WASHINGTON, D.C., September 22, 2026 — The Institute for Global Engagement (IGE) hosted a roundtable at its Washington office on September 22 between a delegation from the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) and its People’s Aid Coordinating Committee (PACCOM) and more than ten representatives of international humanitarian organizations working in Vietnam. IGE has partnered with VUFO for more than two decades.

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Hung, Vice President of VUFO, and delegation members discussed Vietnam’s development strategy, Vietnam–U.S. relations, and the operating environment for international non-governmental organizations (INGOs). He said VUFO is committed to helping INGOs with administrative procedures, operational challenges, strategy development, and fundraising, and to creating forums for cooperation, piloting new models, and contributing to policy development.

“We are thankful for our fruitful partnership with VUFO over the years that enables IGE to work with policymakers and faith leaders in Vietnam to build religious freedom through training programs and scholarship,” said James Chen, Senior Vice President of IGE.

Participants, including faith-based organizations, exchanged perspectives and identified areas for collaboration in support of communities in Vietnam. The visit is part of the delegation’s annual trip to New York and Washington, D.C., to meet American partners, including religious organizations.

About the Institute for Global Engagement – Since 2001, IGE has worked with both government and faith leaders to build religious freedom in Vietnam. IGE has now trained more than 6,000 Vietnamese scholars, government officials, policy advisers, faith leaders and security personnel on good governance and religion, religious rights, international standards of religious freedom, religious freedom in Vietnam, reconciliation, and the implications of Vietnam’s 2016 Law on Belief and Religion. For more information about IGE’s work in Vietnam, please contact Ms. Hien Vu, Vietnam Program Manager, at hvu@globalengage.org.