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 yesterday.
In addition to the HQ-182 Hanoi and HQ-183 Ho Chi Minh City, the country bought four other diesel-powered 636 Varshavyanka (kilo)-class submarines from Russia to modernise its navy and enhance its capacity to defend the country's territorial waters.
Addressing the ceremony, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung stressed that this was a milestone development for the Viet Nam People's Navy and the Viet Nam People's Army at large.
The Government leader reiterated Viet Nam's defence policy of peace and self-defence, adding that its military modernisation aimed to defend the country.
As scheduled, Russia will hand over to Viet Nam another submarine, the HQ-184 Hai Phong, within the year.
