USS Tripoli, USS Robert Smalls arrive in Da Nang, Vietnam

09 December 2025

From Lt.Cmdr. John Mike, Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group 7 Public Affairs

Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Robert Smalls (CG 62) and America-class amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7) with embarked elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 11 and Commander, Task Force (CTF) 76 arrived in Da Nang, Dec. 8, while conducting routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations.

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Sailors and Marines, assigned to the Tripoli Expeditionary Strike Group, man the rails for a port visit to Da Nang, Vietnam, Dec. 8, 2025. The America-class amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7); The Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Robert Smalls (CG 62); and elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 11 and Commander, Task Force (CTF) 76 are in Da Nang, Vietnam, for a scheduled port visit. U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kaleb Shultz)

Their scheduled port visit underscores the two nations’ commitment to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership that spans political, security, economic and people-to-people ties. The previous U.S. port visit to Da Nang was in June 2023 by Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) and Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers USS Antietam (CG 54) and Robert Smalls.

“We could not have asked for a warmer welcome from our Vietnamese partners,” said Rear Adm. Tom Shultz, commander, Task Force 76, whose flagship is Tripoli. “Our visit highlights the strengthening relationship between our two nations and militaries, enables us to build operational understanding and trust, and reinforces our relationship on a personal level while advancing our shared goals of peace, prosperity, and economic security in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

Tripoli and Robert Smalls’ visit brings nearly 2,300 Sailors and Marines to Da Nang where they will have an opportunity to meet the city’s people and experience its unique culture. It also serves an important role in celebrating the 30th anniversary of U.S.-Vietnam relations.

“The visit by USS Tripoli and USS Robert Smalls coming as we close out celebrations to mark 30 years of bilateral relations is proof that the U.S.-Vietnam partnership has never been better,” said U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Marc E. Knapper. “It is so heartening to see the warm welcome U.S. service members have received here in Da Nang, a city that holds a special place in the history of our bilateral relations and recently faced challenges following multiple typhoons. The United States has provided $1.75 million in disaster relief support in response to recent events, and our growing security cooperation, including through humanitarian assistance and disaster response trainings, has helped enhance Vietnam’s response capacity in disaster prone areas and strengthened people-to-people ties.”

Ambassador Marc E. Knapper, U.S. ambassador to Vietnam, center; Consul General Melissa A. Brown, U.S. consulate general in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, center-left; Nguyen Thi Thuy Trang, deputy director, Da Nang Department of Foreign Affairs, center-right; and Capt. Stephen Henz, commanding officer of the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Robert Smalls (CG 62), second from center-right, participate in an arrival ceremony with members of the Vietnam People's Navy and Sailors assigned to Robert Smalls during a port visit to Da Nang, Vietnam, Dec. 8, 2025.

DA NANG, Vietnam (Dec. 8, 2025) Ambassador Marc E. Knapper, U.S. ambassador to Vietnam, center; Consul General Melissa A. Brown, U.S. consulate general in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, center-left; Nguyen Thi Thuy Trang, deputy director, Da Nang Department of Foreign Affairs, center-right; and Capt. Stephen Henz, commanding officer of the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Robert Smalls (CG 62), second from center-right, participate in an arrival ceremony with members of the Vietnam People's Navy and Sailors assigned to Robert Smalls during a port visit to Da Nang, Vietnam, Dec. 8, 2025. The America-class amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7); Robert Smalls (CG 62); and elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 11 and Commander, Task Force (CTF) 76 are in Da Nang, Vietnam, for a scheduled port visit. U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Nicholas Spaleny) 251208-N-RG201-1002

Capt. Stephen Henz, commanding officer of the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Robert Smalls (CG 62), center, and Ambassador Marc E. Knapper, the U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam, center-left, shake hands with members of the Vietnam People's Navy during an arrival ceremony for a port visit to Da Nang, Vietnam, Dec. 8, 2025.

DA NANG, Vietnam (Dec. 8, 2025) Capt. Stephen Henz, commanding officer of the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Robert Smalls (CG 62), center, and Ambassador Marc E. Knapper, the U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam, center-left, shake hands with members of the Vietnam People's Navy during an arrival ceremony for a port visit to Da Nang, Vietnam, Dec. 8, 2025. The America-class amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7); Robert Smalls; and elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 11 and Commander, Task Force (CTF) 76 are in Da Nang, Vietnam, for a scheduled port visit. U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Nicholas Spaleny) 251208-N-RG201-1001

U.S. Marines and Sailors with the Tripoli Expeditionary Strike Group, man the rails as the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7) arrives in Da Nang, Vietnam, Dec. 08, 2025. The USS Tripoli (LHA 7); USS Robert Smalls (CG 62); and elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 11 and Commander, Task Force (CTF) 76 are in Da Nang, Vietnam, for a scheduled port visit. U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Raul Sotovilla)

America-class amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7) pulls in to Da Nang, Vietnam for a port visit, Dec. 8, 2025. Tripoli; The Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Robert Smalls (CG 62); and elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 11 and Commander, Task Force (CTF) 76 are in Da Nang, Vietnam, for a scheduled port visit. U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kaleb Shultz)

Within the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations, CTF-76 is responsible for conducting expeditionary warfare operations with Navy and Marine Corps capabilities to support theater contingencies that range from crisis response to full combat operations.

U.S. 7th Fleet, the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

For photos and video, please visit:

USS Tripoli DVIDS Page: https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/LHA-7

31st Marine Expeditionary DVIDS Page: https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/31MEU

CTF-76 / Expeditionary Strike Group 7 DVIDS Page: https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/ESG7

U.S. Embassy & Consulate Vietnam Flickr: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCCA1f