The ceremony took place on March 21 in Sydney, New South Wales, gathering a large number of naval vessels from Australia and international partners.

Missile frigate 016-Quang Trung under Brigade 162 of Naval Region 4, represented the Vietnam People’s Navy at the event. The Vietnamese delegation was led by Colonel Nguyen Minh Lanh, deputy chief of staff of Naval Region 4.

Rear Admiral Nguyen Dinh Hung, deputy commander of the Vietnam People’s Navy, attended the fleet review aboard HMAS Leeuwin alongside Australia’s Governor General Sam Mostyn and representatives from participating navies.

The fleet review marked the largest international naval presence in Sydney in more than 10 years, featuring around 30 Australian vessels and ships from 20 other countries. The event forms a key highlight of the Exercise Kakadu 2026, a biennial multilateral naval exercise hosted by Australia since 1993.

This is the second time Vietnam has participated in Exercise Kakadu. In 2024, a vessel from Brigade 171, Naval Region 2, took part in Kakadu exercises in Darwin, becoming the first Vietnam People’s Navy ship to join the event.

From March 21 to 25, prior to the sea phase of Kakadu 2026, the Vietnamese crew and delegation will engage in pre-sailing briefings, logistics preparations, and a range of exchange activities, including sports and cultural events.

They will also conduct technical and logistical replenishment and host onboard receptions to promote naval diplomacy and international cooperation.

Vietnam and China Navies launch 40th joint patrol in Gulf of Tonkin

VOV.VN - As part of the 10th Vietnam-China Border Defence Friendship Exchange, the navies of the two countries commenced their 40th joint patrol and combined training exercise in the Gulf of Tonkin on March 19.