US soldiers will compete in... garlic peeling when visiting Vietnam
Tomorrow (March 5), the US Navy's most modern aircraft carrier will visit Da Nang - Vietnam. During their stay in Vietnam, US soldiers will participate in many sports, cultural and culinary exchange activities and participate in a garlic peeling competition.
The US aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson strike group. Photo: Wikipedia
The US aircraft carrier made its first friendly visit to Vietnam in the history of the two countries' defense relations, in order to implement the agreement of the two countries' senior leaders stated in the Joint Statement of US President Donald Trump's State visit to Vietnam in November 2017.
In a joint statement, President Tran Dai Quang and President Donald Trump affirmed their commitment to further deepening defense cooperation and shared resolve to address regional security challenges. The two leaders welcomed plans for a U.S. aircraft carrier to make the first port visit to Vietnam in 2018.
The visit lasted from March 5-9 of the US Navy fleet with more than 6,000 crew members. Including: USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier, 332.8m long, 76.8m wide, speed 30 nautical miles/hour. USS Lake Champaign cruiser, 173m long, 16.8m wide, speed 32.5 nautical miles/hour. USS Wayne Emeyer destroyer, 155.3m long, 20m wide.
The Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the planned program of the visit will include diplomatic greetings, a welcoming ceremony, a press conference, technical exchanges, sports exchanges and a number of community activities.
Accordingly, upon docking at Da Nang port on the first day, the US Navy will have official activities. Sailors will visit the Da Nang Social Protection Center to interact with the elderly and play friendly soccer with children there. The US Navy's 7th Fleet Band will perform songs in English and Vietnamese.
The US Navy’s community activities will continue at the Da Nang Mental Health Center, where sailors will play traditional games with locals and participate in a garlic peeling competition. In addition, the aircraft carrier sailors will learn how to cook Vietnamese dishes and sample the dishes with Vietnamese culinary experts.
The US Navy will visit the Center for Victims of Agent Orange and Disadvantaged Children in Da Nang, Facility 3, and the Center for Orphans - Red Cross of Da Nang. The US Navy band will perform at the center, then the sailors will join the locals in making paper flowers, incense, and painting with the children...
Sailors work together and perform missions on the aircraft carrier. Photo: Hawaii News Now
USS Carl Vinson, worth $3.8 billion. According to Hawaii News Now, USS Carl Vinson contributes to maintaining global security and defense while performing important missions.
The fleet's strengths are its experienced combat personnel and modern military equipment. CSG 1 includes the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Wayne E Meyer and the guided missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain. The USS Carl Vinson carries about 70 fighter jets, reconnaissance aircraft, and transport aircraft, along with state-of-the-art weapons.
During the 4-day visit to Vietnam, the forces that will participate in protecting the US aircraft carrier, cruiser and destroyer fleet include the Border Guard Command, Military Command, Naval Region 3, Police, Customs and Maritime Port Authority. The protection plan is also based on the provisions of Decree 104/2012/ND-CP dated by the Government on foreign military ships coming to Vietnam and other tasks under the direction of superiors.
The implementation of entry and exit procedures; inspection, supervision, and security assurance for the above-mentioned train are carried out according to authority, ensuring speed, neatness, and compliance with the procedures of Vietnamese law and international conventions to which Vietnam is a member.