Australian Navy warship HMAS DARWIN will pay a diplomatic visit to Vietnam to strengthen the goodwill and relations between the two countries, according to the Australian Embassy in Hanoi.

In a media release on Sept. 22, the embassy said the ship will arrive in Ho Chi Minh City on Sept. 28 with a total of 206 officers and crew aboard.

During the five-day visit, the crew is scheduled to meet with senior officers and sailors from the Vietnam People’s Army’s Navy and take part in friendly sporting activities.

They will conduct charity work as well as visit some sites of scenic beauty in the country.

Colonel Stuart Dodds, Australian Defence Attache in Vietnam said since the establishment of Defence Relations in 1999, 15 Royal Australian Navy ships have paid goodwill visits to Vietnam and these visits have been one of the highlights in the defence relations between the two countries.

“I am his confident that this year, HMAS DARWIN will have another successful visit,” he said./.