India – Viet Nam relations

India and Viet Nam share traditionally close and warm bilateral relations that are denominated as comprehensive strategic partnership. Mahatma Gandhi and President Ho Chi Minh, who led people in their struggle for independence in their respective countries, had exchanged messages with each other. India was the Co-Chairman of the International Commission for Supervision and Control formed pursuant to the Geneva Accord of 1954. India initially maintained Consulate-level relations with the then North Viet Nam (Democratic Republic of Viet Nam) and South Viet Nam, and later established full diplomatic relations with Viet Nam on 7 January 1972. These multi-faceted relations have been developing steadily over time. 

1. India-Viet Nam relations were elevated in 2016 to ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’ during the visit of the Prime Minister of India Mr. Narendra Modi to Vietnam; earlier, the relations were designated as ‘Strategic Partnership’. The development of India-Viet Nam relations are guided by a “Joint Vision for Peace, Prosperity and People” adopted by Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi and the then Prime Minister Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc during the Virtual Summit held on 21 December 2020. Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi and General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Mr. Nguyen Phu Trong had telephonic conversation on 15 April 2022. In 2022, the two countries celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and both countries are working together actively to further strengthen their multi-dimensional cooperation. The State visit of Prime Minister of Vietnam Mr. Pham Minh Chinh to India from 30 July-1 August 2024, and meeting between Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi and General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Mr. To Lam in September 2024 have provided new impetus to the bilateral relations.
   

1. Political Exchanges

1. Prime Minister Mr. Pham Minh Chinh, at the invitation of Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi, paid a State visit to India from 30 July-1 August 2024. During the visit, Prime Minister Chinh held delegation level talks with Prime Minister Modi and called on President Ms. Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Mr. Jagdeep Dhankhar while EAM called on him. Prime Minister Chinh was accorded ceremonial reception by Prime Minister Modi at President House followed by a Guard of Honour. Prime Minister Chinh attended and addressed Vietnam-India Business Forum together; and also delivered speech at Indian Council of World Affairs on “Enhancing Viet Nam - India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace, Cooperation and Development in the Indo-Pacific Region and the World”. A joint statement on strengthening the India-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership was issued and the two Foreign Ministers signed a Plan of Action for the Implementation of India-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for the period 2024-2028. Ten other bilateral documents were signed during the visit in diverse areas of bilateral cooperation. Vietnam announced its decision to join the Coalition of Disaster Resilience Infrastructure (CDRI).  
   
   
2. The Prime Minister and Vietnam’s State President and Party General Secretary Dr. To Lam held a bilateral meeting in New York on 23 September 2024. The two Prime Ministers, on the sidelines of ASEAN/East Asia summit meetings, interacted informally, in Vientiane in October 2024 and on the margins of G20 Summit in Brazil in November 2024. The two Prime Ministers held bilateral meetings on 20 May 2023 in Hiroshima (Japan) on the margins of G7 Plus Summit; and interacted on 1 December 2023 in Dubai on the sidelines of the
   Conference of Parties-28 of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. On 12 November 2022, Vice President of India Mr. Jagdeep Dhankar met the Prime Minister of Viet Nam Mr. Pham Minh Chinh on the sidelines of India-ASEAN Summit in Phnom Penh.
   
   
3. National Security Adviser (NSA), Mr. Ajit Doval visited Vietnam from 24-25 July 2024 for state funeral of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. NSA met President Dr. To Lam and Prime Minister Mr. Pham Minh Chinh in Hanoi.  A Vietnamese delegation, led by Politburo Member, President of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics (HCMNAP) and Chairman of Party’s Central Theory Council Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thang visited India from 11-13 November. He called on the Vice President and interacted with Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) and Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) separately. IIPA and HCMNAP signed an MoU for academic cooperation. 
   
