VIETNAM: CREW FROM THE VISITING U.S. WARSHIP THE USS VANDERGRIFT LAY WREATH AT A STATUE OF HO CHI MINH IN HO CHI MINH CITY.

Record ID: 208468

  • Title: VIETNAM: CREW FROM THE VISITING U.S. WARSHIP THE USS VANDERGRIFT LAY WREATH AT A STATUE OF HO CHI MINH IN HO CHI MINH CITY.
  • Date: 19th November 2003
  • Summary: (W4) HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM (NOVEMBER 19, 2003) (REUTERS) 1. WS/SCU: OF VIETNAMESE OFFICIALS WAITING TO WELCOME CREW OF USS VANDEGRIFT. (2 SHOTS) 0.08 2. VARIOUS: OF SHIP'S CAPTAIN, COMMANDER RICHARD ROGERS BEING GREETED BY VIETNAMESE OFFICIALS. (4 SHOTS) 0.35 3. SCU: ROGERS BEING PRESENTED WITH FLOWERS. 0.42 4. SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) SHIP'S CAPTAIN, COMMANDER RICHARD ROGERS SAYING "I think your heart starts racing as you come in pierside, and you see all the people that are here to greet you, making sure that you can get your ship in safely. The transit was beautiful, coming up the river, just fantastic being able to see the countryside and all the shipping that was coming in and out. It was probably the experience of my lifetime so far in the United States navy." 1.06 5. LAS: MORE OF SHIPS CREW. 1.12 6. WS: SHIP FLYING U.S. AND VIETNAM FLAGS. 1.16 (W4) HO CHI MINH CITY (FORMERLY SAIGON), VIETNAM (FILE) (REUTERS) 7. VARIOUS/MONO: OF U.S. FORCES CHECKING IDENTITY OF PEOPLE ON BOAT. (2 SHOTS) 1.29 8. VARIOUS/MONO: OF U.S. FORCES ON HELICOPTER/ FIRING AT UNIDENTIFIED BOAT. (8 SHOTS) 1.57 (W4) HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM (NOVEMBER 19, 2003) (REUTERS) 9. CU: U.S. FLAG FLYING AT DOCKS. 2.00 10. SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. AMBASSADOR TO VIETNAM, RAYMOND BURGHARDT, SAYING "It's a big moment, when I was sailing up the Saigon River with the ship, it was a big thrill to see the American and the Vietnamese flags, both flying above us together. I think it's, this is putting one of the final pieces in place for a full relationship between the U.S. and Vietnam." 2.24 11. GV: OF TOURISTS IN STREETS. 2.28 12. CU: WAR MUSEUM SIGN. 2.33 13. VARIOUS/EXTERIOR: OF TOURISTS VISITING WAR MUSEUM. (5 SHOTS) 2.51 14. MV: VIETNAMESE SITTING DOWN TALKING. 2.55 15. SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (Vietnamese) TANG DINH TOAN SAYING "Vietnamese may have some different opinions but not only in Vietnam, but in many other countries, people dislike the American flag. " 3.08 16. MV: MORE OF TOURISTS IN STREET. 3.12 17. MV: OF U.S. SAILORS TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS IN STREETS. 3.21 18. VARIOUS: OF SAILORS WALKING THROUGH SHOPS SELLING WAR PARAPHERNALIA. (4 SHOTS) 3.33 19. SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) ROBERT HUGHES, U.S SAILOR, SAYING "I have to say Vietnam, never in my life I have thought I would be here and I'm very interested in learning the Vietnamese and the people here. I'm very excited." 3.43 20. MLV: MORE OF SAILORS WALKING IN STREET. 3.46 21. SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) HUGHES SAYING "Well, take as many pictures as possible with the Vietnamese locals. Take that home with me and share it with my friends and family back home." 3.56 22. SCU: STATUE OF HO CHI MINH. 3.59 23. VARIOUS: OF U.S. SAILORS SALUTING AS FLORAL WREATH IS LAID AT BOTTOM OF STATUE. (3 SHOTS) 4.10 24. SCU: MORE OF STATUE. 4.14 25. SCU: SAILOR AT CEREMONY. 4.16 26. LAS: HO CHI MINH STATUE WITH WREATH. 4.21 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 4th December 2003 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM
  • Country: Vietnam
  • Reuters ID: LVAMDIQMCKK9DZD74LBHJWRG2MV
  • Story Text: U.S. crew from a visiting warship has laid a wreath
    at a statue of Vietnamese war hero Ho Chi Minh.



