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Cam Ranh Bay is a large logistics facility in Vietnam that includes an aerial port, a naval base, and a military seaport. During the Vietnam War, the United States Air Force operated a cargo and airlift facility at Cam Ranh, which was also used as a tactical fighter base and a major military seaport for the offloading of supplies and military equipment. In 1979, the Soviet Union began leasing the base rent-free from Vietnam for 25 years. After the lease expired in 2004, the Vietnamese government announced that it would not sign any new agreements with foreign countries to use Cam Ranh Bay for military purposes. While Vietnam has a policy of permitting foreign navies to make one port call per year, it does not lease Cam Ranh Bay to the United States or any other country for military purposes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Country that leased Cam Ranh Bay | Russia |
| Year of the lease agreement | 1979 |
| Type of lease agreement | 25-year rent-free leasing treaty |
| Year Russia withdrew from the lease | 2004 |
| Country that leased Cam Ranh Bay before Russia | United States |
| Year the U.S. leased Cam Ranh Bay | 1965 |
| Year the U.S. ended its lease of Cam Ranh Bay | 1975 |
| Country that currently leases Cam Ranh Bay | N/A |
| Year Vietnam announced that Cam Ranh Bay would be open for commercial use by foreign navies | 2010 |
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What You'll Learn
- Cam Ranh Bay was a major US military base during the Vietnam War
- The US Navy has visited Cam Ranh Bay for repairs and joint exercises
- Russia leased Cam Ranh Bay from Vietnam for 25 years
- Vietnam's official defence policy precludes leasing Cam Ranh Bay for military purposes
- Cam Ranh Bay is now open to commercial use by foreign navies
Cam Ranh Bay was a major US military base during the Vietnam War
During the Vietnam War, the US Army maintained the 6th Convalescent Center (6th CC) at Cam Ranh Bay, enabling most wounded soldiers to be treated in-country. In addition, Cam Ranh Bay was initially chosen as a safe haven for South Vietnamese troops and civilians transported by boat from Da Nang when forward North Vietnamese forces fired on American vessels and sent sappers to destroy port facilities.
The US military presence at Cam Ranh Bay began in 1965 when the North Vietnamese trawler was discovered landing munitions and supplies at nearby Vũng Rô Bay. This incident led the United States to develop Cam Ranh as a major base. On December 1, 1965, the 14th Aerial Port Squadron was activated at the base to manage the airfield. In 1966, a new ramp was constructed on the west side of the airfield to handle airlift operations, and another pier was added to the port facility. Cam Ranh remained the Air Force's primary airlift base in South Vietnam until it closed.
After the Vietnam War, the Soviet Union started leasing the base rent-free from Vietnam under a 25-year leasing treaty in 1979. In 2004, the Russian government announced that it would withdraw from Cam Ranh Bay before its lease expired. The base reverted to Vietnamese control in 2002, and Vietnam announced that it would not sign any agreements to allow foreign countries to use Cam Ranh Bay for military purposes. However, in 2009, Vietnam opened its commercial repair facilities to all navies, and the US Navy has since visited Cam Ranh Bay for repairs and joint exercises.
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The US Navy has visited Cam Ranh Bay for repairs and joint exercises
Cam Ranh Bay, a natural harbour in Vietnam, has been a strategically important location for many countries since the 19th century. The French, Russians, Japanese, and Americans have all used the bay as a refuelling station and a launching pad for military operations in the region.
The United States Navy has a long history with Cam Ranh Bay, using it as a major base during the Vietnam War. The US Navy flew various aircraft from Cam Ranh and other bases, conducting aerial surveillance of South Vietnam's coastal waters. The US Navy also used the bay as a major military seaport for the offloading of supplies and military equipment. During the war, the US Army maintained the 6th Convalescent Center at Cam Ranh Bay, enabling most wounded soldiers to be treated in-country.
In recent years, the US Navy has continued to visit Cam Ranh Bay. In 2010, the US Navy's nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, USS George Washington, arrived off the coast of central Vietnam, and joint navy search and rescue training was conducted with Vietnamese forces. In 2012, the US Secretary of Defense became the first American official of cabinet rank to visit Vietnam since the Vietnam War when he visited Cam Ranh Bay. The US Navy's oldest operational ship also visited Cam Ranh Bay in 2024. These visits highlight the continued strategic importance of the bay and the potential for renewed military ties between the United States and Vietnam.
Cam Ranh Bay has also been a site for repairs and maintenance for the US Navy. In the past, the bay served as a vital logistic complex, providing major vessel repair and a variety of supply items to the anti-infiltration task force. The US Navy has benefited from the bay's natural deep-water harbour, which has allowed for the repair of coastal patrol vessels and other naval ships. With Vietnam opening up the bay for commercial use by foreign navies, there is potential for the US Navy to utilise the bay's ship-repair facilities in the future.
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Russia leased Cam Ranh Bay from Vietnam for 25 years
Cam Ranh Bay is a major base of the Vietnam People's Navy, serving as the headquarters of the 4th Regional Command and the Vietnam Naval Air Force. It is also home to Vietnam's only submarine base. The Bay is considered the finest deepwater shelter in Southeast Asia, with its continental shelf bringing deep water close to the land.
