.S. and Vietnamese Government have made joint efforts to address this issue. Their cooperative work has spread out from statements by their leaders to scientific discussions and joint research to dioxin remediation programs and healthcare activities to Vietnamese Agent Orange victims. These efforts have led to a common focus, allowing the progress to date and creating momentum to the progress in the future, considerably contributing to strengthening the U.S.-Vietnam comprehensive partnership relationship.

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