Southeast Asia–Japan youth ship visits HCMC

NDO/VNA—A welcome ceremony was held at Cat Lai Port in Ho Chi Minh City on November 11 for the 43rd Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Programme (SSEAYP), which is on its voyage to five regional countries and Japan.

The ship arrives Cat Lai Port in HCM City. (Credit: thanhnien.vn)
The ship arrives Cat Lai Port in HCM City. (Credit: thanhnien.vn)

During their stay from November 11-14, the delegates will participate in cultural and art exchanges and discussions about the youth’s role in major social issues with local young people.

Homestay experiences will give them an insight into the life and culture of Vietnamese people in general and local residents in particular.

This year’s programme has drawn the participation of 328 delegates from ten ASEAN member nations and Japan, including 29 young people from Vietnam.

Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee Nguyen Long Hai, who is also Vice Chairman of the National Committee on Youth, said Vietnam had always applauded the significance of the programme to fostering friendship and mutual understanding among youths in ASEAN and Japan.

Vietnam is the first stop for the ship, which began its trip in Japan on November 4. The 40-day voyage will also bring the delegates to Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore and Indonesia before returning to Japan.

SSEAYP is a cooperation programme between the governments of the ten ASEAN nations and Japan with a view to fostering the friendship among their youths. It was first organised in 1974, and Vietnam has participated in the programme since 1995.