   
4. External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishakar (EAM) and Vietnam’s Foreign Minister Mr. Bui Thanh Son co-chaired the 18th India-Viet Nam Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) on Economic, Trade, Scientific and Technological Cooperation in Hanoi on 16 October 2023. The two Ministers released a joint postage stamp on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Viet Nam themed on Kalaripayattu and Vovinam.  EAM also called on Prime Minister Mr. Pham Minh Chinh, and held talks with the Chairman of Communist Party of Vietnam’s External Relation Commission Mr. Le Hoai Trung. 
   
   
5. Other recent notable high-level exchanges were the visits of the Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang to India (June 2023), Minister of Justice Mr. Nguyen Thanh Long to India (July 2023), Minister of Public Security of Viet Nam General To Lam to India (April 2023). In 2022, the Speaker of Lok Sabha (Lower House of the Indian Parliament) Mr. Om Birla, Raksha Mantri (Defence Minister) Mr. Rajnath Singh and Secretary (East) Mr. Saurabh Kumar visited Viet Nam and from Viet Nam side, Foreign Minister Mr. Bui Thanh Son and Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City and Politburo Member Mr. Nguyen Van Nen visited India. Foreign Minister of Viet Nam Mr. Bui Thanh Son attended the Special ASEAN-India Foreign Minister’s Meeting held in New Delhi on 16-17 June 2022 to mark the 30th Anniversary of ASEAN-India Dialogue Relations.  Secretary (East) and Vietnam’s Deputy Foreign Minister Do Hung Viet held a bilateral discussion covering bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest on the margins of ASEAN Plus Senio Officials Meeting in Vientiane in July 2024.
   
   
6. Prime Minister Mr. Pham Minh Chinh virtually attended and addressed the inaugural leaders’ session of the 3rd “Voice of the Global South Summit” hosted by Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi on 17 August 2024 while Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Industry & Trade Madam Phan Thi Thang addressed the Commerce Ministers’ Session.  Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Tran Luu Quang participated in the 10th Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit held from 10-12 January 2024 in Gandhinagar where he addressed the inaugural session, attended lunch hosted by Prime Minister Modi, met with Commerce and Industry Minister, and prominent Indian businesses. On 12 January 2023, Vietnam’s then President Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc attended virtually the Inaugural Leaders Session of the “Voice of Global South Summit” hosted by Prime Minister Modi and Vietnam’s Foreign Minister Mr. Bui Thanh Son addressed the Second Voice of Global South Summit in November 2023. Vietnam's Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Mr. Le Minh Hoan participated as a special invitee at the G20 Agricultural Minister’s Meeting held in Hyderabad from 15-17 June 2023. 
   
   
7. EAM delivered remarks (through video message) at ASEAN Future Forum (AFF) 2024 session titled “Ensuring comprehensive security for a people-centered ASEAN Community” in Hanoi on 23 April 2024.  Deputy Foreign Minister of Vietnam Mr. Do Hung Viet participated in the 9th Raisina Dialogue held in New Delhi from 21-23 February 2024 and addressed the session titled "Desecuritising Development: Resilience in the Indo-Pacific". Vice Chairwoman–General Secretary of the Vietnamese Fatherland Front Madam Nguyen Thi Thu Ha led a delegation to India from 7-11 November 2024 for interaction with various organization in India. Vietnam Academy of Social sciences launched a new Centre for Advanced study on India. 
   
   
8. Earlier, the Prime Minister of India Mr. Narendra Modi paid an Official Visit to Viet Nam on 2-3 September 2016, the then President of India Mr. Ram Nath Kovind paid a State Visit to Viet Nam from 18-20 November 2018 and the then Vice President of India Mr. M. Venkaiah Naidu visited Viet Nam from 09-12 May 2019 to deliver a keynote address at the 16th United Nations Day of Vesak celebration. Earlier, Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi and the then Prime Minister Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc held a Virtual Summit on 21 December 2020. The General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Mr. Nguyen Phu Trong paid a State Visit to India from 19-22 November 2013, the President of Viet Nam Mr. Tran Dai Quang paid a State Visit to India from 02-04 March 2018, the Prime Minister of Viet Nam Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc visited New Delhi from 24-26 January 2018 to attend ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit-2018 where he was among the Chief Guests for India’s Republic Day Celebrations, Vice President of Viet Nam Mme. Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh paid an official visit to India from 11-13 February 2020. Chairman of National Assembly of Viet Nam Mr. Vuong Dinh Hue paid an official visit to India from 15-19 December 2021. 
   

