Pacific Partnership 2023 Concludes Successful First Visit to Vietnam

The Pacific Partnership 2023 (PP23) successfully completed its first mission stop in Tuy Hoa, Phu Yen, Vietnam on August 18th. During its time in Phu Yen, PP23 conducted 120 subject matter expert exchanges in the fields of public health and preventive medicine at community health engagements, as well as 11 dental events. These events provided care to over 500 patients, including 93 surgeries (including 5 pediatric cases), and offered nutritional counseling to 64 individuals. To learn more about the Pacific Partnership 2023, click here.

A total of 70 individuals received training in basic life support events, while 55 individuals received training in advanced life support. Additionally, more than 100 personnel from Pacific Partnership and Vietnam collaborated at Phu Yen Hospital, jointly assessing and prioritizing patients affected by simulated disasters.

On August 16-17, over 100 Pacific Partnership and Vietnamese personnel worked side-by-side at Phu Yen Hospital triaging patients from simulated disasters.

During the closing ceremony held on the evening of August 18, the Phu Yen leadership warmly hosted the attendees. Vice Chairman of Phu Yen Provincial People’s Committee, Dao My, emphasized the significance of PP23 in bringing numerous meaningful activities to the local community. These activities included free health checks, free surgeries, disaster prevention support, and training for Phu Yen residents and medical staff. Moreover, PP23 played a pivotal role in fostering mutual understanding between Vietnamese and American citizens, thereby strengthening the people-to-people ties between the two nations.

US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper praised the valuable contribution of Pacific Partnership to the strong bond between the United States and Vietnam during his speech at the closing ceremony.

Pacific Partnership is a concrete manifestation of our dedication to fostering security cooperation and building meaningful connections between people.

During the past two weeks, engineers, medical professionals, and subject matter experts have actively collaborated with their Vietnamese counterparts to engage and support the people of Phu Yen. Ambassador Knapper expressed his appreciation for their efforts in connecting with the local community and making positive contributions to enhance their quality of life.

Captain Claudine Caluori, the Mission Commander of PP23, expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to be in Vietnam and lead the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission in the Indo-Pacific. This mission is especially significant as it coincides with the 10-year anniversary of the Comprehensive Partnership between the United States and Vietnam.

At the closing ceremony, the delegates inaugurated three classrooms at Hoa Dinh Tay Primary School (Phu Hoa district) sponsored by PP23 (Photo: US Embassy in Vietnam).

“The achievements during Pacific Partnership 2023’s 10-day mission in Tuy Hoa exemplify the mission’s commitment to enhancing humanitarian response and disaster relief. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Government of Vietnam for their warm welcome and we are eager to witness the growth of Vietnam’s relationship with the United States in the years ahead,” expressed Caluori.

Delegates at the closing ceremony on the evening of August 18 in Tuy Hoa city, Phu Yen province (Photo: US Embassy in Vietnam).

A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on the same day to inaugurate the new classrooms at Dinh Hoa Tay Primary School (Phu Hoa). These classrooms were constructed as part of a funding project by PP23.

Chief Builder Mike Voicechovski delivered a compelling speech at the event, highlighting the profound significance behind the development of the educational facility.

“We are pleased to announce the establishment of a new educational facility which will cater to a maximum of 102 students. The classrooms are ingeniously designed with raised flooring, ensuring their durability and resilience against heavy rain and floods. Moreover, this remarkable infrastructure can also be utilized as temporary shelter during severe weather conditions. The unwavering dedication and tireless efforts of the 29 U.S. Seabees, Air Force, and Marines who worked on this project resulted in the swift completion of this three-room schoolhouse within a remarkable 47-day timeframe,” stated Voicechovski.

The construction team of 29 U.S. Seabees, Air Force, and Marines worked for 47 days to complete the project at Hoa Dinh Tay Primary School (Phu Hoa district) (Photo: US Embassy in Vietnam).