Taking place from October 26 to December 12, 2010, the programme aims to strengthen friendship and mutual understanding between young people from Japan and the Southeast Asian countries.

The ship departed from Japan on November 4 and visited Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam before finishing its journey in Japan.

During their stay in Ho Chi Minh City from December 5-8, delegates joined cultural exchanges with local youths, went sightseeing and visited several press agencies and universities in the city.

They said that they were particularly impressed at the homestay programme and learned much about the local cultures, manners and customs.

The SSEAYP was established in 1974 under the cooperation agreement between the Japanese government and ASEAN member governments.

Vietnam joined the programme in 1996 and this was the 11th time the ship has come to Vietnam, docking in Saigon port 10 times and Danang once.