On July 7th an Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Vietnam National University (Hanoi) and the University of Maryland was signed by VNU President Phung Xuan Nha and Ross Lewin (UMD Associate Vice President, UMD). The MOU formalizes a research collaboration between VNU University of Engineering and Technology and the Department of Geographical Sciences, UMD. Chris Justice (Department of Geographical Sciences) and Mengxue Li (BSOS Deans Office) attended. The collaboration was initiated following a visit to the Department from the former VNU President Mai Trong Nhuan in 2011. Since the initial visit we have installed the UMD MODIS-based Fire Monitoring (FIRMS) at VNU and VNU is installing a MODIS/NPP Ground Station. VNU is seeking to expand the research collaboration in the interdisciplinary areas of land use change monitoring, disaster management (fire and flooding), air quality monitoring and climate change adaptation. This MOU will help the partners secure national and international funding for extending the collaboration.