HMCS Regina visits Cam Ranh, Vietnam

HMCS Regina’s Commanding Officer Commander Jacob French joins Deborah Paul, the Ambassador of Canada to Vietnam, with members of the crew for a visit to the Hope Orphanage, Nhan Ai shelter in Khanh Hoa, Vietnam during Operation Projection on June 11. Photo by Corporal Stuart Evans, Borden Imaging Services

Lt(N) Vince Charlebois, HMCS Regina, UPAR ~

On the morning of June 10th, HMCS Regina and NRU Asterix came alongside Cam Ranh International Port located in Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam. Regina is the first Canadian warship to make a port visit there and the ship’s officers and crew were welcomed warmly by local military and government officials. As the current ship deployed on Op Projection – Asia Pacific, these port visits aid in building relationships with partners in the Asia-Pacific region.

The command team made calls to military and government officials and the ship’s company participated in community outreach activities in the local area. During the port visit, members of the ship’s company went to the University of Khanh Hoa to discuss the role of women in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and to exchange stories and cultural experiences such as music and dancing. These experiences highlighted values shared between Canada and Vietnam.

Regina’s crew members also played volleyball with Vietnamese military personnel and visited the Nhân Ai Shelter for Children and a social welfare center, where the Commanding Officer along with Ambassador Paul presented a $10,000 cheque from Boomer’s Legacy to help replace a damaged road. Later, Regina and the Ambassador, Ms. Deborah Paul hosted a reception on the flight deck for local dignitaries and military officials. Regina’s visit, as part of key engagements on behalf of Canada, aided in highlighting the growing bilateral relations with Vietnam, both in diplomatic and defense objectives.

Regina is deployed to the Asia-Pacific region on Op Projection to conduct forward naval presence operations in the region, as well as to conduct cooperative deployments and participate in international naval exercises with partner nations.