A frigate from the German Navy has arrived in Ho Chi Minh City to begin its first-ever visit to Vietnam.

Frigate Bayern of the German Navy docked at Nha Rong Wharf in Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday morning, commencing its visit to the southern city from Thursday to Sunday.

Crew members on frigate Bayern were welcomed by German Ambassador to Vietnam Guido Hildner, as well as representatives from the Ho Chi Minh City Department of External Relations, Vietnamese Navy, and Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense.

During the welcome ceremony, the guests and hosts were socially distanced in order to comply with COVID-19 prevention and control measures.

"We are delighted about the first visit of a German Navy ship to Vietnam,” Ambassador Hildner said at the ceremony.

“It shows the high importance Germany attaches to its partnership with Vietnam, and it will strengthen the partnership.”

The visit of frigate Bayern is part of the ship’s seven-month training and presence cruise in the Indo-Pacific. 

So far it has made port calls in Pakistan, Australia, Guam, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore.

Following its visit to Vietnam, frigate Bayern will head to Sri Lanka and India.

Germany understands the growing importance of the Indo-Pacific region, the ambassador continued.

One of its goals is to strengthen rules-based international order, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Frigate Bayern is one of four ships in the German Navy’s Brandenburg class.

The vessel has the maximum displacement of 4,500 metric tons, measuring 138.8 meters long and 16.7 meters wide.

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