A music night, held on the sidelines of a landmark visit to Vietnam by a group of U.S. Navy ships led by aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, brought the foreign sailors and locals closer in the central city of Da Nang on Monday.

The U.S. Seventh Fleet crew members arrived in Da Nang on board the USS Carl Vinson on Monday afternoon, when the supercarrier began a five-day visit to Vietnam.

The U.S. Seventh Fleet band, consisting of more than ten members, treated locals to a two-hour performance with full joy and enthusiasm at a riverside park under the city’s iconic Dragon Bridge.

Crowds of audience flocked the bridge to watch and cheer for the show, where the U.S. artist-soldiers performed songs with peace and love themes, particularly the “Noi Vong Tay Lon” (The Great Circle of Vietnam) and “Hello Vietnam.”

“The show is so special and I can’t believe these are soldiers,” Nguyen Thi Tuyet, a 64-year-old Vietnamese, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper amid a crowd of audience.

“They are lovely and friendly, and their performances are so lively and professional.”

Timothy Liston, Deputy Consul General at the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, joined locals in casual clothes and enjoyed every beat of the music night.

He said the great show, where the sailors and locals exchanged not only music but also emotion, was a great example for the development of the Vietnam-U.S. diplomatic ties, which is what the U.S. Navy wanted to spur during their stay in the port city.

The U.S. Seventh Fleet band said they chose “Hello Vietnam” thanks to its beautiful lyrics, which help them show their love and respect for Da Nang in particular and Vietnam in general.

Emily Kershaw, the only female solider in the band who is on her second visit to Vietnam, said she always feels attached to the country and its friendly people.

Kershaw was willing to talk and take photos with local audiences, as it is a way to help them realize that soldiers are not those who only know how to pull the trigger.

Local children join the U.S. Seventh Fleet band in the performance. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Local children join the U.S. Seventh Fleet band in the performance. Photo: Tuoi Tre

The U.S. Seventh Fleet band treats audiences to a number of love and peace-themed songs. Photo: Tuoi Tre

The U.S. Seventh Fleet band sings ‘Hello Vietnam’ in Vietnamese. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Emily Kershaw is pictured during her performance. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A U.S. Seventh Fleet band drummer is seen during the performance. Photo: Tuoi Tre

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