Media Release

Two Royal Australian Navy Ships HMAS PERTH and HMAS ARUNTA will make an historic visit to Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City over the period 24-28 April 1999.

The Vietnamese government have , for the first time permitted an Australian Navy ship visit to the country.

Nearly 500 Australian sailors will be officially hosted by the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee.

The inaugural Royal Australian Navy visit to Vietnam is a symbol of the developing relationship between the two nations and the beginning of future contact between each country's armed forces.

"The visit is a positive development in the bilateral relationship between Australia and Vietnam" said Rear Admiral Chris Ritchie, the Australian Maritime Commander.

"Australia is looking to develop defence relations with Vietnam over the coming years along the lines of our defence relations with other South East Asian countries" he said.

"The visit by HMAS PERTH and ARUNTA is the beginning of mature defence relations with Vietnam and paves the way for future interaction and communication between the two nations" he said.

"Furthermore, the inaugural visit to Vietnam is tangible evidence of Australia's commitment to regional security," Rear Admiral Ritchie said.

Commissioned 34 years ago, HMAS PERTH is the Royal Australian navy's oldest warship, while HMAS ARUNTA, the second Australian built 'Anzac' Class Frigate, is the Royal Australian Navy's newest warship at less than one year old.

HMAS ARUNTA on their inaugural overseas deployment, Ho Chi Minh City will be their first overseas port. In contrast, HMAS PERTH's crew is conducting their last ever overseas deployment before the ship is decommissioned on return to Australia.

Vision and photographs of the visit will be available from Reuters Vietnam office (Ph. 0011 84 4 825 9623 mobile 0011 84 9043 5986).

Issued by the Defence Public Affairs Organisation, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT, 2600

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