Frigate 015-Tran Hung Dao starts exchange activities with Japanese Navy

PANO - On the afternoon of December 9, at Kure Naval Base in Hiroshima Prefecture, officers and sailors of Vietnam and Japan participated in reciprocal ship visits and sports exchanges as part of the friendly visit to Japan by Frigate 015-Tran Hung Dao.

Frigate 015-Tran Hung Dao starts visit to Japan

Frigate 015–Tran Hung Dao’s visit to China leaves lasting impression

Frigate 015-Tran Hung Dao starts visit and exchange with Chinese Navy

The Vietnamese crew and their Japanese peers toured Frigate 015–Tran Hung Dao and JS Tenryu of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), where they were briefed on each ship’s basic features, operations, and shared experience from long-distance voyages. The Japanese officers and sailors expressed delight at welcoming the Vietnamese frigate for the second time in Japan, and for the first time at Kure Naval Base.

A friendly volleyball match between officers and sailors of the two navies took place in an animated and energetic atmosphere, with exciting and thrilling play reflecting the spirit of friendship. The exchange activities during this visit left strong and memorable impressions on both sides and demonstrated the desire to further strengthen cooperative and friendly ties between the Vietnam People’s Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.

As part of the visit, the Vietnamese delegation led by Sinor Captain Nguyen Vinh Nam, Deputy Commander of Navy Region 4, paid a courtesy call on leaders of Kure City, Hiroshima Prefecture. The meeting was attended by Vietnam’s Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu and Vietnamese Defense Attaché Senior Colonel Nguyen Thai Son.

Mayor Yoshiake Shinhara praised the visit of Frigate 015–Tran Hung Dao and expressed hope that through exchanges with the host navy and local residents, Vietnamese officers and sailors would gain a deeper understanding of Kure and bring home lasting positive impressions. He also expressed his wish for increasingly close and robust Vietnam - Japan relations, contributing to peace and prosperity in Asia and the world.

The head of the Vietnamese delegation thanked Mayor Shinhara for the warm reception and said that from the moment the delegation arrived, they had been warmly welcomed by the JMSDF and local residents. He noted the city’s peaceful beauty and economic dynamism.

He emphasized that defense cooperation between Vietnam and Japan, particularly between the Vietnam People’s Navy and the JMSDF, has seen positive and effective developments in recent years, with activities such as port calls, officer and sailor exchanges, and the bilateral Naval Consultation Mechanism. He expressed confidence that with strong political trust and continued goodwill from both sides, Vietnam - Japan cooperation would deepen across fields, contributing to peace, stability, security, and shared prosperity in the region and the world.

Later that evening, Mayor Yoshiake Shinhara and Vice Admiral Tamotsu Matsumoto, Commander of the Kure District, joined JMSDF officers and sailors at a banquet aboard Frigate 015–Tran Hung Dao.

Below are photos of the activities of the Vietnamese delegation in Japan.