Vice President Kamala Harris’ trip to Vietnam was delayed over several hours due to an “anomalous health incident” there, the U.S. Embassy said on Tuesday.
Harris was scheduled to leave Singapore to Hanoi, Vietnam as part of her trip through Asia but her flight was delayed three hours, and reporters covering the Vice President were told to go back to their hotel for the time being.
“Earlier this evening, the Vice President’s traveling delegation was delayed from departing Singapore because the Vice President’s office was made aware of a report of a recent possible anomalous health incident in Hanoi, Vietnam,” according to a statement posted to the U.S. embassy in Hanoi’s website.
The government uses the term “anomalous health incidents” to describe mysterious brain injuries, referred to as “Havana syndrome“. Symone Sanders, a spokesperson for Harris, said the Vice President is okay health-wise and the delay “has nothing to do with the vice president’s health.”
“She is well, all is fine, and looking forward to meetings in Hanoi tomorrow,” Sanders said.
Earlier on Tuesday, Harris slammed China in a major speech, calling the country’s out actions to “coerce, intimidate”.
“Our engagement in Southeast Asia and Indo-Pacific is not against any one country, nor is it designed to make anyone choose between countries,” she said. “Instead, our engagement is about advancing an optimistic vision that we have for our participation and partnership in this region.”
Harris is set to become the first vice president to visit Vietnam since North and South Vietnam were reunited in 1975. In her first trip to the region, Harris said America is still a global leader despite the backlash President Joe Biden’s administration has received following its pullout of American troops from Afghanistan.
“The United States is a global leader. We take that role seriously, understanding that we have many interests and priorities around the world,” Harris said.
