PANO - The HTMS Narathiwat, a Thai patrol ship, led by Rear Admiral Sompop Suwitayalangkarn, Chief of the Staff of the Thai Navy’s Region 2, with 120 officers and sailors on board, anchored at the Ho Chi Minh City port, starting their 5-day ffrienship visit to Vietnam on May 17th.

The reception ceremony took place at the port with the participation of representatives from the Vietnamese Navy Command, the External Relations Department under the Defence Ministry, Military Zone 7 Command and the Thai Consul General to Vietnam.

During the visit, the Thai crew will lay a wreath at the Statue of President Ho Chi Minh and pay courtesy visits to leaders of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, Military Zone 7 and the Vietnamese Navy Command in the South and the Naval Region 2 Command of the Navy.

Besides, the foreign naval troops also take on friendly volleyball games with cadets of the Naval Technique School and tour some tourist areas in Ho Chi Minh City.

The ship’s visit will contribute to tightening relations between Vietnam and Thailand’s defence cooperation in general and the two sides’ navies in particular.

Over the past years, the Navies of Vietnam and Thailand jointly conducted some patrols at seas, exercises to fighting against pirates and smugglers and studies to protect marine resources in the Gulf of Thailand.

The “HTMS Narathiwat” is of 94.5m in length, 11.8m in width and 21.2m in height and equipped many modern weapons and military equipment.

Following are some photos of the reception ceremony:

The “HTMS Narathiwat” entering the Ho Chi Minh City’s port

Thai sailors berthing the naval ship

The visit promoting ties between the two nations’ navies

Rear Admiral Sompop Suwitayalangkarn receiving flowers from a Vietnamese female naval officer

The ship’s advanced weapons and equipment

Translated by Pham Huy