A ship carrying young Southeast Asians will stop at the Ho Chi Minh City Port from November 14 to 17 to begin their annual voyage of solidarity to regional countries.

The Nippon Maru, with 330 young delegates of the Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program on board, will depart on November 7 for Vietnam from Japan, where they have engaged in a summit for young leaders, organized a cultural exhibition and musical performance, and attended a homestay program since October 27.

Vietnam has sent 29 participants to join the delegation, consisting of youth from Japan and ten Southeast Asian countries.

A number of Nippon Maru passengers will visit Tuoi Tre’s headquarters in Ho Chi Minh City on November 15 where they will discuss issues related to information and communications during a short exchange. 

The ship is scheduled to sail through five Southeast Asian nations, including Vietnam (November 14-17), Thailand (November 20-24), Laos (November 21-22), Singapore (November 29-December 2), and the Philippines (December 6-9), before returning to Japan on December 12.

The Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program, now in its 40^th year, is a youth exchange program that was pioneered by regional countries and Japan in 1974.

Vietnamese youth have participated in this program for 18 years. This year’s edition coincides with the 40^th-year anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan, and between Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.