DANANG, Vietnam -- We visited the Danang airbase where Agent Orange was stored and loaded onto planes for aerial sprayings.  The site is now off limits to the public and concrete has been poured on top to contain the dioxin, but we could smell the strong odor of the chemicals continuing to break down under the pavement we were standing on.  

If you look at the photo accompanying this blog, you'll see a Vietnam airlines plane in the background.  The Danang airport is undergoing a major expansion.  I can't help but question whether it's wise to be digging up dirt and doing construction in an area so close to a known toxic hot spot.  

We were lucky to have our "fixer" Thu Ha with us at the airbase. We almost didn't get in.  The military escorts waiting for us demanded to see our passports, even though all our passport and journalist visa information had been given to them prior to our visit.  This once again proves the motto I have for reporting in Vietnam: "Anything that can go wrong probably will."  My second motto is: "Always have a Plan B." Luckily, I had made sure both Vince and I had photocopies of our passports with us (since I like to keep my original passport locked up in a safe). Our fixer managed to get those approved by our escorts, and after a long wait, we were finally allowed in.  It's just another reminder that reporting here is a lot more complicated than back home.