Two auxiliary ships of the Royal New Zealand Navy - HMNZS Aotearoa and HMNZS Te Mana – docked at Saigon Port in Ho Chi Minh City on September 24 on a goodwill visit to mark 48 years of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and New Zealand, VOV reported.

The visit aims to further strengthen the friendly and close relationship between the Royal New Zealand Navy and the Vietnam People’s Navy.

Vietnamese and New Zealand officers at the welcome ceremony in HCM City on September 24 Source: New Zealand Embassy - Hanoi, Vietnam/FB

During their five-day stay, officers and sailors will take part in various activities, including exchanges and meetings between the two navies, sports friendlies, and community activities.

“We are very much looking forward to spending time at this beautiful city, seeing the wonderful sights, meeting the very very friendly people, and eating the wonderful food,” said Commander Joint Forces New Zealand, Rear Admiral James Gilmour.

All the crewmembers of the two ships are very excited to learn about Vietnamese culture and people, as well as to share New Zealand culture with Vietnamese friends, according to Rear Admiral James Gilmour.

Vietnamese and New Zealand officers at the welcome ceremony in HCM City on September 24 Source: New Zealand Embassy - Hanoi, Vietnam/FB

Sailors of the Royal New Zealand Navy ships HMNZS Te Mana and HMNZS Aotearoa also performed Maori waiata (traditional songs) and haka (dance) to show appreciation for the warm welcome of HCM City and Vietnam People's Navy.

The visit of the two ships comes following the successful visit to New Zealand in July 2023 by Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong, Chief of the General Staff and Deputy Minister of National Defense of Vietnam.

The two countries are expected to hold talks on defense cooperation in early 2024.

Over the past years, Vietnam and New Zealand have frequently shared information and promoted cooperation via the annual defense strategy and defense policy dialogues, along with multilateral frameworks such as the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus.

During their stay in HCM City, the officers and sailors of New Zealand will engage in a number of activities, including meetings between the countries’ navies, sports exchanges, and community activities.

They will also join the High Command of Vietnam’s Naval Region 2 in a sand table exercise.

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