The delegation was led by Senior Colonel Nguyen Tran Dong, Deputy Commander of Coast Guard Region 3, following approval from Vietnam's Ministry of National Defense.
The visit marked the second time the Vietnam Coast Guard has dispatched a ship for a visit, exchange, and working program with the Korea Coast Guard. The first visit was carried out by Ship 8004 of Coast Guard Region 1 in November 2024.
A formal welcoming ceremony for Ship 8001 was held at Yeosu Port on June 15, attended by senior leaders of the Korea Coast Guard as well as officers, personnel, and cadets from the Korea Coast Guard Academy.
During the visit, the Vietnamese delegation participated in a wide range of activities, including courtesy calls on the leadership of the Korea Coast Guard Academy, visits to the academy and sports exchanges with cadets, attendance at Maritime Safety and Security Expo 2026, cultural visits, and joint search-and-rescue and firefighting exercises with Korean coast guard force’s ship.
On this occasion, Korean officers, personnel, and cadets toured the Vietnamese ship and attended a banquet and exchange program hosted by the Vietnamese delegation.
The visit was of significant importance, serving as a cooperative activity to implement the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two coast guard forces in 2007. It provided officers and personnel of both Vietnamese and Korean coast guard forces with opportunities to exchange, learn from one another, and share practical experience in maritime law enforcement. The visit also contributed to strengthening friendship, cooperation, mutual understanding, and trust between the two forces.
The working visit to RoK further demonstrated the Vietnam Coast Guard's pro-active role in promoting international cooperation and enhancing maritime law enforcement capabilities. It also contributed to fostering a peaceful, stable, secure, and safe maritime environment while advancing practical and substantive cooperation between the two countries and their respective coast guard forces.
The visit and working program concluded successfully, achieving all planned objectives and producing positive outcomes. On the morning of June 19, Ship 8001 departed Yeosu for Vietnam following a formal farewell ceremony organized at the port.
After an eight-day voyage covering more than 2,100 nautical miles under harsh weather conditions, Ship 8001 arrived safely at Naval Squadron 301 on the morning of June 27, successfully completing its mission with absolute safety in all aspects.
Immediately after the ship returned to port, the Coast Guard Region 3 Command held a review conference to assess the results of the mission and draw lessons learned from the visit to RoK.
Below are photos of the visit to RoK.
    |
 |
|
The Vietnamese delegation saluting the port upon arriving at Yeosu Port |
|
|
 |
|
RoK’s representatives welcoming the Vietnamese delegation |
|
|
 |
|
The host presents a souvenir to the guest. |
|
|
 |
|
The Vietnamese delegation meeting with leaders of the Korea Coast Guard |
|
|
 |
|
Leaders of the Korea Coast Guard Academy touring Ship 8001 |
|
|
 |
|
Sr. Col. Nguyen Tran Dong presents a souvenir to Director of the Korea Coast Guard Academy |
|
|
 |
|
Cadets of the Korea Coast Guard Academy touring the Vietnamese ship |
|
|
 |
|
Visiting RoK’s training ship |
|
|
 |
|
A sports exchange between the Vietnamese delegation and Korean coast guard cadets |
|
|
 |
|
The delegation tours the simulation center at the Korea Coast Guard Academy. |
|
|
 |
|
The two sides conducting joint search-and-rescue and firefighting exercises |
|
|
 |
|
The delegation attending Maritime Safety and Security Expo 2026 in Incheon |
|
|
 |
|
A formal farewell ceremony held for crew-members of Ship 8001 and the Vietnamese delegation at Yeosu Port |
Translated by Tran Hoai