Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia rehearse joint civil defense drill

Sen. Lieut. Gen. Le Quang Dao, deputy chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army, attended the rehearsal in Hanoi, the ministry reported.

The rehearsal covered disaster response, search and rescue, humanitarian assistance, military medical support and coordination among different forces, reflecting the main components planned for the official exercise.

After observing demonstrations by the participating forces from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, Dao said preparations for the exercise had been thorough, covering personnel, equipment, props and operational scenarios.

He praised the armed forces of the three countries for demonstrating solidarity, discipline and a strong sense of responsibility, proactively overcoming difficulties and coordinating closely to ensure the rehearsal proceeded smoothly and met its objectives and requirements.

The upcoming joint civil defense exercise is part of the three countries' 2026 defense diplomacy plan and aims to strengthen traditional friendship and solidarity while improving coordination among their armed forces to minimize loss of life and property during natural disasters.

Defense ministers from all three countries are expected to attend the exercise.

The drill will involve helicopters from Vietnam's Air Defense-Air Force Service, military medical personnel, combat engineers, chemical defense troops and sniffer dogs, along with supporting equipment.

The participating forces will respond to simulated emergencies involving chemical incidents, building collapses and flooding.

Scenarios will include searching for people trapped in collapsed structures and rescuing victims on land and in water, with sniffer dogs from Border Guard Intermediate School No. 24 participating in the operations.

Chemical defense troops will respond to environmental incidents and chemical contamination, while helicopters will rescue people from hard-to-reach locations and transport casualties for emergency medical care.

Military medical teams will set up field hospitals to triage casualties, provide first aid and treat the injured.

The drill is expected to improve the three countries' armed forces' ability to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, while strengthening command and coordination for future operations at regional and international levels.

It also aims to reinforce friendship, solidarity and comprehensive cooperation among the three countries, contributing to a peaceful, stable and cooperative regional environment.