THE HMAS DARWIN berthed this morning in Saigon

Just two days after the Vietnam Swans 2009 AFL Grand Final Parties up and down the country, we’re up to our eyeballs in footy again!

This time it’s a new mission.

While other teams typically fly into Vietnam to play us, not so our next visitors. They take their footy so seriously that they’ve actually arrived in an Australian warship!

HMAS DARWIN berthed this morning in Saigon. We will play against her crew in a match at RMIT University in District 7 from 5pm tomorrow. All are welcome.

On Wednesday, five of the Vietnam Swans hierarchy have scored invitations from the HMAS DARWIN’s Commanding Officer, Cmdr. C.E.Smith CSM RAN to attend a cocktail reception aboard the ship.

The HMAS DARWIN is on a goodwill visit to HCMC

A local newspaper, VietNamNet Bridge – citing a statement from the Australian Consulate in HCMC, says that the ship will be here until Friday 2 October.

“The tour is expected to strengthen the goodwill and nation to nation ties between Australia and Vietnam through personal relationships established during the port visits,” according to the statement.

“The ship will arrive in the city with a total of 206 officers and crew aboard. The crew will meet with senior officers and sailors from the Vietnamese People’s Navy. The crew will also participate in a friendly sporting activity and play Australian football against the Vietnam Swans at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Ho Chi Minh City Campus.”

Honk yer horn if you love the footy.