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

The flag-raising ceremony (Source: VOV)

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 Viet Nam’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 Viet Nam another submarine, the HQ-184 Hai Phong, within the year.

(Source: VNA)