The Vietnamese military team, which joined forces with the Ministry of Public Security’s rescue contingent on March 31, worked tirelessly under the guiding spirit: “search for victims in Myanmar as if they were our own family.” From dawn till late night, the team operated with relentless intensity in one of the most challenging disaster zones in recent memory.

Upon landing at Yangon airport, the team traveled more than 500 kilometers by road to Naypyidaw, the capital city. Late on March 30 and early March 31, they coordinated with local Myanmar authorities to identify key search areas and determine the most effective methods of cooperation to ensure success and safety in the operations.

Despite ongoing aftershocks and extreme environmental conditions - temperatures exceeding 40°C, severely decomposed bodies, waterlogged ruins, and unstable collapsed structures - the team persisted.

Their mission focused on three heavily impacted sites in Naypyidaw: Bala Tidi apartment complex, Ottara Thiri Hospital, and Aye Chan Thar Hotel. Using specialized search equipment and trained rescue dogs, the team identified 32 locations with trapped victims, directly searched 20 of these sites, and successfully recovered 21 bodies.

Notably, the team cooperated with Myanmar and Turkish rescue forces to rescue a 26-year-old man who had been trapped for five days under rubble.

The Vietnamese team also retrieved and returned valuable equipment and personal property - worth hundreds of thousands of dollars - to Ottara Thiri Hospital and local residents.

In parallel with rescue efforts, the team delivered 40 tons of dry food, tents, and other emergency supplies to affected areas. (This is in addition to further aid just approved by Vietnam’s Ministry of National Defense.)

The team also donated USD 5,000 raised among its members to assist victims’ families. With local hospitals damaged and lacking supplies, Vietnamese medics provided free medical check-ups and medicines to more than 200 local residents.

In addition, the team engaged in experience-sharing and technical exchanges with rescue units from Myanmar, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Myanmar authorities and international rescue partners highly praised the Vietnamese team's professionalism, courage, ingenuity, and high technical expertise - especially the roles played by their combat engineers, military doctors, and trained K9 units.

Vietnam’s participation in the rescue mission not only highlighted its humanitarian commitment and traditional values of solidarity but also strengthened Vietnam–Myanmar relations through timely support and heartfelt solidarity with the people of Myanmar.

Tran Thuong