Overview

• The USS Ronald Reagan, a US aircraft carrier, is making a rare port call in Vietnam.
• The visit comes as both the US and China are trying to strengthen ties with Southeast Asian nations.
• The port in Da Nang was modernized and expanded by the US during the Vietnam War.
• Vietnam sees the visit as a normal friendly exchange for peace, stability, cooperation, and development.
• The US sees Vietnam as a key component of its strategy for the region and has sought to leverage its rivalry with China to expand US influence.