1. Institutional mechanisms 

1. The Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) on Economic, Trade, Scientific and Technological Cooperation at the Foreign Ministers' level and the Foreign Office Consultations and Strategic Dialogue at Secretary-level provide key frameworks for bilateral review encompassing various areas of mutual interest. The 18th India-Viet Nam Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) on Economic, Trade, Scientific and Technological Cooperation was held on 16 October 2023 in Hanoi.  Earlier, the 17th round of the JCM was held in virtual format on 25 August 2020.  The 12th round of Vice-Minister level Foreign Office Consultations and the 9th Strategic Dialogue were held in Hanoi in May 2022. 
   
   
2. The 3rd round of Security Dialogue co-chaired by the Deputy National Security Adviser and Viet Nam’s Deputy Minister of Public Security was held in Hanoi on 5 December 2024. The 5th meeting of the India-Viet Nam Joint Sub-Commission on Trade at Deputy Minister level was held in New Delhi on 8 August 2023. The 14th Defence Secretary-level Annual Defence Policy Dialogue was held virtually on 1 August 2024 in New Delhi.  Among other key institutional dialogues, the 3rd Policy Planning Dialogue between the two Foreign Ministries was held on 08 June 2023 in Hanoi, the 4th India-Viet Nam Maritime Security Dialogue was held on 16 August 2024 in Hanoi and the 3rd India-Viet Nam Joint Committee meeting on Atomic Energy Cooperation was held in Hanoi on 25-26 May 2023. 
   
   
3. Parliamentary exchanges are an important element of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership under the Cooperation Agreement signed between India’s Lok Sabha and Viet Nam’s National Assembly in December 2016. The Chairman of the National Assembly of Viet Nam Mr. Voung Dinh Hue visited India from 15-19 December 2021 and the return visit of the Speaker of Lok Sabha of India Mr. Om Birla to Viet Nam was from 19-21 April 2022. A 12-member Viet Nam-India Parliamentary Friendship Group (VIPFG), led by its Chairman Mr. Duong Thanh Binh visited India from 18-23 December 2023. During the visit, the delegation called on Hon’ble Speaker of the Lok Sabha Shri Om Birla; and also held talks with Departmental Related Standing Committees on External Affairs and on Personnel, Public Grievance, Law and Justice. 
   

III. Trade, Economic and Development Cooperation 

1. India and Viet Nam have active trade and economic relations. Apart from Joint Trade Sub-Commission, the Joint Working Group on agriculture, on health, on information technology, etc. engage on trade and economic relations in respective sectors. In the year April 2023-March 2024, India-Viet Nam trade stood at USD 14.82 billion where India’s export to Viet Nam amounted to USD 5.47 billion and Vietnam’s exports to India were valued at USD 9.35 billion. As per Vietnam’s data, the bilateral trade for the year 2024 stood at USD 14.89 billion, out of which India’s exports to Viet Nam were valued at USD 5.83 billion and India’s imports were USD 9.06 billion.  
   
   
2. Main Indian exports to Vietnam include engineering goods (automobile parts, iron & steel, machinery & equipment,) agricultural items (maize, animal feed ingredients, bovine meat, cotton), marine products, organic and inorganic chemicals, pharmaceuticals, minerals etc. India’s imports from Vietnam mainly comprised of electrical and electronic equipment, machinery and mechanical appliances, inorganic chemicals, articles of plastic, copper and rubber, coffee and tea, spices, iron and steel articles, footwear, garments, etc. ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement concluded in 2009 provides preferential trade regime between India and Viet Nam, and the Agreement is currently under review. 
   
