US naval ships begin 4-day friendship visit to Da Nang

Rear Admiral Thomas Shultz, commander of the U.S. Expeditionary Strike Group 7, is leading the visit.

An official welcoming ceremony was held at Tien Sa Port at 6:00 pm, attended by representatives of the Da Nang Department of External Relations, the commands of Naval Region 3 and Military Zone 5, the Ministry of National Defense’s Department of Foreign Relations, and other relevant agencies.

During the port call, the commanding officers of the two ships will pay courtesy calls on Da Nang leaders and the commands of Military Region 5 and Naval Region 3, and engage in professional exchanges and sports activities with their Vietnamese counterparts.

The crews will also visit the Village of Hope, a center for orphaned, disabled, and displaced children, and meet with students at the University of Foreign Language Studies under the University of Da Nang.

In addition, various cultural and sightseeing activities are included in their agenda.

“At a time when we are concluding celebrations marking 30 years of bilateral relations, the visit by USS Tripoli and USS Robert Smalls demonstrates that the U.S.–Vietnam partnership has never been stronger,” U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Marc E. Knapper said at the ceremony.

He added that it was heartening to see the warm welcome U.S. service members from the two ships had received in Da Nang.

According to the U.S. Embassy, the 7th Fleet — the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet — routinely works with allies and partners to help maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific.

As 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the U.S., the visit is expected to further strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership established in 2023, the Da Nang Department of External Relations said.

With its cultural, economic, and tourism strengths, along with a long-standing reputation for hospitality, Da Nang continues to serve as an important gateway for defense cooperation, cultural and sports exchanges, and knowledge sharing between the two navies.