This agreement was initialed between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and the U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on October 10, 2013 in Brunei, in the framework of the 23rd ASEAN Summit.

The scope of the cooperation agreement includes the development of nuclear energy use; research, development and application of civil nuclear reactor technologies, management of used fuel; training and development of infrastructure and human resources; and radiation protection, radioactive waste and used fuel management.

The cooperation between Vietnam and the U.S. is to take various forms, such as the exchange of scientific information and documents; staff exchange and training; organizing of conferences and seminars; providing services and technical support.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Minister of Science, Technology & Environment Nguyen Quan said Vietnam has long pursued a policy of developing nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. He noted that Vietnam has joined most of the international treaties related to ensuring the safety, security and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.

U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam David Shear praised Vietnam's efforts in recent years to develop a robust infrastructure system to support a nuclear power development program.