A VH-60N helicopter, commonly known as ‘Marine One’ when serving a U.S. president, has been sent to Hanoi in preparation for U.S. President Joe Biden’s two-day visit to Vietnam starting this weekend. 

The VH-60N was transported from the U.S. aboard a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft that landed at Noi Bai International Airport late Tuesday afternoon.

Designed as a VIP version of the UH-60 helicopter, the VH-60N, deployed in 1989, features a four-blade main and tail rotor powered by two General Electric T700 turbine engines. 

The aircraft, which carries no weapons, can fly at a maximum speed of over 200 kph and it remains functional to ensure the safety of its VIP passengers when one of its two engines is out of order.

‘Marine One’ is equipped with an encrypted communications system to maintain contact between the president, the White House, and the Pentagon in any situation.

The title Marine One was first used in 1957 for a Bell UH-13J Sioux helicopter when it served U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower. 

Since then, this title has been used for any helicopters that carry high-ranking U.S. officials, especially the president. 

Before the arrival of the VH-60N helicopter, five C-17 flights touched down at Noi Bai over the past several days, carrying specialized cars, equipment, and supplies to serve President Biden’s upcoming visit, slated for September 10-11.

The visit has been scheduled at the invitation of Vietnam’s Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, marking 10 years of comprehensive partnership between the two countries. 

This is also the first time an American president has accepted an invitation to visit Vietnam from a General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam.   

Vietnam and the U.S. established diplomatic relations in November 1995, and the bilateral relationship has fruitfully developed since then, especially after the two nations entered their comprehensive partnership in July 2013.

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