The 42nd Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program (SSEAYP 2015) arrived in Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday as part of their 40-day trip to explore the participating countries.

The ship, which carries 329 young people from Southeast Asian countries and Japan, is scheduled to stay in the city from November 17 to 21.

It will leave for Yangon, Myanmar on Saturday.

Following a welcome ceremony at Cat Lai Port, the delegates will pay courtesy visits to dignitaries, interact with the local youth, call on municipal institutions, and get involved in community service.

During the five-day stay in Ho Chi Minh City, the youngsters will also participate in a homestay program.

They will stay with 157 families across 14 districts of Ho Chi Minh City, join their meals and take part in their daily routine to have a better understanding of Vietnamese people’s lifestyle and culture. The ship, which started its journey on November 5 from Japan and previously docked in the Philippines, will visit Laos and Malaysia, and then return to Japan as the final destination.

Activities on board include group discussions about eight topics, cultural introduction, sports and club sessions. Established in 1974, SSEAYP is a cooperation program jointly run by the Japanese government and Southeast Asian countries to foster friendship and greater understanding among the youth from the participating nations.

Vietnam first joined the program in 1995.