Two Royal New Zealand Navy ships, with over 300 officers and sailors aboard, arrived at Saigon Port on Sunday, marking the 48th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and New Zealand.

The port call, scheduled for September 24-28, will further develop the close and friendly relationship between the Royal New Zealand Navy and the Vietnam People’s Navy.

Activities planned over the five days include personnel exchanges between the two navies, friendly sporting events, and combined community service activities.

“The crews of HMNZS Te Mana and HMNZS Aotearoa are excited to be visiting Vietnam. They are eager to learn about the Vietnamese people and culture and to share a bit of 'Kiwi' culture as well,” said New Zealand Joint Forces Commander, Rear Admiral James Gilmore.

“The ship visit is a demonstration of the close relationship between New Zealand and Vietnam. We are committed to our defense engagement with Vietnam and believe that growing and expanding our relationship contributes to the maintenance of a secure region.”

The port call follows the recent successful visit of Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army and Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of National Defense, to New Zealand in July and precedes bilateral defense talks scheduled for early 2024 in New Zealand.

The HMNZS Te Mana is the Royal New Zealand Navy’s second 'Anzac Class' frigate.

The HMNZS Aotearoa is a 'Polar Class' 26,000-ton tanker and replenishment ship, the largest the Royal New Zealand Navy has ever operated.

Over 300 officers and crew members are on board the two ships, which are designed for combat operations, humanitarian and relief functions, and operational and training support.

The two ships are conducting routine exercises in Southeast Asia in what is the New Zealand Defense Force (NZDF)'s largest naval deployment to the Indo-Pacific region, as well as making a number of ‘Defense Diplomacy’ visits, including to Vietnam.

This is the first time two Royal New Zealand Navy ships have visited Vietnam together.

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