    Flying the flag of its former enemy, a U.S. navy
    frigate docked in Vietnam's biggest city on Wednesday
    (November 19), the first to visit the country since their
    bloody conflict ended nearly 30 years ago.

    Watched by curious onlookers and a horde of media, the
    USS Vandegrift sailed into Saigon port, its crew smartly
    attired in navy whites and lining the deck, arms clasped
    behind their backs.

    As his ship manoeuvred though the waters of Vietnam,
    Commander Richard Rogers described the moment as the
    experience of his lifetime.

    "I think your heart starts racing as you come in
    pierside, and you see all the people that are here to greet
    you, making sure that you can get your ship in safely. The
    transit was beautiful, coming up the river, just fantastic
    being able to see the countryside and all the shipping that
    was coming in and out. It was probably the experience of my
    lifetime so far in the United States navy," he said.

    Since the United States and Vietnam re-established
    diplomatic relations in 1995, ties and trade between the
    former foes have blossomed since a presidential visit in
    2000 and a free trade deal the following year.

    Now they are moving beyond trade and diplomacy into
    military contacts -- still a delicate area nearly 30 years
    after the end of the war that killed three million
    Vietnamese and 58,000 Americans.

    Vietnam's U.S. ambassador Raymond Burghardt said the
    ship's arrival is the highlight of a blossoming bilateral
    relationship.

    "It's a big moment, when I was sailing up the Saigon
    River with the ship, it was a big thrill to see the
    American and the Vietnamese flags, both flying above us
    together. I think it's, this is putting one of the final
    pieces in place for a full relationship between the U.S.

    and Vietnam," he said.

    The frigate flew the flags of both countries, the stars
    and stripes of the U.S. alongside that of Vietnam -- red
    with a five-pointed yellow star in the centre.

    But for some Vietnamese, the sight of an American
    warship conjured up fears of closer ties at a time when
    Washington's policies are increasingly unpopular abroad.

    "Vietnamese may have some different opinions but not
    only in Vietnam, but in many other countries, people
    dislike the American flag," said Tang Dinh Toan.

    The frigate, with a crew of 215, will spend four days
    of sight-seeing and community work in Ho Chi Minh City,
    formerly Saigon when it was the capital of
    Washington-backed South Vietnam.

    Groups of sailors in uniform began filtering onto the
    streets by late afternoon, drawing stares and in some cases
    friendly greetings.

    "I have to say Vietnam, never in my life I have thought
    I would be here and I'm very interested in learning the
    Vietnamese and the people here. I'm very excited. Well,
    take as many pictures as possible with the Vietnamese
    locals. Take that home with me and share it with my friends
    and family back home," said Robert Hughes, a U.S sailor.

    In a further gesture of reconciliation, Commander
    Rogers and the U.S. Embassy Defence and Army Attach
    Stephen Ball witnessed a floral wreath laying at a statue
    of Vietnam's first president Ho Chi Minh in a downtown
    square.

    The "Bac Ho" or Uncle Ho statue in the square,
    surrounded by war-era hotels including the Continental, Rex
    and Caravelle, shows the resistance leader with a little
    girl.

    The Americans saluted the wreath-laying before heading
    with Vietnamese military officials into a meeting with the
    city's local government leaders.

    More than half of Vietnam's population of 80 million
    were born after the war and so have few direct memories of
    the conflict.



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