HMS Spey lit up at Saigon Port with the skyline of Ho Chi Minh City in the background pic MOD — HMS Spey lit up at Saigon Port with the skyline of Ho Chi Minh City in the background (Picture: MOD)

Navy

HMS Spey gets a red carpet welcome as Royal Navy strengthens ties with Vietnam

30th October 2026 at 10:33am

HMS Spey has received a red-carpet welcome in Ho Chi Minh City, where the Royal Navy patrol ship's week-long visit brought British and Vietnamese military leaders, local communities and schoolchildren together.

The visit comes as the UK and Vietnam build on their growing strategic partnership, with maritime security and closer defence cooperation increasingly important to both nations.

Baroness Winterton, the UK's Minister for the Indo-Pacific, visited the fifth of the Navy's second-generation River-class offshore patrol vessels to see how her deployment under Operation Highwall supports Britain's wider ambitions in the region.

A reception aboard the 2,000-tonne vessel brought together the UK's Ambassador to Vietnam, Iain Frew, Vietnamese military and political leaders, and local figures keen to deepen ties between the two countries.

XO Lt Cdr Helen Taylor welcomes guests to HMS Spey pic MOD — Executive Officer Lieutenant Commander Helen Taylor welcomes guests aboard HMS Spey (Picture: MOD)

One of HMS Spey's guard stands smartly to attention on the patrol ships flight deck during a reception pic MOD — One of HMS Spey's guard stands smartly to attention on the patrol ships flight deck during a reception (Picture: MOD)

Youngsters from the Christina Noble Childrens Foundation pose with crew of HMS Spey on the flight deck in Ho Chi Minh City pic MOD — Youngsters from the Christina Noble Childrens Foundation grab a selfie with members of the crew of HMS Spey on the flight deck in Ho Chi Minh City (Picture: MOD)

A Vietnamese youngster gets to grip with Spey's fire fighting kit pic MOD — A Vietnamese youngster gets to grip with HMS Spey's fire fighting kit on her deck (Picture: MOD)

A Ho Chi Minh City schoolgirl is shown how to put out a fire pic MOD — A Ho Chi Minh City schoolgirl is shown how to put out a fire (Picture: MOD)

A visitor from the Christina Noble Children's Foundation takes a fix on HMS Spey's bridge (Picture: MOD)

Beyond the formal handshakes, Spey's crew held discussions and joint training with the Vietnam People's Navy, focusing on navigation, search and rescue and maritime cooperation.

For many of the 50-strong ship's company, however, the most memorable moments came from welcoming local children aboard, giving pupils from the British International School and young people supported by the Christina Noble Children's Foundation a glimpse of life at sea.

The visitors explored the bridge, tried on firefighting equipment and learned about the ship's medical facilities, while HMS Spey's sailors later visited the charity's headquarters and donated to support its work with disadvantaged young people.

For Able Seaman Huxley, who was on her first deployment with the Royal Navy and had never been to sea before the 700-mile journey from Singapore, the warm reception and chance to connect with local children made the visit especially meaningful.

"Working with the children from the local school and the charity was my personal highlight of the visit," she said. "It was a rewarding opportunity to give back and to share what we do with the local children."