Vietnam Launches First Domestically Built Amphibious Warfare Ship VDC-01

Hanoi, August 2025 – Vietnam has taken a historic step in its naval modernization with the launch of its first domestically produced amphibious warfare vessel, designated VDC-01. The new ship, rolled out at the Ba Son Shipyard in Ho Chi Minh City, marks a major milestone in the country’s long-term goal of achieving greater self-reliance in defense production.

From Repair to Full-Scale Construction

For decades, Vietnam’s shipyards were limited to repair and maintenance work on older Soviet-era vessels. The launch of VDC-01 represents a leap forward, demonstrating that Vietnam’s defense industry has advanced to the stage of independently constructing combat-ready warships.

The design of VDC-01 is based on the Soviet Project 770 Polnocny-class landing ship, a proven model known for reliability and effectiveness. By choosing a tried-and-tested design, Vietnam avoided the risks and delays that often come with brand-new prototypes, ensuring the vessel can join the fleet more quickly.

A Shift in Defense Strategy

Vietnam has gradually moved from heavy reliance on foreign suppliers to developing its own defense industry. In earlier modernization phases, Hanoi purchased ships and equipment from Russia, Ukraine, the Netherlands, and the United States. Today, the focus has shifted to domestic shipyards, reducing dependence on imports and ensuring a more secure supply chain.

The VDC-01 is not just a ship—it is a symbol of Vietnam’s ambition to localize military production, gain valuable shipbuilding experience, and expand into more sophisticated naval platforms in the future.

Ceremony and Future Plans

At the launch ceremony in early August, senior naval leaders and defense officials hailed the VDC-01 as a milestone achievement. Ba Son shipyard engineers highlighted how the project required major investments in technology, workforce training, and production systems to meet military standards.

The ship is currently about 80% complete. Final work will include outfitting advanced systems, crew training, and acceptance trials before it is officially commissioned into the Vietnam People’s Navy.

Capabilities and Role

Although not a cutting-edge design compared to modern Western amphibious assault ships, the VDC-01 provides essential transport capacity for troops, vehicles, and equipment. Such ships are crucial for Vietnam’s naval operations, particularly in the South China Sea, where logistics, island support, and amphibious capability play a central role in strategy.

Analysts describe Vietnam’s approach as pragmatic. By adopting older but reliable technology, the navy gains immediate operational capacity while shipyards steadily build the expertise required to produce more advanced warships in the future.

The launch of VDC-01 signals Vietnam’s determination to develop an indigenous defense industry while continuing to maintain ties with foreign partners. This dual-track approach strengthens both military readiness and industrial growth, ensuring that the country can meet future challenges with greater autonomy.