   
3. Regular exchange of business delegations, participation in trade fairs and exhibitions and business meets also support trade and business ties between the two countries. The Indian Trade Promotion Organization coordinated business participation from India as “Guest of Honour’ country in the 33rd Vietnam International Trade Fair in Hanoi in April 2024. Apart from numerous business delegations’ exchanges with Viet Nam in 2024, two other major recent trade fairs involving India were Engineering Export Promotion Council of India led delegation at VINAMAC in Ho Chi Minh City in November 2024; and Ayush Export Promotion Council led a delegation at Vietramed Expo in November 2024 in Ho Chi Minh City. Numerous business delegations coordinated by the Federation of Indian Export Organizations, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Indian Electrical and Electronics manufacturers Association, Gems & Jewellery Export Promotion Council, PHD Chambers, etc. also visited Viet Nam in the past. Similarly, Vietnamese business delegations periodically travelled for various business-to-business events and trade fairs in India such as Bharat Global Mobility Expo in January 2025. Indian Business Chambers (INCHAM) in Viet Nam provides a platform for cooperation among Indian businesses through its presence in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
   
   
4. India’s investments in Viet Nam are estimated at around USD 2 billion including investments routed through third countries. According to Vietnam’s Foreign Investment Agency, India has 432 projects with total invested capital of over USD 1.1 billion in Vietnam. Major sectors of Indian investments are energy, mineral processing, agro-processing (coffee, tea, sugar), Information Technology, auto components, pharmaceuticals, hospitality and infrastructure. According to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade of India, as of September 2024, Viet Nam has invested about USD 12.69 million in sectors like consumer goods, electronic, constructions, IT, pharmaceuticals, etc.  Recently, Viet Nam’s M/s VinFast announced setting up of an electric vehicle manufarturing plant at SIPCOT industrial estate in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu.
   

1. Development Partnership/Disaster Relief

1. India has long-standing development cooperation with Viet Nam that has made positive contributions over several decades towards training, capacity building, socioeconomic development and industrial growth. Currently, about 200 Vietnamese nationals attended ITEC and ICCR training and educational courses in India annually. Viet Nam is also a partner country within the ASEAN framework and Mekong Ganga Cooperation mechanism, particularly Quik Impact Projects for local communities.
   
   
2. Under the Mekong Ganga Cooperation framework, India has been undertaking Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) in different provinces of Viet Nam to develop community facilities at grassroot level. Since 2017, about 46 QIPs have been completed in over 35 provinces of Viet Nam and another 10 projects are at an implementation stage in various provinces.
   
   
3. India has supported conservation and restoration of the UNESCO world heritage site of ‘My Son’ in Quang Nam Province of Central Vietnam, which represents historical links between the two countries. The completion of conservation and restoration of A, H and K group of temples by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) was marked on 20 December 2022 at the My Son complex site in Quang Nam province. ASI visited Viet Nam for survey of additional sited in December 2023-January 2024 where restoration and conservation work is proposed to start in February 2025. 
   
   
4. On 15 September, Government of India, under Operation Sadbhav (Goodwill), delivered 35 tons of emergency relief supplies worth USD 1 million to the Government of Vietnam in a gesture of support to affected communities in northern provinces. The humanitarian supplies included water purifiers, blankets, mosquito nets, kitchen set, water storage tanks, buckets with taps and solar lamps. The humanitarian supplies were handed over to M/o Agriculture and Rural Developments of Vietnam.
   

