The event was held as part of banquets held on naval ships participating in the ASEAN - India Maritime Exercise (AIME) 2023 and the International Maritime Defense Exhibition (IMDEX) 2023 to foster exchange, cooperation, and friendship among participating navies.
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Vietnamese Ambassador to Singapore Mai Phuoc Dung speaking at the banquet held on the 015 - Tran Hung Dao |
The event was attended by Vietnamese Ambassador to Singapore Mai Phuoc Dung, Deputy Commander of the Vietnam People’s Navy Rear Admiral Nguyen Dinh Hung, Singaporean Naval Fleet Commander Colonel Kwan Hon Chuong, and Vietnamese defense attaché to Singapore Senior Colonel Tran Hoai Nam.
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Rear Admiral Nguyen Dinh Hung (center) and distinguished guests in a joint photo |
The Vietnamese frigate also welcomed foreign military attachés to Singapore, commanders, officers, and sailors of naval ships participating in AIME and IMDEX, and Singaporean people.
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Young Vietnamese officers talking with international guests |
Speaking at the event, Senior Captain Nguyen Van Ngan, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Naval Region 4 Command and head of the Vietnamese delegation, said that the 015 - Tran Hung Dao’s crew-members could feel the sentiment of the host country and other participating navies through their wholehearted support, warm welcome, and hospitality.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Singapore Mai Phuoc Dung said that this was the third time that the Vietnamese naval ship had joined AIME. Its participation in the exercise aimed to strengthen cooperative relationship and affirmed Vietnam’s support to the event and emphasize Vietnam’s commitment to strengthen stability, peace, and cooperation with countries in the region and the world.
The Vietnamese diplomat also expressed the delight at the strong and steady development of the relationship between Vietnam and Singapore in recent years. He added that since the establishment of diplomatic relations five decades ago, the friendship and cooperative relations between Vietnam and Singapore have continuously developed and achieved many good results in various fields.
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Pho is the most favorite dish at the event. |
Joining the banquet on the Vietnamese ship, Singaporean liaison officer James Kang affirmed that Vietnamese dishes served on the 015 - Tran Hung Dao of the Vietnam People’s Navy attracted foreign guests. The young officer shared that his wife is Vietnamese, so he loves Vietnamese food, especially “pho” (Vietnamese noodle soup). This is the second time that James Kang has worked as liaison officer for a Vietnamese ship in Singapore.
Jeff Koh, owner of Red Sparrow, a Vietnamese restaurant in Singapore, said that he felt very lucky to be able to attend a party on a Vietnamese warship. He said that he is interested in Vietnamese culture and often travel to Vietnam. It is the very delicious street food from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City that inspires him, said Jeff Koh.
Dishes served at the banquet were thoroughly prepared from ingredient selection to processing. Typical Vietnamese dishes such as beef noodle soup, chicken noodle soup, and spring rolls were well decorated. Their taste and fragrance lured the guests.
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Artistic performances at the banquet |
To ensure the success of the event, chief Truong Viet Chien said that all crew-members and he thoroughly grasped that mission. Considering the banquet a highlight of the delegation’s onshore activities in Singapore, they were determined and tried their best to complete assigned missions.
Apart from enjoying special Vietnamese dishes, participants had the opportunity to admire Vietnamese folk art genres performed by naval art troupe.
With good command in English and Russian, Vietnamese officers confidently communicated with guests, thus creating a friendly and cozy atmosphere. Sailors also impressed international friends with their professional service style thanks to experience acquired during their previous trips to conduct external defense relations events.
The hospitality and thoughtfulness of the Vietnamese crew-members has left good impressions on international friends, contributing to popularizing the image of Vietnam and its friendly and peace-loving people to international friends.
By My Hanh (from Singapore)
Translated by Tran Hoai