Peace Corps volunteers connect Vietnam, US

Programs like Peace Corps thrive on collaboration between Vietnam and the US and the presence of American volunteers is a testament to what can be achieved when people come together with shared values and a shared mission. 

Mikel Herrington, Country Director at Peace Corps Vietnam, talked with The Hanoi Times  about the third cohort of Peace Corps Volunteers assigned to Vietnam.

Wearing a traditional Vietnamese ao dai, Herrington enthusiastically spoke of the meaningful connections and noble mission his Peace Corps students will pursue as they live and work in a country thousands of miles away from their home.

“At its core, the Peace Corps mission is about connection between our two countries but also between the volunteers and their students, their schools, and their counterparts,” Mikel Herrington said.  

He said the volunteers are at the heart of this partnership, which is ultimately built on the true measure of the two countries' shared success.  

Mikel Herrington, Country Director at Peace Corps Vietnam. Photo: Linh Pham/The Hanoi Times

Herrington said  that growing up immersed in the United States’ stories, which are the backbone of their culture, shape their understanding of the world and weave together their lives through shared memories, he learned how they can forge relationships and bring people closer together.

So he asks the new volunteers  this question: What will their shared stories be over the next two years? Will they be filled with high drama, moments of kindness, humor, personal discovery, or perhaps even a little romance? 

As a senior, he said the volunteers have the agency to make those connections, to create  the stories that will define their time here. “Own your narrative. Let it be one of curiosity, resilience, and mutual respect. These stories will not only be your personal legacy but also part of the larger story of Peace Corps Vietnam,” Herrington stressed.

In the interview with The Hanoi Times, Herrington could not hide his excitement about the swearing-in ceremony for the third cohort of Peace Corps Volunteers assigned to Vietnam  in December 2024 and his hope that when they depart Vietnam, they will reflect on how their lives are stories, interwoven with the narratives of those around them. 

He believed that each volunteer may be the main character in his or her own story, as well as a  supporting characters in the lives of others. “As you embark on this journey, approach one another with empathy and humility.” 

“Reflect on how you want to remember your time here and how you hope others will remember you,” Herrington emphasized.

Peace Corps largest cohort of volunteers to Vietnam 

In recognition of the 30th anniversary of US-Vietnam relations in 2025, the US Peace Corps sent its newest and largest cohort of volunteers to Vietnam since the program's inception. 

The 20 volunteers in this cohort come from many different backgrounds in the United States, traveling as far as California in the West to New York in the East.

This cohort, the third of its kind after the first in 2022, aims to support Vietnam’s English language ambitions and deepen people-to-people ties. 

US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper told The Hanoi Times that this new generation of Peace Corps Volunteers will contribute to this shared vision by building bridges and understanding between the two countries. 

“The Peace Corps Volunteers embody this spirit of cooperation, bringing cultural exchange, educational expertise, and a commitment for service to the communities they will serve,” he stated.

US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper. Photo: Linh Pham/The Hanoi Times

The volunteers will begin their service in high schools across Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. They will work with local teachers to improve Vietnamese students’ English skills, creating greater access to educational and employment opportunities over the next two years.

Immediately upon their arrival in October this year, the volunteers began a comprehensive 10-week training program which includes Vietnamese language classes, Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) sessions, and a practicum with local teachers. The training helps strengthen their skills necessary to adapt to the local context and work effectively in Vietnam’s educational system. 

The Ministry of Education and Training and the Peace Corps have completed the first program evaluation and are preparing for the renewal of the Implementing Agreement between the two governments in July 2025.

This milestone follows the 2020 Implementing Agreement between the US and Vietnamese governments, with the Peace Corps and the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) serving as the implementing partners.

Alina from New Mexico State, the US, said prior to arriving in Vietnam, many of them were nervous, scared, maybe even overwhelmed but the hospitality and the warm welcome from their Vietnamese colleagues and the people made the transition to life in Vietnam so easy.

Chris from Texas said that the question they get asked the most is, "Why did we want to come to Vietnam? Why would we leave our families to go to another country? For some, it was a longing to experience something new, others simply were ready for a change. But they all came in knowing that they will be committed and ready to serve the community for the two years to come.

“We don’t see this journey as leaving people behind, but instead as building new bridges to join our people together. As we enter into a new chapter of Peace Corps Vietnam, we will continue to strive for peace and friendship,” Chris said.

Speaking to the newly sworn-in volunteers, Ambassador Marc Knapper said they have embarked on a remarkable journey as they went through the competitive selection process and ten weeks of  intensive training in the Vietnamese language, culture, and technical areas. 

“You are now official representatives of the community of teachers and others committed to strengthening English language teaching and learning in Vietnam,” he pointed out.

The volunteers said they look forward to working alongside their Vietnamese counterparts in efforts to improve English learning and teaching in the communities. The work we are doing is valuable and although it will be challenging, it will also be rewarding, as well.

Peace Corps is an independent agency under the Executive Branch of the US government which operates a volunteer program to provide host governments with assistance on their development priorities. Since 1961, over 240,000 Americans have served as volunteers in more than 142 countries. Vietnam is the 143rd country to invite and partner with the Peace Corps.