The Memorandum of Understanding on enhancing nuclear cooperation between the Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute (VINATOM) and the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) was signed by the representatives of both organizations on August 5th, 2015 during the 11th National Conference on Nuclear Science and Technology” (VINANST-11) in Da Nang, Vietnam. The aims of the MOU is to strengthen the existing close cooperation between the two organizations through, amongst others, exchange of information, exchange of experts and specialists, capacity building of staff, joint research of mutual benefit and collaboration in any other field of nuclear energy to be mutually agreed upon by both entities.

Areas of cooperation under this MOU  include research reactor, nuclear power reactor safety, nuclear technology application, radiation protection and environmental radiation monitoring, radioactive waste management, decommissioning, human resource development of nuclear energy field, etc.

The current president of VINATOM visited KAERI on November 19, 2013. VINATOM has played a leading role in the sphere of nuclear R&D as a technical support organization, and further cooperation in R&D is expected through the signing of this MOU.

The Vietnamese Government has been actively implementing a nuclear power program. As part of this effort, it also has a plan to establish the Center for Nuclear Science.

KAERI has maintained close cooperation with the Vietnamese nuclear related organizations based on a Nuclear Cooperation Agreement signed between both our governments in 1996. KAERI hosted a workshop for Vietnamese high-level policy-makers aimed at introducing Korean nuclear policy and experience in achieving self-reliance in nuclear technology and provided its technical support to the Nuclear Research Institute in Dalat for the construction of a research reactor modelled after HANARO, and support for a nuclear training center at the Dalat Nuclear Research Institute. KAERI has cooperated with Hanoi University of Science, Hanoi University of Technology and the University of Dalat in the area of nuclear human resource development based on the concluded MOU.