Vietnam's search and rescue team returned home this week after completing a 10-day mission in Venezuela [1].
The deployment marks a significant step in Vietnam's effort to expand its role in international disaster relief. By providing specialized personnel to a crisis in South America, the government is implementing a broader vision for global engagement established by President To Lam [2].
The team was dispatched to assist victims of twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24, 2024 [1]. Those disasters resulted in thousands of deaths [3], creating a massive need for emergency search and recovery operations in the affected regions [3].
Upon their return to Hanoi, the personnel and officers were received in a formal ceremony. Prime Minister Le Minh Hung said the team deserved commendation for their service and the risks they assumed during the deployment [4].
One Vietnamese military officer said the mission was the toughest and most dangerous of their career [3]. The team operated in high-risk environments to locate survivors and recover bodies amid the wreckage of the twin quakes [3].
The mission lasted 10 days [1], during which the team utilized specialized equipment and training to navigate the disaster zones. The return of the team to Vietnam concludes the immediate operational phase of the country's direct humanitarian response to the Venezuelan crisis [1], [4].
“The mission lasted 10 days.”
This mission signals Vietnam's transition toward a more proactive foreign policy focused on 'soft power' through humanitarian diplomacy. By deploying military and rescue assets to a distant region like South America, Hanoi is demonstrating its capacity for long-range logistics and its willingness to participate in global stability efforts beyond its immediate Southeast Asian neighborhood.
