Royal Canadian navy ship visits Ho Chi Minh City

Lieutenant Colonel Phan Anh Tuan, Deputy Commander of Brigade 125, Naval Region 2, welcomes Lieutenant Commander Travis Bain. (Photo: hcmcpv.org.vn)

HMCS Montréal is a Halifax-class helicopter destroyer capable of air defence, anti-submarine and surface warfare, patrol, interception and reconnaissance. The ship has a displacement of 4,830 tons, a length of 134.65m, a maximum speed of 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) nautical miles per hour, and a range of 7,000 nautical miles.

During their time in Ho Chi Minh City, the ship’s officers and crew members will pay courtesy visits to the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, the Command of the Naval Region 2 of Vietnam, and engage in exchanges, sports matches with the Vietnam People’s Navy, and visit some of Ho Chi Minh City’s landmarks and scenic spots. They will also participate in professional discussions and joint training with relevant Vietnamese forces, interact with officers and soldiers of the Naval Region 2, and students of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, and visit a charity facility in Binh Duong province.

The visit of HMCS Montreal to Ho Chi Minh City reflects goodwill and contributes to maintaining the friendly, comprehensive partnership between the two countries, particularly in defense cooperation. It sustains the growing and positive interaction between the naval forces of both nations. This visit is part of the Royal Canadian Navy's activities to exchange with navies in the Asia-Pacific region, helping to enhance the effectiveness of joint operations with partner nations.

Vietnam and Canada became Comprehensive Partners in 2023 and currently maintain deep, close diplomatic relations. Vietnam is now Canada's largest trading partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and Canada is Vietnam's third-largest trading partner in the Americas./.