Analysis: Vietnam organizes first naval parade at sea as part of national defense buildup.

On September 2, 2025, Vietnam organized its first naval parade at sea, held in the waters of Cam Ranh, Khanh Hoa province, to mark the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day. The event took place simultaneously with the parade and march in Hanoi and was broadcast live on large screens at Ba Dinh Square. A total of 23 ships and 4 aircraft participated in the review, supported by numerous surveillance and security units, and the participants came from the Vietnam People’s Navy, the Vietnam Coast Guard, the Border Guard, and the standing maritime militia. Official coverage described the event as the first parade of armed forces at sea in Vietnamese history, organized under the Navy’s direction as part of Mission A80.
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The lineup included Kilo 636 submarines, Gepard 3.9 guided-missile frigates, 159-class anti-submarine frigates, 1241.8 and 1241RE missile boats, TT-400TP artillery ships, Coast Guard DN-2000 patrol vessels, Border Guard SPA 4207 patrol boats, Fisheries Surveillance KN-290 and KN-390 ships, multipurpose rescue and auxiliary ships, DHC-6 seaplanes, and Ka-28 anti-submarine helicopters. (Picture source: Vietnam Navy)

The command ship was HQ-015 Tran Hung Dao, a Gepard 3.9 class guided-missile frigate, which served as the flagship of the formation under the direction of Rear Admiral Nguyen Van Bach, Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the Navy. He was joined by Major General Tran Ngoc Huu, Deputy Commander of the Border Guard, as well as leaders of the Vietnam Coast Guard Command and representatives from other participating services. The national flag salute was conducted at sea in parallel with the ceremony at Ba Dinh Square, with all formations maneuvering into the A, V, and diamond patterns before the review. Media outlets ranging from VietnamPlus to Quân Khu 7 Online and InnoViet, as well as social media and service-affiliated pages, covered the event extensively.

Naval Region 2 provided a core combat group for the parade, composed of three identified vessels: HQ-382 of Brigade 167, and HQ-09 and HQ-17 of Brigade 171. These ships were integrated into a wider order of battle that included naval aviation, coast guard patrol vessels, fisheries surveillance craft, border guard units, standing militia vessels, and auxiliary rescue ships. The formations were structured to illustrate combined-arms capability and to highlight the growth of Vietnam’s maritime forces from early motorized canoes to modern submarines, frigates, and patrol ships. Broadcast material emphasized the continuity of heritage and modernization, stressing the shift to long-duration operations in varied weather, using missile, torpedo, and high-technology weapon systems intended to counter multiple types of targets.

Naval Air Brigade 954 contributed the DHC-6 seaplane, described in coverage as the “eye in the sky” of the Naval Air Force. The aircraft is able to take off and land on water and can perform roles in maritime surveillance, reconnaissance, medical evacuation, and search-and-rescue missions. The DHC-6 was seen flying in section with Ka-28 anti-submarine helicopters during the review, underscoring its utility as a cueing and reconnaissance platform in conjunction with surface and sub-surface assets. Parade descriptions referred to the type’s role in patrolling sea lanes and extending maritime domain awareness in support of naval operations.

The Ka-28 anti-submarine helicopter, also from Brigade 954, took part as the rotary-wing component of the review. It is fitted with twin gas-turbine engines, navigation systems, autopilot, and anti-submarine warfare equipment, allowing it to search for and track submarines in various weather and lighting conditions. The helicopters were flown in close coordination with the submarine and ASW frigate echelons, illustrating the Navy’s layered defensive posture against undersea threats. The helicopters’ inclusion in the parade marked a further integration of aviation with surface and submarine assets in a national observance.

The Kilo 636-class submarine squadron was among the most prominent features of the parade, while the Naval Region 2 fielded a core combat element of three ships identified by pennant and brigade: HQ-382 from missile Brigade 167, and HQ-09 and HQ-17 from frigate Brigade 171. (Picture source: Vietnam Navy)

The Kilo 636 submarine squadron was one of the central highlights of the sea review. These diesel-electric submarines, operated by Brigade 189 at Cam Ranh, are equipped with heavyweight torpedoes and cruise missiles capable of striking land and sea targets. In the parade, they were shown maneuvering with surface frigates and anti-submarine helicopters. The Kilo class is widely noted for its quiet operating profile and ability to evade air and surface defenses, and its display in this event emphasized the undersea component of Vietnam’s defense.

Among surface combatants, the Gepard 3.9 class guided-missile frigates HQ-011 Dinh Tien Hoang and HQ-012 Ly Thai To sailed in formation. These ships, both part of Brigade 162, carry Kh-35 anti-ship missiles, a 76 mm gun, AK-630 close-in systems, and helicopter facilities, and are intended for both independent operations and coordination with smaller craft. Their presence in the parade represented the surface strike element of the Navy, with endurance sufficient to operate in extended missions beyond coastal waters. HQ-015 Tran Hung Dao, also a Gepard 3.9, acted as the command vessel for the entire parade, linking its ASW-leaning configuration to the broader coordination of the review.

The Project 159 Petya-II anti-submarine frigates HQ-09 and HQ-17 were included as the ASW screen. These vessels, from Brigade 171, carry AK-726 dual-purpose guns, torpedo launchers, and RBU-6000 rocket depth-charge systems, providing layered anti-submarine defense. Vietnamese sources note that the Petya-class hulls have undergone upgrades to remain effective in their ASW role. Their placement behind missile craft in the review illustrated a defensive posture protecting the formation from submarine threats while operating in littoral waters.

