VietNamNet Bridge – Two ships of the French Navy will visit southern Vietnam from June 18 to 21, according to the French consulate general in HCM City.

The amphibious assault ship and helicopter carrier Tonnerre captained by Colonel Jean-Francois Querat will drop its anchor in Vung Tau, while the cruiser Georges Leygues commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Romuald Bomont will visit neighboring HCMC.

The Vietnam visits by the two French naval ships are part of the naval training program Jeanne d’Arc 2013, says the consulate.

This is reportedly a training program for 123 cadets of the naval cadet training school GAEOM, who are from many different nations, including European countries, Togo, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and Brazil.

Under the program, the trainees go on a voyage across the Atlantic, the Mediterranean Sea, the Indian Ocean and the East Sea from March 2013 to July 2014.

On the occasion of the France-Vietnam Year to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, a cadet of the Vietnam Navy will also be joining the training program.

The Tonnerre, an elite warship of the French Navy, will just visit Vung Tau as it is too huge to navigate the rivers leading to HCMC ports. It is 200 meters long and 32 meters wide.

All official activities will be held on board the George Leygues at the Saigon Port.

The French consul general in HCMC in a press release said the French ambassador would attend the event of the French naval ship visiting the city.

A press conference would be held on board the George Leygues on June 18. Civil and military officials, ambassadors of foreign countries and French expatriates would be invited on board.

On this occasion, the city of Brest and the surrounding localities which are members of the French association Brest Metropole Oceane will send a mission to HCMC to promote economic and scientific cooperation.

Source: SGT