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Da Nang, Vietnam — The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73), flagship of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 5, arrived in Da Nang on July 30 for a scheduled port call alongside Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Robert Smalls (CG 62), and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Shoup (DDG 86).
“This visit by the USS George Washington, USS Robert Smalls, and USS Shoup comes as the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary,” said U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Jennifer Wicks. “As we mark 250 years of American independence, we are proud to celebrate this milestone alongside our friends in Vietnam. We thank Da Nang city and its people for welcoming the 4th U.S. aircraft carrier to its port. Following the recent successful Pacific Partnership and Pacific Friendship in Quang Tri Province, and the visit of Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao, this port call is yet another testament to our strengthened U.S.-Vietnam defense cooperation and enhanced people-to-people ties under our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership”
The stop builds on earlier U.S. Navy visits, including the Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group and 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in December 2025 and the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group in June 2023, and highlights the nations’ growing cooperation under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established in 2023.
More than 5,000 sailors are scheduled to visit Da Nang. Navy leaders plan engagements with Vietnamese civilian and military officials, and sailors are set to participate in cultural exchanges, sporting events, and community service activities.
“While our ship represents the high-end capabilities of the U.S. Navy, our visit here to Vietnam supports a U.S.-Vietnam relationship that continues to grow stronger across an increasingly broad range of subjects, reflecting our shared interest in a free and open Indo-Pacific,” said Capt. Nicholas DeLeo, commanding officer of George Washington. “Our Sailors are excited to step ashore, learn about Vietnam’s rich culture, and work side-by-side with the community here in Da Nang. It is through these personal connections that we build the trust necessary for a peaceful and prosperous region.”
The George Washington Carrier Strike Group is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. The carrier is described as the Navy’s premier forward-deployed aircraft carrier and a long-standing symbol of the U.S. commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, operating alongside allies and partners within the service’s largest numbered fleet.
U.S. 7th Fleet, the Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, routinely works with allies and partners to help preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific.
