Frigate 015-Tran Hung Dao starts visit to Japan

PANO - On December 7, Frigate 015-Tran Hung Dao carrying the Vietnam People’s Army delegation, led by Second-in-Command of Naval Region 4 Senior Captain Nguyen Vinh Nam, anchored at Kure Port, Hiroshima province, starting its visit to Japan.

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

Frigate 015-Tran Hung Dao departs for visits to China, Japan, RoK

Ship 015-Tran Hung Dao of VPN visits Japan

Japan is the second stop of the Vietnamese vessel during its ongoing trip to China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea.

Captain Yanagihara, a representative of Kure Naval Base, one of the biggest bases of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, chaired the welcome ceremony for the Vietnamese delegation at the port. The event was joined by Vietnamese defense attaché to Japan Senior Colonel Nguyen Thai Son.

Frigate 015-Tran Hung Dao is about to dock at Kure Port.

Vietnamese delegation and crew-members salute Kure port.

In his welcoming speech, Capt. Yanagihara expressed his hope that exchanges and contacts within the visit would help develop the friendship and cooperation between the two navies and the Vietnam - Japan relations.

Addressing the event, Capt. Nam expressed his honor to lead the Vietnamese delegation to visit beautiful Kore city. He said that despite long sea voyage and harsh weather conditions, the frigate’s crew-members showed high determination and exerted great efforts to safely reach Kure port as scheduled.

He believed that the visit would give the two naval forces opportunities to learn more about each country’s land, people and culture and serve as a bridge to foster the fruitful friendship between Vietnam and Japan, their armed forces and navies.

The Vietnamese delegation welcomed at the port

The host and guest in a group photo

Capt. Yanagihara welcomes the Vietnamese delegation.

Capt. Nam speaks at the welcome ceremony.

This is the second time the 015-Tran Hung Dao has paid a courtesy visit to Japan and the first time it has visited Kure Naval Base.

This port call aims to realize the joint vision statement on Vietnam - Japan defense cooperation toward the next decade signed by the two defense ministries in 2018 and in line with the two countries’ comprehensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia and the world. Its target is also to strengthen the friendship, cooperation, trust and mutual understanding between the two navies.

After the welcome ceremony, Japanese naval officers visited 015-Tran Hung Dao and exchanged with the Vietnamese delegation aboard the vessel.