1. Defence Cooperation

1. Defence and security cooperation between India and Viet Nam are important sectors of cooperation and exchanges between the two countries. A Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation signed between the Ministries of Defence in 2009 and the Joint Vision on Defence Cooperation signed by the Defence Ministers in 2015 provide the broad framework. During the visit of India’s Defence Minister Mr. Rajnath Singh to Viet Nam in June 2022, the two sides concluded a new "Joint Vision Statement on India-Viet Nam Defence Partnership towards 2030” and signed a “Memorandum of Understanding on Mutual Logistics Support”. During the visit of the Minister of National Defence of Viet Nam General Phan Van Giang to India on 18-19 June 2023, the two sides announced gifting of an indigenously built missile corvette INS Kirpan to Vietnam. On 16 November 2023, the two Defence Ministers met in Jakarta on the margins of the 10th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus. Indian Chief of Navy Staff Admiral R. Hari Kumar, during his official visit to Viet Nam from 22-25 July 2023 handed over an indigenously-built in-service Missile Corvette INS KIRPAN to Viet Nam Peoples’ Navy in July 2023.
   
   
2. Bilateral military-to-military staff talks, defence exercises, training, ship and aircraft visits and other exchanges are active areas of defence cooperation. The 14th Annual Defence Policy Dialogue co-chaired by the Defence Secretary and Vietnam’s deputy Minister of Defence was held in New Delhi on 1 August 2024. The sixth Navy-to-Navy talks were held in New Delhi from 19-21 November 2024.  The 5th high-level meeting between Indian and Vietnam Coast Guards in New Delhi on 22 February 2024 and the 1st Joint Working Group Meeting on Hydrographic Cooperation in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam from 7-9 May 2024.  The 5th Vietnam-India Bilateral Army Exercise-2024 held in India from 4-23 November 2024 and Vietnam People’s Navy Frigate participate in the 12th Multilateral Naval Exercise MILAN in Vishakhapatnam in February 2024. INS KILTAN made a port call at Cam Ranh from 12-15 May 2024; Coast Guard Ship Samudra Paheredar at Ho Chi Minh City port from 2-5 April 2024; INS Sudarshini - Sail training ship of the Indian Navy docked at HCM City international port on 18 October 2023; INS Airavat at Cam Ranh from 21-25 July 2023; two Indian Navy ships viz, INS Delhi (a guided missile destroyer) and INS Satpura (a multi-purpose stealth destroyer) docked at Da Nang from 19-22 May 2023.  Indian public and private companies participated in the Defence Exhibition hosted by the Ministry of National Defence of Vietnam from19-22 December 2024, which was also attended by Secretary (Defence Production) from India. 
   
   
3. The Ministry of Public Security of Viet Nam engages with the National Security Council Secretariat and other institutions in India in the domain of security. A bilateral Deputy Minister level Security Dialogue reviews security-related trends, counter-terrorism, transnational crimes and related matters. The two countries also cooperate in the field of security in terms of training, exchange of experiences, best practices, etc. Ministry of Public Security delegation, led by Deputy Minister of Public Security Sr. Lt. General Tran Quoc To visited India from 14-18 December 2024.
   
   
4. The 14th India-Vietnam Defence Policy Dialogue was held on 1 August 2024 in New Delhi. Defence Secretary Shri Giridhar Aramane and Deputy Minister of National Defence of Vietnam Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien co-chaired the dialogue. The two sides reviewed the range of bilateral defence cooperation issues and noted the transformative progress in defence cooperation after the signing of ‘Joint Vision Statement on India-Vietnam Defence Partnership towards 2030’ in June 2022.
   

