US Navy's USS Ronald Reagan CSG makes port call in Vietnam.

According to information published by the US DoD on June 26, 2023, the Nimitz class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) has made a scheduled port call in Da Nang, Vietnam. This visit marks the third time that a U.S. aircraft carrier has visited Vietnam since 2018.
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Nimitz class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan. (Picture source: US DoD)

Vietnam's defense policy is founded on the "Four 'No's" principle, asserting its stand on non-alignment and opposition to the use or threat of force in international relations.

This was amended in 2019 to include a willingness to permit vessels from foreign nations to dock at Vietnamese ports. The territorial disputes in the South China Sea have bolstered naval cooperation between Vietnam and the U.S., as well as other nations opposing China's assertive territorial claims.

Historically, Vietnam has hosted multiple U.S. Navy vessels, and its personnel have participated in multinational naval exercises organized by the U.S. Navy.

These naval collaborations have led to an enhanced relationship between the U.S. and Vietnam, with the U.S. providing significant resources to augment Vietnam's naval capabilities, including the supply of patrol boats to the Vietnam Coast Guard.

In 2016, a U.S. Navy destroyer and submarine tender made the first port visit to Cam Ranh Bay since 1975, and a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier visited Vietnam in 2018, contributing to regional peace, stability, and development.

However, the extent of this naval cooperation is circumscribed by Vietnam's multivector foreign policy, which seeks to avoid overly aligning with any specific regional power, especially so as not to upset China.