Background
The Vietnam-Oregon Initiative (VOI) is a collaborative network working to foster and strengthen partnerships and exchange through education, trade and security. Building on decades of multi-level leadership, education and training programs, VOI was formalized through a Letter of Intent signed by Governor Kate Brown and the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to enhance mutual cooperation and understanding as part of the 20th Anniversary of U.S.-Vietnam Relations in 2015.
Get involved, join the VOI network on Facebook to learn about and share events, education and exchange opportunities.
For more information, check out VOI's FAQ in English and Vietnamese.
Vision and Values
VOI’s vision and values mirror Mark O. Hatfield’s leadership and what we call the "Hatfield Way" as the drive behind VOI’s approach to cultural exchange and international cooperation. Senator Hatfield was moved to life in public service by his initial visit to Hai Phong harbor immediately following World War II. The Hatfield Way includes the following core values:
- Do what is right in interaction with diverse others;
- Be fair and promote social justice;
- Allow space for the voice of under-represented humans and natural resources;
- Participate in the formation of innovative institutions in service of the common goods;
- Be mindful of, and balance, competing public values; and
- Resolve conflicts and aggression peacefully.
These values are compatible with many of the core values of Vietnamese society. One additional value that VOI will embrace, grounded in our experience with successful cross-cultural partnerships, is that working together should be serious in nature and also involve enjoyment of the human spirit-what we call "serious fun".