1. Cultural, Academic, and Provincial Level Exchanges

1. The Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (SVCC) under ICCR was established in Hanoi in September 2016 to strengthen further understanding of India and to foster closer links between people of the two countries through cultural exchanges. The Centre organizes cultural programmes, seminars, photo exhibitions, film screenings, lectures, workshops in varied areas such as Yoga, Indian classical dance, Hindi Language, art and philosophy, languages, traditional medicine, shared Buddhist and Cham heritage etc.  SVCC also engages with universities, academia, art institutes and friendship organisations of Viet Nam. President, ICCR visited Hanoi on 4-5 August 2023 whence he handed over ICCR Alumni  Awards to two eminent Vietnamese nationals. In December 2022, the Deputy Minister of Culture of Viet Nam visited India to meet counterpart and signed the (extended) Cultural Exchange Programme 2022-25. ICCR sponsored Odissi dance and Rajasthani folk troupe performed at multiple location in August and October 2024 respectively. A 12-member folk art group from National University of Arts Education participated in the International tribal Festival in Lucknow in November and National Academy of Dance group attended Bali Yatra in Odisha also in November 2024.
   
   
   
2. The two countries continue to maintain regular exchanges at provincial levels. Some recent exchanges between India and Viet Nam included the visits of delegations of provinces viz,  Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee delegation headed by Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People’s Council of Lao Cai province Mr. Vu Xuan Cuong to Mumbai (December 2024);  Chairman of Provincial People’s Committee of Ninh Binh Province Mr. Pham Quang Ngoc visited India (July 2024); Secretary of the Party Committee of Vinh Long province Bui Van Nghiem (11-18 November 2023);  Lao Cai province (25-30 July 2023); Gia Lai province(26-27 June 2023); a Vietnamese Youth delegation representing ministries, Ho Chi Minh Youth Communist Youth Union and journalists attended the 4th ASEAN-India Youth Summit and ASEAN-India Media Exchange concurrently held in Hyderabad (11-15 February 2023); a Vietnamese cultural troupe from Tra Vin University participated in the State level Ramayana Mandli competition held in Rajim, Chhattisgarh (16-18 February 2023). Northeast Festival was held in Ho Chi Minh City in October 2023;From India the Odisha Tourism delegation organized a road show in Hanoi on 28 July 2023; a Chief Secretary of the Tripura State Government led a 05-member delegation from the State of Tripura to Ho Chi Minh City; a 05-member delegation from Kerala State Government visited HCMC from 24-29 August 2022; a 02-member delegation from Rajasthan State Government, headed by Mr. Om Prakash Kasera, Commissioner visited HCMC from 13-17 September 2022. 
   
   
3. Cooperation between thinktanks, educational institutions and youth contribute to advancing people level exchanges.  There are ongoing academic exchanges involving ICWA-Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV) cooperation; India Foundation and Centre for Indian Studies in Ho Chi National Academy of Politics signed an MoU in January 2024; and National Maritime Foundation signed an MoU with Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam in February 2024; Vietnam-Centre for Advance Studies for India (V-CASI - launched on 5 July 2024) in the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VAAS) with Indian institutions; Centre for Indian Studies established under eminent Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics (HCMNAP) and Indology Studies under the University of  Social Studies and Humanitarian in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh Studies; and an MoU between National Maritime Foundation (NMF) and DAV signed in February 2024. Politburo Member, President of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics (HCMNAP) and Chairman of the Central Theory Council Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thang (NXT), during his visit to India from 11-13 November 2024, called on the Vice President of India and witnessed signing of an MoU between Indian Institute of Public Administration and HCMNAP for academic cooperation. Centre for Indian Studies at Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, Hanoi and the Embassy marked its tenth anniversary with a conference on “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership towards the vision of Vietnam 2045 and Viksit Bharat 2047”. A delegation from the United Services Institution, in December 2024, held a round table discussion with Vietnam’s Institute of Defence & International Relations in Hanoi on strategic developments and strengthening India-Vietnam relations. The delegation also met the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam.
   
