Indonesian navy training ship arrives in Ho Chi Minh City for 4-day visit

The vessel, carrying 345 officers, sailors, and cadets under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Sugeng Hariyanto, docked at Saigon–Hiep Phuoc Port on Sunday.

Colonel Le Dinh Nghi, deputy chief of staff of Naval Region 2 Command of the Vietnam People’s Navy, led a Vietnamese delegation at the welcoming ceremony.

A highlight of the ceremony was a marching band display by cadets from the Indonesian Naval Academy upon the ship’s arrival.

The performance is part of a long-standing tradition observed by Indonesian naval cadets during training voyages aboard KRI Bima Suci when visiting partner countries.

During the port call, the ship’s commanders and crew are scheduled to lay wreaths at the Ho Chi Minh Monument, pay courtesy calls to city leaders, visit Military Region 7 Command, and take part in exchange activities with officers and soldiers of Naval Region 2 as well as local residents.

Speaking to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, Indonesian Ambassador to Vietnam Adam Mulawarman Tugio described the visit as a highlight of the ASEAN Plus Cadet Sail (APCS) 2026 program, which brings together naval cadets from 26 countries, including Vietnam.

He said three Vietnamese naval cadets have joined the voyage since KRI Bima Suci departed from Surabaya, Indonesia on March 26.

The ship traveled through Jakarta, Belawan, Sri Lanka, and Singapore before arriving in Ho Chi Minh City.

Tugio said the port call clearly reflects the close relationship between Vietnam and Indonesia.

“Vietnam and Indonesia share many similarities. Both are nations with thousands of islands, and I believe the maritime spirit is one of the key factors connecting our countries,” he said.

“This visit by KRI Bima Suci demonstrates our close cooperative relationship. Beyond politics and economics, defense cooperation is also one of the key areas where both countries are promoting to expand bilateral ties.”

Tugio noted that the APCS 2026 program serves as a form of cultural diplomacy, allowing cadets and officers from participating countries to learn about and share each other’s cultures.

Therefore, he said the voyage to Ho Chi Minh City is not only about the exchange of knowledge but also about building a cultural foundation through connections between Indonesian and Vietnamese generations.

Tugio emphasized that combining naval professional exchanges with cultural promotion would help foster enduring ties among generations of officers, thereby further strengthening the foundation of relations carefully built by their predecessors.

Commissioned in 2017, KRI Bima Suci is currently the largest naval sail training ship in Southeast Asia.

The vessel, measuring 111.2 meters long, 13.65 meters wide, and 51.15 meters high, features three main masts and 26 sails.

It is the Indonesian Navy’s most modern training sailing ship equipped with advanced navigation systems and digital data transmission capabilities.

In addition to training naval officers in celestial navigation and maritime orientation skills, it has participated in several international races, achieving notable results.

The ship previously visited Hai Phong City in northern Vietnam in 2024.