The visit of 10 colonel-grade U.S. Army, Navy, Marine and Air Force officers was hosted by the Vietnamese armed forces. The group poses with Lt. Gen. Tran Hanh, Vice Minister of National Defense for International Relations and three other officers in front of the ministry's guest house.

The growing relationship between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the United States reached a significant milestone recently when ten U.S. colonels and navy captains were invited to visit People's Armed Forces of Vietnam (PAVN) organizations, 6-13 March 1998. U.S. Navy Capt. Bruce S. Lemkin, Chief of the Asia-Pacific Division (J-5) on the U.S. Joint Staff, led the delegation composed of representatives of the Joint Staff from the Pentagon, the U.S. military services, and the U.S. Pacific Command in Hawaii, which is responsible for all U.S. military forces in the Asia-Pacific region. The Vietnamese invited the U.S. officers in response to a 1997 U.S. invitation for a group of Vietnamese senior colonels to visit military organizations in the United States.

The Vietnamese delegation to the U.S., led by Senior Col. Vu Tan, Director of the External Relations Department of the Ministry of National Defense (MND), visited Hawaii and Washington, D.C. in February 1997. In Hawaii they received a briefing on the Pacific Command strategy at the U.S. Pacific Command headquarters, toured the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, and observed training by soldiers of the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks. They also received a briefing from the U.S. Coast Guard on its missions and procedures, visited facilities and a static display of aircraft at Hickam Air Force Base, and visited a U.S. Navy ship docked at Pearl Harbor. In Washington, D.C., they received briefings on the U.S. defense establishment, governmental decision-making process, and regional security issues; met with numerous senior Defense Department officials; and visited the U.S. Marine Corps base and school in nearby Quantico, Virginia.

The U.S. delegation arrived in Hanoi on 6 March 1998 and was billeted at the MND Guest House. There, they were welcomed by Senior Col. Vu Tan. During a meeting and subsequent dinner, Col. Tan expressed pleasure at the gradual warming of military-to-military relations between Vietnam and the United States.

The next morning the U.S. delegation met with Lt. Gen. Tranh Hanh, Vice Minister of National Defense for International Relations, and then visited the National Defense Academy, hosted by Senior Col. Tran Van Hung, Deputy Governor of the Academy. Capt. Lemkin thanked Lt. Gen. Hanh for the support Vietnam has extended the United States government's effort to account for all Americans still missing in Vietnam, which built trust and confidence between the two armed forces to such a level as to make the U.S. colonels' visit possible. Lt. Gen. Hanh told the delegation that Vietnam desires peaceful relations with every country in the world, and welcomed the opportunity to move its relationship with the United States forward through military conferences and exchanges.

Later the U.S. colonels drove outside of Hanoi to visit the 308th Mechanized Infantry Division in Son Tay. The entire division staff lined up to enthusiastically welcome the U.S. delegation. After the Division Commander, Senior Col. Phan Khue Tao, briefed the history of the division from its founding in 1949, the officers participated in a lively exchange of information on recruitment and training techniques. The visit concluded with a museum tour and a brief opportunity to watch the division soccer team play a local school.

Sunday was devoted to sightseeing around Hanoi. Highlights included President Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum, house and office, and the Army Museum. The American delegation was impressed by the museum's depiction of the dedication of Vietnamese soldiers and their ability to make use of every potential weapon and method of transportation to accomplish their mission.

On Monday, the U.S. delegation went to Hai Phong to visit the Vietnamese Navy Headquarters. The Vietnamese Navy officers, led by Senior Col. Tran Quang Khue, Deputy Commander of PAVN Naval Forces, seemed to especially appreciate the visit, perhaps because the senior U.S. delegation member was also a naval officer. The officers of both nations enjoyed a very warm discussion of the potential for future naval relations.

That afternoon, the U.S. colonels met with Nguyen Manh Hung, the Director of the Americas Department of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The visit was cordial and discussions were open. All agreed it was time to move ahead with military-to-military relations at a measured pace, acceptable for both countries.

The next day, U.S. Ambassador Douglas B. "Pete" Peterson, a former U.S. Air Force pilot and prisoner of war in Vietnam, joined the delegation for a briefing by the Commander of the 921st PAVN Air Force Division "Flying Dragon," Senior Col. Tran Thi. The highlight was a flightline visit to see alert aircraft at Noi Bai Military Airport. Like airmen everywhere, the pilots and ground crew were proud of their capabilities and aircraft. Those watching the Ambassador peer into the cockpit of a jet fighter, could not help but think that "engagement" with the Vietnamese Air Force had a very different meaning for him years ago.

The U.S. delegation then departed for the 5th Military Region in Danang. At the 5th Military Region headquarters, the U.S. colonels were hosted by Maj. Gen. Tran Minh Thiet, Deputy Commander of the region. Maj. Gen. Thiet explained the responsibilities of a military region: first, to field a well-trained force capable of defending the nation; and second, to assist in the country's development. As the two groups of officers exchanged information, the American delegation was struck with how much the military leaders have in common, since all agreed that one of their most pressing concerns was ensuring the welfare of their young soldiers.

The following day, the U.S. delegation traveled through scenic mountains to Hue. The opportunity to visit the old Imperial City reinforced the delegation's understanding of the richness and antiquity of Vietnamese culture. The next morning, the delegation flew to Ho Chi Minh City and the 7th Military Region, where Maj. Gen. Nguyen Van Chia hosted their visit. Again the officers from both nations were impressed by how much they had in common. As conversations drifted from the official to the professional then to the personal, Capt. Edward C. Bowen and Maj. Gen. Chia found time to compare their wartime service and determine where they might have unknowingly crossed paths.

Another highlight of the visit south was the opportunity to see Infantry Officer School Number Two in Dong Nai Province, commanded by Senior Col. Dao Van Loi. The Americans were interested to learn that the recruitment and education of officers in Vietnam was much like their own experiences. The school staff was very interested in comparing their program to the United States Military Academy at West Point, and a lively discussion took place on this subject.

As the U.S. colonels left Vietnam after a full week of activities, they left behind many new friends, but took with them a professional respect for the Vietnamese military. They also believed that the visit would not be the last, but was the beginning of a new level in the gradual improvement of relations between The Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the United States.