Pacific Friendship 2025 opens in Quang Tri
The program provides a solid foundation to expand cooperation and foster development between Vietnam, the United States and regional partners in the years ahead.
THE HANOI TIMES — The Pacific Friendship 2025 program officially opened on the evening of September 9 in the central province of Quang Tri.
An art program at the event held in September 9. Photos: Lao Dong
This is a multinational training and humanitarian assistance initiative launched by the United States after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, one of the most devastating disasters in modern history, claiming about 230,000 lives across 14 countries, including Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka and India.
Speaking at the ceremony, Hoang Nam, Vice Chairman of the Quang Tri Provincial People’s Committee, believed that the Pacific Friendship 2025 will go beyond tangible projects and activities, inspiring trust and opening up new, deeper, and more sustainable opportunities for cooperation between Vietnam and the United States, between Quang Tri and international friends, for peace, Friendship and sustainable development.
He said that 2025 holds special significance as Vietnam and the US celebrate 30 years of diplomatic relations.
US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper affirmed that the program makes a positive contribution to US foreign policy by strengthening partnerships in the region and enhancing crisis response capabilities. Pacific Friendship is an example of the breadth and depth of our cooperation.
Participants at the event.
From September 9 to 20, the US and Vietnam plan to cary out 12 activities, including demining, medical training, and infrastructure projects, benefiting citizens in 10 provincial locations and strengthening the Indo-Pacific’s capacity to respond to man-made and natural disasters.
The program brings together 110 US service members alongside experts in healthcare, construction, bomb disposal, drone technology and incident command and control systems.
Since 2007, Vietnam has hosted the program 12 times in localities such as Danang, Khanh Hoa, Nghe An, Quang Ngai and Dak Lak. In 2025, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs proposed renaming the program from ‘Pacific Partnership’ to ‘Pacific Friendship,’ which the US Army is now implementing.
The US Department of Defense has invested over $39 million in Vietnam to build schools, clinics, bridges, and disaster coordination centers, while supporting medical, humanitarian, and engineering efforts under the Pacific Partnership.
Since 2014, the Oregon National Guard’s annual Disaster Management Engagement Activity with Vietnam has further strengthened disaster response and regional preparedness.