Historically, the Bay has been significant from a military standpoint. The French used it as a naval base for their forces in Indochina. It was also used by the Imperial Russian fleet under Admiral Zinovy Rozhestvensky as a staging area before the Battle of Tsushima in 1905. During the Vietnam War, the United States Army maintained a major port facility and depot at Cam Ranh Bay. The United States Navy conducted aerial surveillance of South Vietnam's coastal waters from the Bay.
In 1979, the Soviet Union began leasing the base rent-free from Vietnam under a 25-year leasing treaty. The base served as a communications and signal intelligence collection centre, and it eased Soviet logistical support for its naval forces in the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean. The Soviets expanded the base, adding piers, dry docks, installations for nuclear submarines, fuel and weapons storage facilities, and barracks. By 1987, the base had expanded to four times its original size.
As the 25-year lease was nearing its end in 2004, the Russian government announced that it would withdraw from Cam Ranh Bay. The reversion of the base back to Vietnamese control took place in 2002, and the Russian flag was lowered for the last time on May 2, 2002. Since then, Russia and Vietnam have continued to cooperate on projects at Cam Ranh Bay, including the construction of a maintenance and repair facility for foreign warships, completed by 2015.
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Vietnam's official defence policy precludes leasing Cam Ranh Bay for military purposes
Cam Ranh Bay has been a strategically important port in Vietnam for several countries over the years. During the Vietnam War, the United States Air Force operated a large cargo/airlift facility called Cam Ranh Air Base, which was also used as a tactical fighter base. It was one of three aerial ports where U.S. military personnel entered or departed South Vietnam for their 12-month tour of duty. The U.S. Navy flew various aircraft from Cam Ranh and other bases, conducting aerial surveillance of South Vietnam's coastal waters.
In 1975, the PAVN 10th Division advanced on Cam Ranh Bay, and despite resistance from the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, they had captured the entire base area. In 1979, the Soviet Union started leasing the base rent-free from Vietnam under a 25-year leasing treaty. In 2001, the Vietnamese government announced that following the expiration of Russia's lease in 2004, Vietnam would "not sign an agreement with any country to use Cam Ranh Bay for military purposes". Russia withdrew from Cam Ranh Bay in 2002, before its lease expired.
In 2010, Vietnamese Prime Minister Dung announced that the facilities at Cam Ranh Bay would become available for commercial use by all foreign navies the following year. In 2014, Russia and Vietnam agreed that Russian warships could use the port of Cam Ranh with prior notice, while other foreign navies would be limited to only one annual ship visit to Vietnamese ports.
Vietnam's official defence policy precludes leasing Cam Ranh Bay or islands in the South China Sea to the United States or any other foreign country. Vietnam advocates neither joining any military alliances, siding with one country against another, giving any other countries permission to use its territory to carry out military activities, nor using force or threatening to use force in international relations. If Vietnam decides to loosen its present restrictions, it will do so gradually and in line with the prescription in the 2019 Defence White Book, which emphasises mutual respect, sovereignty, and international law.
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Cam Ranh Bay is now open to commercial use by foreign navies
Cam Ranh Bay, a deep-water harbour in central Vietnam, has long been a site of military interest. The natural harbour is located near the South China Sea, making it a coveted geostrategic position. In 1963, the United States developed a renewed interest in the bay, and it became a major base for the US Air Force and Navy during the Vietnam War. The US Army maintained a major port facility and depot at Cam Ranh, and the Air Force used the Cam Ranh Air Base as a tactical fighter base and for airlift operations.
After the Vietnam War, the Soviet Union leased Cam Ranh Bay from Vietnam in 1979, turning it into the largest Soviet naval base outside the Soviet Union. The Russians expanded the base and upgraded it with new docks, weapons storage facilities, aircraft runways, barracks, and a power station. However, with the end of the Cold War, the Russians gradually withdrew their forces, and their lease expired in 2004.
In 2010, Vietnamese Prime Minister Dung announced that the facilities at Cam Ranh Bay would become available for commercial use by all foreign navies. Vietnam unveiled the new port facility, called Cam Ranh International Port, in 2016. The port is designed to accommodate and service foreign ships, including aircraft carriers and submarines. It is part of Vietnam's efforts to boost its commercial attractiveness as a hub for ships and increase naval engagements with foreign countries.
The United States has expressed interest in accessing the port facility, with former US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta calling it a "key component" of the US-Vietnam relationship. In 2016, US Navy ships USS John S. McCain and USS Frank Cable made the first port visit to Cam Ranh Bay since 1975. While the US has intensified defence relations with Vietnam, it is still seeking secure access to the bay.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the US did not rent Cam Ranh Bay from Vietnam. During the Vietnam War, the US Army maintained and operated a major port and depot at Cam Ranh Bay, which was used as a military base.
Yes, the US Navy flew various aircraft from Cam Ranh Bay and other bases to conduct aerial surveillance of South Vietnam's coastal waters.
In 2009, the US Navy was permitted to use commercial repair facilities at Cam Ranh Bay, marking a return to the bay after the Vietnam War.
Yes, in 1979, the Soviet Union started leasing Cam Ranh Bay rent-free from Vietnam under a 25-year leasing treaty. Russia withdrew from the bay in 2004 before the lease expired.
Yes, in 2009, Vietnam announced that its commercial repair facilities at Cam Ranh Bay would be open to all foreign navies. However, Vietnam's official defense policy precludes leasing Cam Ranh Bay to any foreign country for military purposes.
