A ceremony to raise the national flag on the country’s first two submarines was held at Cam Ranh port in central coastal Khanh Hoa province on April 3.

The HQ-182 Hanoi and HQ-183 Ho Chi Minh City are two of the six diesel-powered 636 Varshavyanka (kilo)-class submarines that Vietnam bought from Russia to modernise its navy and enhance its capacity to defend the country’s territorial waters.

Addressing the ceremony, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung stressed that this is a milestone marking a new development of the Vietnam People’s Navy and the Vietnam People’s Army at large.

The Government leader reiterated Vietnam’s defence policy of peace and self-defence, adding that its military modernisation aims to defend and protect the country.

As scheduled, Russia will hand over to Vietnam another submarine, the HQ-184 Hai Phong, within the year.-VNA