Vietnam, U.S. Sign Five-Year Health Cooperation Agreement to Boost Self-Reliance and Regional Security

The Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the United States of America signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on health cooperation for a period of five years on September 11, 2026. This agreement aims to strengthen Vietnam's health system and foster greater ownership of its health programs by the country. The U.S. plans to provide nearly $100 million in global health assistance, subject to coordination with and approval by the U.S. Congress. The cooperation will follow a co-investment model, under which the two countries will work together to sustain achievements in disease prevention and control, strengthen Vietnam's health system, and improve its capacity to respond to public health threats. This new partnership builds on more than two decades of U.S.-Vietnam cooperation in disease prevention, treatment, and health-system development. Since 2004, U.S. global health assistance to Vietnam has totaled more than $930 million. The cooperation will focus on sustaining gains in HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis control, while strengthening Vietnam's disease surveillance and response capacity to address emerging and re-emerging infectious disease threats. U.S. officials noted that enhanced disease surveillance and response capacity in Vietnam would also help reduce the risk of infectious diseases spreading across borders, contributing to regional and global health security. The agreement is expected to usher in a new five-year phase of health cooperation between the two countries, with Vietnam taking a greater role in financing and sustaining its health programs through domestic resources. Under Vietnam's Law on Disease Prevention and the National Target Program on Population and Health, the country is working to increase domestic investment in healthcare and strengthen self-reliance in the health sector. Both sides stated that a stronger and more resilient health system would not only help save lives and protect public health but also support Vietnam's economic development and contribute to closer economic and security cooperation under the Vietnam-U.S. Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The new agreement reaffirms the two countries' commitment to a substantive and sustainable health partnership, contributing to a healthier, safer, and more prosperous future for the people of both countries.