It is the ship’s first call at the city since 2023. Officers and crew will take part in cultural exchanges with local schools and a charity, and in professional exchanges with the Vietnam People’s Navy.
Col. Pham Tien Dung, Deputy Chief of Staff of Naval Region 2 Command, and UK Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Alexandra Smith were among those attending the welcoming ceremony.
Helen Taylor, HMS Spey’s commanding officer, said the visit aims to strengthen UK-Vietnam ties and marks the first anniversary of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Taylor said HMS Spey is one of five Batch 2 River-class offshore patrol vessels in the Royal Navy. It has been permanently deployed in the Indo-Pacific since 2021, boosting the Navy’s regional presence and building strategic partnerships with regional allies, including Vietnam.
During the October 22-28 stay, the ship’s command team and crew will pay courtesy calls to leaders of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, Military Region 7 Command and Naval Region 2 Command. They will also join cultural and sporting exchanges with naval personnel and visit local historical and cultural sites./.
