Singaporean youth delegation joins the Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Program (Photo: thanhnien.vn)

Vietnam, which has welcomed the ship program 17 times, is the first leg of the 50-day tour. After the welcoming ceremony, youth delegates joined an exchange program with students of 9 universities, attended a banquet hosted by the municipal authority, and experienced homestay services. The ship, which departed from Yokohama on November 3, will leave Vietnam Wednesday. Tran Hoang Khanh Van, Vice Chairwoman of Ho Chi Minh city’s Union of Friendship Organizations and head of the Vietnamese delegation, said: “This year’s program will bring young people meaningful exchange activities. First of all, we show that Vietnamese youth always try to improve themselves, preserve national identities, and love their homeland.”

The Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Program is an annual youth exchange program sponsored by the Japanese Government and supported by the member countries of ASEAN since 1974. Vietnam began joining the voyage in 1996 and its 700 young people have participated so far. The journey aims to promote friendship among the youths of the participating countries, broaden their perspectives of the world, and strengthen their spirit and skills for international cooperation.