Check-up at a Public health clinic -22 June 1966-CWS

Church World Service has maintained a long relationship with Vietnam since 1954, when it first provided assistance for refugee resettlement. 

During the 1960s and 1970s, Church World Service operated in Vietnam through a coalition of three North American INGOs know as “Vietnam Christian Service” (VNCS), while also participating in Peace and Reconciliation initiatives through the World Council of Churches “Fund for Reconstruction and Reconciliation in Indochina (FRRI)”. 

From 1976-1990, CWS directly administered over 8 million dollars in project assistance to Vietnam from its Bangkok office. During this time, Church World Service also maintained its participation with the World Council of Churches’ FRRI program providing support on the reconstruction of Vietnam’s health and economic sectors and contributing to emergency relief funds.

Mr Harvey Schmidt, a wheat farmer from Kansas, greets Prime Minister Pham Van Dong in Hanoi in May 1978 

Water Tank and Filter system provided by CWS to health clinics in Long An

New CWS latrine at Phuc Thuan primary school, Thai Nguyen

Muong ethnic minority students at Ba Vi Boarding School enjoying fresh water from a CWS filter system

Since the establishment of the Hanoi office in 1990, Church World Service has focused on areas that were underserved in health and education, especially those populated by ethnic minorities and prone to disasters. CWS formed close relationships and has worked in support with district and provincial partners in Hoa Binh, Ha Tay, Lai Chau and Thai Nguyen provinces in the north, and Long An, Dong Thap and Bac Lieu provinces in the south. Projects implemented include water supply and latrine construction, school feeding, teacher training, small scale agriculture, health worker training, support to rural clinics, and disaster relief.