Frigate 015-Tran Hung Dao of the Vietnam People’s Navy landed at the Port of Sakai in Osaka on October 3, Quan doi Nhan dan (People’s Army) newspaper reported.

Frigate 015-Tran Hung Dao of the Vietnam People’s Navy docks at Yokosuka naval base in Japan’s Kanagawa prefecture on September 27 (Photo: qdnd.vn)

The ship is skippered by Colonel Le Hong Chien, Deputy Commander of Naval Region 4.

Welcoming the naval officers and crew members on board the ship, Mayor of Sakai city Takeyama Osami noted the visit coincides with celebrations of the 45th anniversary of the Vietnam – Japan diplomatic ties (1973 – 2018). 

Vietnam sending the naval ship for the first time to Japan demonstrates the development of Vietnam’s naval force, he said.

The ship’s presence in Japan will contribute to reinforcing the two countries’ strategic partnership and defence cooperation, said Vietnamese consul general in Sakai Vu Tuan Hai.

Colonel Chien thanked Japanese authorities for the warm welcome, saying with its arrival in Sakai, ship 015-Tran Hung Dao will continue working to increase mutual understanding between the Vietnam’s People Army and Japan Self-Defence Forces in particularly as well as between the two peoples for the stability and development of the two nations, the region and the globe.

The Vietnamese naval officers and crew members are scheduled to visit the Consulate General of Vietnam in Sakai and pay a courtesy call to local police chief and the city’s Japan-Vietnam Friendship Association during the visit.

On September 27, the vessel arrived at Yokosuka naval base in Kanagawa prefecture where the Vietnamese delegation visited the mayor of Yokosuka city, the commander of Yokosuka base, commander of the coast guard force in Yokosuka and the city’s police chief. –VNA