   
4. The Embassy of India and the Centre for Indian Studies (CIS), Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics (HCMNAP), organized a Conference on “Vietnam – India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Toward the Vision of Vietnam 2045 and India 2047 Viksit Bharat” on 07 November 2024 in Hanoi. The conference coincided with the tenth anniversary of the establishment of the Centre for Indian Studies at the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, Hanoi.  Earlier on 22 December 2023, the Embassy together with Centre for Indian Studies of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics (HCMNAP) hosted a conference titled “Vietnam–India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership: Confluences and Opportunities” in Hanoi. The ICWA and Vietnam Academy of social Sciences (VASS) concluded their 5th dialogue under the theme “India and Vietnam in the World Order” in Hanoi on 27 September 2024. 
   
   
5. Vietnamese media delegates attended the ASEAN-India Media Exchange Programme (28 November-3 December 2024); MoFA official attended 2nd Global South Young Diplomats Forum (9-20 September 2024); MoFA official attended the 5rd Disarmament & International security Affairs (DISA) Fellowship Programme (13-31 January 2025) & the 3rd Disarmament & International security Affairs (DISA) Fellowship Programme (9-27 January 2023); a diplomat attended the MEA flagship Professional Course for Foreign Diplomats (13-31 March 2023); Vietnamese delegate attended the 4th ASEAN-India Youth Summit and ASEAN-India Media Exchange concurrently held in Hyderabad (11-15 February 2023); and Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam official attended the Asian Security Conference organized by the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses from 28-29 March 2023 in New Delhi. 
   
   
6. Buddhist links between the two countries represent civilizational connections dating back millennia. Numerous Buddhist scholars and pilgrims travel to India regularly, including Vietnamese Buddhist pagoda in Bodhgaya. A five-member delegation from Viet Nam participated at the 12th General Assembly of the Asian Buddhist Conference for Peace (ABCP) held in New Delhi on 17-18 January 2024 and another two-member delegation from Viet Nam participated at the International Conference “Buddhist Heritage Towards Inclusive Societies'  held in Chennai from 27 November to 1 December 2024. In April 2023, the Sanghraja of Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha, Most Venerable Thich Tri Quang attended Global Buddhist Summit in New Delhi and was felicitated by the Prime Minister of India. Standing Vice President of Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha Most Venerable Thich Thành Nhieu and Most Venerable Thich Nhat Tu, Vice Rector of Viet Nam Buddhist University addressed the General Assembly of the International Buddhist Confederation held in New Delhi from 27-28 November 2023. 
   
   
7. Yoga is immensely popular across Viet Nam that is reflected in hundreds of yoga clubs or other facilities and numerous Indian yoga teachers offering their services in Vietnam. Annual events marking the International Day of Yoga are held throughout the country. In 2024, International Day of Yoga was marked in 48 provinces/cities throughout Vietnam (out of total of 63 provinces/cities) with notable public participation.
   
   
8. Following the resumption of direct flights between the two countries after Covid-19 pandemic in May 2022, two-way tourism and people-to-people exchanges are registering sound increase. Direct flights by Indigo, Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air and Air India connect five cities in India (Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Kochi) with Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang in Vietnam. A simplified visa regime offering e-Visa in both direction supports travel and tourism for leisure, business and culture. It is estimated that over 500,000 Indians travelled to Vietnam in 2024 and over 57,000 Vietnamese visited India in 2023. India tourism was presented at tourism forum VITM in Hanoi in April 2024 and in Ho Chi Minh City in September 2024.  Ongoing tourism promotion endeavours seek to enhance two-way tourist travel between the two countries.  
   

VII. Indian Community in Vietnam

1. The Indian community in Viet Nam numbers around 7500. Majority of them are based in and around Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) with a couple of thousand living in and around Hanoi. Most of the community members are professionals employed in businesses, sectors such as IT, hotels/restaurants, mining, yoga institutions, civil aviation, schools and investments and trading in wide-ranging goods.  Indian businesses such as ONGC Videsh Limited, Bank of India, Bharat Electronics Limited, HCL Technologies and a few others have offices in Vietnam. 

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Compilation of high-level visits between India and Viet Nam