HANOI, March 29 (Xinhuanet) -- A US Navy ship named USS Gary arrived at Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday, starting its five-day goodwill visit, and becoming the third US warship to visit the country since the Vietnam War ended in 1975.

    Lieut. Col. Robert Marin, commanding officer of the frigate, and other officers paid courtesy visits to the municipal People's Committee, Vietnam's Zone 7 Military Command and the country's Navy Command, Vietnam News Agency reported on Tuesday.

    The ship's crew members will play sports with students of the Vietnam People's Navy Technical School, visit historical places and engage in some social activities during their stay in the city.

    The USS Gary is an Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate with 15 officers and nearly 200 sailors. It is equipped with one naval gun,one launcher for anti-ship and anti-air missiles, two launchers for torpedoes, four machines guns, one anti-missile system, and two helicopters.

    In November 2003, a US frigate named USS Vandegrift with complement of 201 people docked at the city-based Saigon Port, becoming the first US navy ship to visit Vietnam since the end of the Vietnam War.

    Between late July and early August 2004, a US warship named USSCurtis paid a visit to Vietnam's central Da Nang city.

    In May 2004, Commander of the US Army-Pacific (USARPAC) Lieut. Gen. James L. Campbell visited Vietnam's capital Hanoi to meet with officials of the ministries of defense and foreign affairs, and to build on the military-to-military relationship between the United States and Vietnam. Enditem