The fast-attack missile boat HQ-382 of Brigade 167, a Molniya 1241.8 type, was singled out as part of Naval Region 2’s contribution. These boats mount sixteen Kh-35E anti-ship missiles, a 76 mm main gun, and AK-630M systems, with speed exceeding 40 knots and endurance for approximately ten days at sea. Their role in the review was to represent the high-speed strike capability of the fleet. Other Molniya-class boats from the 375–383 series were also filmed in formation, reflecting their position as the Navy’s mainstay coastal strike assets.

Gepard 3.9 guided-missile frigates formed a visible surface backbone in the parade, with two ships assigned to Brigade 162 in Naval Region 4, the HQ-011 Dinh Tien Hoang and the HQ-012 Ly Thai To. (Picture source: Vietnam Navy)

The Tarantul-I 1241.RE missile boats HQ-371 and HQ-374, introduced in the 1990s, also appeared in the formation. These vessels carry legacy anti-ship missiles along with a 76 mm gun and close-in defense systems, with maximum speeds in excess of 40 knots. They remain in service alongside the newer Molniya boats, and their inclusion in the review demonstrated the continuation of older missile boat classes in current naval service. Their participation in this event provided an image of the layered missile boat fleet still maintained by Vietnam.

The BPS-500 guided-missile corvette HQ-381 was also cited among the represented units. This unique class was built through a joint Russian-Vietnamese program and delivered in 2001. It features larger displacement than the Tarantul and Molniya types, offering better sea-keeping for patrol while still being armed for missile strikes. The ship’s inclusion underlined the Navy’s varied missile-craft inventory, combining different sizes and endurance levels within the same force structure.

TT-400TP gunboats participated as well, representing a domestically built class of combatants. With a displacement between 400 and 475 tons, a 76 mm main gun, CIWS, and a short-range air defense system, the class has an endurance of up to 30 days and a range of 2,200 nautical miles. Their presence highlighted the contribution of national shipbuilding to the fleet and the ability to operate both independently and in support of larger formations.

The Vietnam Coast Guard deployed DN-2000 offshore patrol vessels, including CSB-8002 and CSB-8004. Built locally from the Damen OPV 9014 design, these ships are 90.5 meters long, with a range of 5,000 nautical miles, endurance up to 40 days, a flight deck for a 14-ton helicopter, and towing capacity for large vessels. They perform roles in sovereignty patrols, law enforcement, and search and rescue, and their role in the parade demonstrated integration of constabulary forces with the Navy.

The sea review assembled formations in the shapes of the letters A and V and a diamond, with the command ship 015 Tran Hung Dao at the center under Rear Admiral Nguyen Van Bach, Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the Navy. (Picture source: Vietnam Navy)

The Directorate of Fisheries deployed KN-290 and KN-390, multipurpose patrol ships based on the DN-2000 design. Each measures 90.5 by 14 meters with a full-load displacement around 2,400 tons, maximum speed of 21 knots, and endurance sufficient for extended anti-IUU missions. These ships provide maritime law enforcement support, enforce fishing regulations, and back fishing fleets, and their inclusion in the parade highlighted the civilian law enforcement element within the combined maritime security structure.

Border Guard units fielded SPA 4207 patrol boats, built domestically from the Damen Stan Patrol 4207 design. These vessels feature high speed, good sea-keeping, and a stern slipway for RHIB launch and recovery, allowing flexible interdiction and rescue missions. Deliveries since 2018 have built up a fleet that supports coastal patrols, sovereignty protection, and short-notice interventions. Their role in the parade was to show the coastal layer of Vietnam’s maritime defense network.

Auxiliary and rescue elements included HQ-927 Yet Kieu, a submarine search and rescue ship built at Z189 Shipyard and commissioned in 2021. This 93-meter vessel of the MSSARS 9316 design displaces nearly 3,950 tons and is equipped with an LR11 deep-submergence rescue vehicle capable of operations to 600 meters and a remotely operated vehicle for underwater survey and rescue. With an endurance of 30 days, it operates from Cam Ranh to support the Kilo submarine brigade and broader fleet safety. In the parade, it was seen operating with Border Guard and militia units to highlight emergency response roles.

The standing maritime militia was also represented, bringing auxiliary vessels that perform reconnaissance, patrol, logistics, and support roles. Their appearance emphasized the link between civilian and military structures in maritime defense. Combined with the Border Guard and Coast Guard elements, the militia formed part of the parade’s representation of a whole-of-society maritime defense approach. They were grouped in formation with auxiliary and rescue ships, contributing to the visual picture of integrated national maritime forces.

Finally, the Region 2 combat group consisting of HQ-382, HQ-09, and HQ-17 was highlighted in Vietnamese reporting as a symbolic contribution. Their configuration, pairing a missile striker with two ASW escorts, mirrors standard Navy practice and was reproduced during the national review. Their identification by pennant and brigade provided a tangible connection between operational units and the ceremonial formations of the parade. This highlighted the way in which everyday fleet structures were presented to the public in the form of a coordinated review.

In the parade, HQ-371, HQ-375, and HQ-382 represented Vietnam’s missile boat force, with 371 as a Tarantul-I corvette and 375 and 382 as Molniya-class fast-attack missile corvettes, all displaying their Kh-35 anti-ship missile armament in formation. (Picture source: Vietnam Navy)

Finally, the HQ-927 Yết Kiêu showcased Vietnam’s submarine rescue capability, while CSB-8002 and CSB-8004 highlighted the Coast Guard’s DN-2000 offshore patrol vessels, and KN-290 together with KN-390 represented the Fisheries Surveillance fleet’s long-range patrol ships. (Picture source: Vietnam Navy)