Archival sources of the Government of the Republic of Vietnam at National Archives Center II on chemical defoliants during the Vietnam War
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66659/zdcj2c76Keywords:
archival records; Republic of Vietnam; chemical defoliants; Vietnam War; consequenc-es of war; National Archives Center IIAbstract
National Archives Center II currently preserves a large body of records created in the course of the activities of agencies of the Government of the Republic of Vietnam between 1954 and 1975. Among these holdings are files and records related to the wartime use of chemical defoliants, damage to crops and agricultural production, environmental and health concerns, compensation activities, and processes of scientific research and exchange concerning the effects of these chemicals. Based on a survey of finding aids and selected representative fonds at the Center, this article preliminarily identifies, introduces, and systematizes groups of records related to this topic, while placing them within the broader context of the Republic of Vietnam-era holdings preserved at National Archives Center II. The article also examines the accessibility and use of these sources through the reading room, electronic finding aids, and digitized archival records. Identifying these sources adds a layer of evidence created in South Vietnam during the war itself and provides a further basis for research on the use of chemical defoliants and their recorded effects on crops, agricultural production, the environment, and social life during the Vietnam War.
References
1. Research Literature and Professional Sources
Baughman, R., & Meselson, M. (1973). An analytical method for detecting TCDD (dioxin): Levels of TCDD in samples from Vietnam. Environmental Health Perspectives, 5, 27–35. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.730527
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International Council on Archives. (2012, August 24). Principles of access to archives. https://www.ica.org/app/uploads/2023/12/ICA_Access-principles_EN.pdf
National Research Council, Committee on the Effects of Herbicides in Vietnam. (1974). The effects of herbicides in South Vietnam: Part A: Summary and conclusions. National Academy of Sciences.
https://www.nal.usda.gov/exhibits/speccoll/items/show/1318
Stellman, J. M., Stellman, S. D., Christian, R., Weber, T., & Tomasallo, C. (2003). The extent and patterns of usage of Agent Orange and other herbicides in Vietnam. Nature, 422, 681–687. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature01537
National Archives Center II. (n.d.). Giới thiệu Trung tâm Lưu trữ quốc gia II [Introduction to National Archives Center II]. Retrieved October 3, 2026, from https://www.nac2.gov.vn/about.html
National Archives Center II. (2016). Sách chỉ dẫn các phông và sưu tập lưu trữ bảo quản tại Trung tâm Lưu trữ quốc gia II [Guide to fonds and archival collections preserved at National Archives Center II]. Ho Chi Minh City General Publishing House. https://dms.luutru.gov.vn/files/ecm/source_files/2017/07/03/phongvasuutapluutru-104416-030717-19.pdf
National Archives Center II. (2025). Thống kê số liệu phục vụ độc giả tại Phòng đọc từ năm 2015 đến 2025 [Reading room service statistics, 2015–2025] [Internal document].
Young, A. L. (2009). The history, use, disposition and environmental fate of Agent Orange. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-87486-9
2. Legal and Online Sources
Ministry of Home Affairs. (2025). Thông tư số 06/2025/TT-BNV ngày 15/5/2025 quy định chi tiết một số điều của Luật Lưu trữ [Circular No. 06/2025/TT-BNV dated May 15, 2025, detail-ing several provisions of the Law on Archives]. https://vbpl.vn/TW/Pages/vbpq-thuoctinh.aspx?ItemID=177678
Ministry of Home Affairs. (2026). Quyết định số 523/QĐ-BNV ngày 13/5/2026 phê duyệt Danh mục tài liệu lưu trữ tiếp cận có điều kiện của một số phông lưu trữ đang bảo quản tại các Trung tâm Lưu trữ quốc gia [Decision No. 523/QĐ-BNV dated May 13, 2026, approving the list of archival records subject to conditional access in selected fonds held at the National Ar-chives Centers].
Government of Vietnam. (2025). Nghị định số 113/2025/NĐ-CP ngày 03/6/2025 quy định chi tiết một số điều của Luật Lưu trữ [Decree No. 113/2025/NĐ-CP dated June 3, 2025, detail-ing several provisions of the Law on Archives]. https://vanban.chinhphu.vn/?classid=0&docid=213822&pageid=27160
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3. Archival Sources at National Archives Center II
National Archives Center II. Security and Development Council Fonds (1964–1975), File 303. Presentation materials on the Ministry of National Defense's "Tình quân nhân" [Military Soli-darity] plan concerning assistance to people affected by chemical defoliation activities, 1966–1969.
National Archives Center II. Office of the President of the First Republic Fonds (1954–1963), File 8111. File on the organization and activities of Committee 202, 1961–1963, Vol. 4: Records on chemical defoliation of transportation routes using chemical 20T, 1962.
National Archives Center II. Office of the President of the First Republic Fonds (1954–1963), File 7583. File concerning Binh Tuy Province's request for chemical defoliation and additional forc-es to maintain security in the province, 1962.
National Archives Center II. Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Vietnam Fonds (1954–1975), File 16826. File on compensation for property owners whose crops were damaged by chemical defoliants in the provinces, 1965–1970.
National Archives Center II. Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Vietnam Fonds (1954–1975), File 23305. File on food and fuel supplies for rubber plantations in Binh Long Province and complaints concerning chemical defoliation that killed vegetation on the Courtenay planta-tion (Long Khanh Province), 1966–1967.
National Archives Center II. Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Vietnam Fonds (1954–1975), File 25488. File on the use and effects of chemical defoliants in Vietnam, 1967–1971.
National Archives Center II. Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Vietnam Fonds (1954–1975), File 27092. File on dioxin contamination in Vietnamese fisheries products, 1973.
National Archives Center II. Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Vietnam Fonds (1954–1975), File 31161. File on participation in meetings of the Committee on the Effects of Herbicides in Vietnam held in Washington, D.C., 1973.
National Archives Center II. Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Vietnam Fonds (1954–1975), File 8153. File considering Professors Pham Hoang Ho and Le Van Thoi's travel to the United States for research and meetings on the effects of defoliants in Vietnam, 1973.
National Archives Center II. International Affairs Directorate Fonds (1952–1974), File 1705. File on a workshop of the committee studying the effects of herbicides in Vietnam held in Puerto Ri-co, United States, November 19–21, 1971.
National Archives Center II. International Affairs Directorate Fonds (1952–1974), File 1941. File on Professor Pham Hoang Ho's participation in a conference on the effects of herbicides on plants in Vietnam held in the United States, September 8–10, 1972.
National Archives Center II. International Affairs Directorate Fonds (1952–1974), File 1943. File on a meeting of the Committee on the Study of Herbicides in Vietnam held in the United States, January 7–10, 1973.
National Archives Center II. International Affairs Directorate Fonds (1952–1974), File 2255. File on Professors Le Van Thoi and Pham Hoang Ho's participation in a meeting of the Committee on the Effects of Herbicides in Vietnam held in the United States, June 9–11, 1973.
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