The Italian Multi-Purpose Combat Ship (MPCS) Giovanni delle Bande Nere will make a port call in Ho Chi Minh City (16-20 September 2026)

The ship will be in Vietnam from the 16th to the 20th of September

Ho Chi Minh City, September 14^th 2026 – As part of her operational projection campaign in the Indo-Pacific quadrant, the Italian Navy’s Multi-Purpose Combat Ship (MPCS) Giovanni delle Bande Nere will reach Vietnam, where she will make a port call in the port of Nha Rong, Ho Chi Minh City, from September the 16^th to the 20^th.

A representative of the Vietnam People’s Navy will welcome the ship on her arrival in port.

ITS Giovanni delle Bande Nere, which set sail on the 3^rd of May from Taranto Naval Base, will call ten ports, consolidating Italy’s presence in the region as part of wider international cooperation with the aim of showcasing the “Italian System” (Sistema Italia) in technological, industrial and cultural terms, and promoting Italian excellence during the major events organized throughout the deployment.

In accordance with the strategic objectives of the projection campaign and as part of the ongoing consolidation of international cooperation, established in the past by the Italian Navy units in the region, the visit of ITS Giovanni delle Bande Nere in Vietnam reaffirms the Italian Ministry of Defence’s commitment to demonstrating the nation’s capability to operate in global maritime contexts and to strength the cooperation with partner navies, thereby promoting the protection of maritime communication lines and freedom of navigation.

During the port call, Commander Lorenzo Malandrucco, accompanied by the Ambassador of Italy to Vietnam, Marco della Seta, and the Consul General of Italy in Ho Chi Minh City, Alessandra Tognonato, will pay courtesy calls on the Command of Naval Region 2 and the Command of Military Region 7 of Vietnam, as well as on the leadership of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee. The programme will also include, on board the ship, an event showcasing the Italian defence industry and a roundtable dedicated to bilateral cooperation in the fields of maritime security and the blue economy.

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Press contacts:

• • Italian Navy: stampa@marina.difesa.it
  • Consulate General of Italy in Ho Chi Minh City: hochiminh.commerciale@esteri.it