U.S. Carrier Marks New Vietnam Ties With Port Call at Former War Site

DA NANG, Vietnam—Thousands of American sailors descended on this Vietnamese resort town Monday in a historic port call by an aircraft carrier strike group as the former Vietnam War adversaries forge a closer relationship to counterbalance expanding Chinese influence in Southeast Asia.

The visit by the USS Carl Vinson comes 53 years to the week since U.S. Marines came ashore in Da Nang at the launch of the Vietnam War. On Monday, the Vinson became the first American aircraft carrier to visit Vietnam since communist forces won...