Vietnam's frigate to attend International Fleet Review 2016 for first time

The Vietnamese HQ-011 frigate named Dinh Tien Hoang under the Brigade 162, Naval Region 4 on January 20 left Vietnam for India to participate in the International Fleet Review 2016 and to visit Singapore. 

the Dinh Tien Hoang frigate
the Dinh Tien Hoang frigate

This is the first time a Vietnamese frigate - one of the most modern warships of the Vietnam People’s Navy - has passed thousands of nautical miles from the East Sea in Pacific through the Strait of Malacca to the Indian Ocean to join a fleet review.

The frigate will attend several events including the Maritime Exhibition and International Fleet Review Village, the Fleet Review, the International Maritime Conference, the International City Parade, and exchanges with the naval forces of other countries, among others, according to Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Thanh Ha.

Colonel Le Xuan Thuy, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Navy and Head of the mission said the Dinh Tien Hoang frigate has become the first Vietnamese battleship to go through two oceans - the Pacific and Indian Ocean - and is expected to increase the presence and activities of modern Vietnamese battleships in offshore waters as well as raising the Vietnam's position in the world arena.

The trip will also help strengthen the friendship and co-operation between Vietnam and Singapore and India, and will be a chance for the Vietnam People’s Navy to exchange and learn from the nearly 50 countries participating in the fleet review.

At a distance of nearly 5,000 nautical miles, the voyage also helps the Dinh Tien Hoang frigate to learn long-time nautical experience and exercise their readiness to fight in any situation.

Dinh Tien Hoang battleship is a Gepard 3.9-class frigate built by Russia and was handed over to Vietnam in 2011. Dinh Tien Hoang and Ly Thai To frigates are currently two of the most modern battleships of the Vietnam People’s Navy.

The International Fleet Review 2016 is being hosted by Indian Navy from February 4-8 in Visakhapatnam.