Australia supports Vietnam's second deployment of Military Level 2 Field Hospital

• Vietnam sends seven more military officers to UN peacekeeping missions
• Joining UN peacekeeping missions affirms VN’s contributions to world peace
• Vietnamese female soldiers leave for UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan

Attending the farewell ceremony at Noi Bai International Airport are Deputy Chief of General Staff, RADM Nguyen Trong Binh and the Australian Ambassador to Vietnam HE Ms Robyn Mudie. 

Group 1 of Vietnam’s Level 2 Hospital Rotation 2 posed with HE Ms Robyn Mudie, the Australian Ambassador and RADM Nguyen Trong Binh, Deputy Chief of General Staff in front of the Royal Australian Air Force C-17 A Globemaster that will transport them to South Sudan.

The first sortie of the C17 aircraft left Hanoi at 11:00am today and will fly for around 12 hours (with a stop over in Seychelles) to Juba, South Sudan. 

The second sortie, which transports the remaining military personnel and equipment, is expected to take place on 26 November 2019. In total, the two airlifts will fly 63 personnel and approximately 60 tonnes of cargo to South Sudan and transport the 63 personnel of Rotation 1 back to Vietnam.

“I am very proud to be here today to farewell Vietnam’s second medical contingent to South Sudan.  The Level 2 Field Hospital is one of the most complex military units to deploy and Australia congratulates Vietnam on the outstanding success of its first deployment.  Vietnam’s dedicated and professional military medical and support personnel are, rightly, earning the country an outstanding reputation for its contribution to UN international peacekeeping operations in South Sudan”.

Loading  equipment of Level 2 Hospital into C17 aircraft

“Australia has been privileged to support the training and strategic airlifts for this operation, which show a high level  of cooperation and trust between the Australian Defence Force and Vietnam People’s Army”  Ms Mudie said.    

Aside from the airlift – a very visible element of support - Australia has been providing Vietnam with support in peacekeeping since 2011.  The support includes English language and Subject Matter Expert training for each of Vietnam’s deployments, helping Vietnamese peacekeepers meet the UN’s strict English and skills requirements. The language support for Rotation 3 of the Level 2 Hospital is also underway under the Defence Cooperation Program.