The Pacific Partnership 2017, the largest annual multilateral humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region and aimed at enhancing partnerships with participating nations throughout the region, departed Da Nang on May 18 after completing ten days of disaster response training, medical and engineering expert exchanges, cooperative health engagements, and community relations events.

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

“Our time in Da Nang was another fantastic opportunity to continue our cooperation with the people of Vietnam, working together to improve the capacity 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 expert exchanges at a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR) workshop that culminated in a field training exercise.

Three separate engineering projects were carried out by Vietnamese service members, US Navy Seabees (USNS), and Marine combat engineers at the Hoa Lien Nursery School, the Hoa Hai Medical Clinic, and the 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 US 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 USNS Fall River’s visit to Da Nang show the depth of the US-Vietnamese partnership, particularly in the capacity to coordinate regional humanitarian assistance and disaster response,” said US Ambassador to Vietnam, H.E. Ted Osius. 

“Personnel from the US and Vietnam worked together to train local medical professionals, build new classrooms for schools, 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,” he added. 

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

VN Economic Times