US Ambassador to Vietnam pays respects at Quang Tri Ancient Citadel

U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam, Jennifer Wicks, led a delegation to the Quang Tri Ancient Citadel, a significant historical site, to offer incense and pay tribute. The visit was a key activity during her working trip to Quang Tri province, focusing on addressing the lingering effects of the war.

During the solemn ceremony, Ambassador Wicks, accompanied by embassy staff and provincial leaders, observed a moment of silence for fallen soldiers before laying incense at the Citadel's memorial. This visit marked one of the first engagements of the U.S. Embassy delegation in Quang Tri, a province that Ambassador Wicks has identified as an early destination for her post-appointment engagements in Vietnam.

Provincial Vice Chairman Hoang Nam engaged in discussions with Ambassador Wicks and her delegation. He highlighted Quang Tri's ongoing efforts in post-war recovery, particularly in demining operations, the handling of unexploded ordnance, and the identification of individuals missing in action. The province is also focused on preserving and promoting the value of its historical sites.

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This is one of the first activities of the U.S. Embassy delegation within the framework of the working trip in Quang Tri. Quang Tri is also one of the first localities Ambassador Jennifer Wicks visited and worked in after taking office and arriving in Vietnam.

Ambassador Wicks and Vice Chairman Hoang Nam exchanged views on Quang Tri's endeavors to overcome war's aftermath. The province aims to leverage its historical and cultural heritage, intertwined with wartime memories, to foster an image of a land aspiring for peace and to promote messages of peace, friendship, cooperation, and shared development.

The Ambassador's visit also included discussions on cooperation in overcoming war consequences, specifically regarding UXO clearance and the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency's (DPAA) work in identifying missing persons. Additionally, discussions touched upon the province's efforts in avian influenza prevention, with support from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The delegation was also scheduled to visit a demining project site and a peace tree planting event.

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Quang Tri determines that promoting historical and cultural values associated with the memory of war is one of the important directions, thereby building the image of a land of aspiration for peace; spreading messages of peace, friendship, cooperation, and common development.