This year marks the fourth consecutive year and the eighth time the mission has visited Vietnam in the past 11 years. 

“Our time in Da Nang was another fantastic opportunity to continue our cooperation with the people of Vietnam, working together to improve our capability to respond to disaster relief and sharing medical and engineering best practices,” said Captain Stanfield Chien, Pacific Partnership mission commander.

Pacific Partnership and Vietnamese personnel conducted subject matter expert exchanges for a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR) workshop that culminated in a field training exercise.

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Vietnamese delegates in a joint photo with USNS Fall River's crewmembers. Photo: Van Chung

Three separate engineering projects were carried out by Vietnamese service members, U.S. Navy Seabees and Marine combat engineers at the Hoa Lien Nursery School, Hoa Hai Medical Clinic, and Hoa Nhon Community Center. Pacific Partnership personnel from aboard the Fall River participated in games and activities at Tuong Lai Specialized School as part of a community relations project.

Around the city of Da Nang, a nine-member component of the U.S. Seventh Fleet Band performed at various schools and gave public performances at Bach Dang Street, the Dragon Bridge on the Han River and Bien Dong Beach Park.

“Pacific Partnership 17 and the U.S.N.S. Fll River’s visit to Da Nang show the depth of the U.S.-Vietnamese partnership, particularly in capacity to coordinate regional humanitarian assistance and disaster response. Personnel from the United States and Vietnam worked together to train local medical professionals; build new classrooms for area school and a new multi-function community shelter, highlighting our shared focus on enhancing medical care, education and disaster preparedness as a driver for sustainable social and economic development,” noted U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Ted Osius.

The visit by USNS Fall River to Vietnam is in conjunction with the 22nd anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the United States and Vietnam. Along with other cooperation, Pacific Partnership underscores the deepening relationship between the United States and Vietnam.

Chung Anh