The Vietnamese ship was commanded by Captain Pham Van Phuong, Second-in-Command and Chief of Staff of Brigade 167, while the guest side was captained by Commander Robert Welford, with a crew of 109 sailors.

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Staff officers from the two sides agree on joint drill plan.

The two sides carried out a series of coordinated operations, including formation maneuvering, at-sea salute procedures, information exchange, and training in international signal communication, alongside following the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES). All operations adhered closely to a pre-agreed plan.

Earlier from October 23 to 27, the HMNZS Aotearoa made a courtesy port call at Nha Rong Wharf in Ho Chi Minh City, where its crew engaged in exchange and goodwill activities with representatives from Vietnam’s Naval Region 2 Command. Brigade 167 also sent a working group aboard HMNZS Aotearoa to finalize the joint exercise plan and share expertise in logistics and technical operations.

Source: VNA

Translated by Song Anh