Embassy of India

Hanoi, Vietnam

[As on August 2025]

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. 

2. 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. 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 Dr. To Lam in September 2024 have provided fresh impetus to the bilateral relations.

I. Political Exchanges

3. 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 External Affairs Minister called on the visiting Prime Minister. Prime Minister of Viet Nam was accorded ceremonial reception by Prime Minister Modi at President House followed by a Guard of Honour. Prime Minister Chinh attended and addressed Viet Nam-India Business Forum; 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-Viet Nam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership was issued and the two Foreign Ministers signed a Plan of Action for the Implementation of India-Viet Nam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for the period 2024-2028. Ten other bilateral documents were signed during the visit in diverse areas of bilateral cooperation. Viet Nam announced its decision to join the Coalition for Disaster Resilience Infrastructure (CDRI).

4. The Prime Minister and Viet Nam’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 interacted informally on the sidelines of ASEAN/East Asia summit meetings, in Vientiane in October 2024 and again on the margins of BRICS Summit in Brazil in July 2025. The two Prime Ministers held bilateral meetings on 20 May 2023 in Hiroshima (Japan) on the margins of G7 Plus Summit. On 12 November 2022, the then 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.

5. The Minister for Minority Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs Mr. Kiren Rijiju visited Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam, from 2-6 May 2025 to accompany the Sacred Relics of Lord Buddha from India to Viet Nam for expositions in Viet Nam until 2 June 2025.  During the visit, he participated in the United Nations Day of Vesak (UNDV) celebrations in Ho Chi Minh City, called on the President of Viet Nam Mr. Luong Cuong; and Politburo Member & Party Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City, Mr. Nguyen Van Nen.  The Hon’ble Governor of Odisha Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampat visited Viet Nam from 31 May to 2 June to accompany the Sacred Relics back to India after exposition across Viet Nam.

6. National Security Adviser (NSA), Mr. Ajit Doval visited Viet Nam from 24-25 July 2024 for state funeral of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. During the visit, the NSA met the President of Viet Nam Dr. To Lam and Prime Minister of Vietnam Mr. Pham Minh Chinh in Hanoi.  

7. 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 2024. 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.  Mr. Nguyen Trong Nghia (NTN), Politburo Member and Chairman of the Party’s Commission for Publicity, Education & Mass Mobilization visited India from 4-8 June 2025 and met with Mr. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister of Culture and Dr. L. Murugan, Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting separately in New Delhi.

8. External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishakar (EAM) and Viet Nam’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 jointly released a 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 Viet Nam’s External Relation Commission Mr. Le Hoai Trung. 

9. 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 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), Ministry of External Affairs of India and Viet Nam’s Deputy Foreign Minister held a bilateral discussion covering bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest on the margins of ASEAN Plus Senior Officials Meeting in Vientiane in July 2024.

10. The Prime Minister of Viet Nam 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 Viet Nam’s Deputy Minister of Industry & Trade Madam Phan Thi Thang addressed the Commerce Ministers’ Session.  Viet Nam’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, Viet Nam’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 Viet Nam’s Foreign Minister Mr. Bui Thanh Son addressed the Second Voice of Global South Summit in November 2023. Viet Nam'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.

11. External Affairs Minister delivered remarks (through video message) at the first ASEAN Future Forum 2024 session titled “Ensuring comprehensive security for a people-centered ASEAN Community” in Hanoi on 23 April 2024.  Deputy Foreign Minister of Viet Nam 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". The Minister of State for External Affairs Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh visited Viet Nam from 24-27 February 2025, and addressed the Plenary Session titled “Bridging Divides: ASEAN’s Potential in a Fragmented World” of the 2nd ASEAN Future Forum in Hanoi. He also held a bilateral meeting with Viet Nam’s Deputy PM-cum-Foreign Minister Mr. Bui Thanh Son (BTS). 

12. 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. 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 where he was among the Chief Guests at 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. The Chairman of the National Assembly of Viet Nam Mr. Vuong Dinh Hue paid an official visit to India from 15-19 December 2021. 

II. Institutional mechanisms

13. 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.  The 13th round of Vice-Minister level Foreign Office Consultations and the 10th Strategic Dialogue were held in New Delhi on 25 June 2025.

14. 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 on 1 August 2024 in New Delhi.  Among other key institutional dialogues, the 4th Policy Planning Dialogue between the two Foreign Ministries was held on 4th March 2025 in New Delhi, the 4th India-Viet Nam Maritime Security Dialogue was held on 16 August 2024 in Hanoi and the 4th India-Viet Nam Joint Committee meeting on Atomic Energy Cooperation was held in Mumbai on 12-13 May 2025.

15. 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. Viet Nam’s National Assembly Vice Chairman Mr. Nguyen Duc Hai (NDH) visited India from 14-19 March 2025, where he called on Lok Sabha Speaker and held discussions with Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance & Economics Chairperson and Director General, Indian Council for Cultural Relations in New Delhi. 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.

III. Trade, Economic and Development Cooperation 

16. India and Viet Nam have active trade and economic relations. Apart from Joint Trade Sub-Commission, the Joint Working Groups on agriculture, health, information technology, etc. engage on trade and economic relations in respective sectors. In the year April 2024 March 2025, India-Viet Nam trade stood at USD 15.76 billion where India’s export to Viet Nam amounted to USD 5.43 billion and Viet Nam’s exports to India were valued at USD 10.33 billion. As per Viet Nam’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.  

17. 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, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, minerals etc.  India’s imports from Viet Nam mainly comprise of electrical and electronic equipment, machinery and mechanical appliances, inorganic chemicals, plastic, cooper and rubber, coffee, 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.

18. India’s investments in Viet Nam are estimated at around USD 2 billion including investments routed through third countries. According to Viet Nam’s Foreign Investment Agency, India has 432 projects with total invested capital of over USD 1.1 billion in Viet Nam. Major sectors of Indian investments are energy, mineral processing, agro-processing (coffee, tea, sugar), Information Technology, auto components, pharmaceuticals and hospitality. 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, electronics, construction, IT, pharmaceuticals, etc. In 2024, Viet Nam’s M/s VinFast has taken up construction of an electric vehicle assembly plant at SIPCOT industrial estate in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu.

19. 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 Viet Nam International Trade Fair in Hanoi in April 2024. Apart from numerous business delegations’ exchanges with Viet Nam, major recent trade fairs involving India were Chemicals Export Promotion Council at PlasTech 2025 in Ho Chi Minh City in June 2025, 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, State-level Chambers etc. have visited Viet Nam in the past. Similarly, Vietnamese business delegations periodically travel 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.

IV. Development Partnership

20. 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 attend annually ITEC training and ICCR educational courses in India. Viet Nam is also a partner country within the India-ASEAN framework and Mekong Ganga Cooperation mechanism.

21. In November 2024, Centre for Excellence in Software Development & Training set up by Inidia’s Centre for Development of Advanced Computing was inaugurated at the Post and Telegraph Institute of Technology, Ho Chi Minh City which is imparting post-graduate courses on computer software programming and related technologies. An Army Software Park was unveiled at Telecommunications University, Nha Trang on 1 August 2024.  India has contributed important institutions such as the Cuu Long Delta Rice Research Institute in Can Tho (1980s), Nuclear Science Centre in Dalat, Advanced Resource Centre in ICT in Hanoi (2011), Hi-Tech Cyber Forensic Laboratory in Hanoi (2017) and other institutions in the field of railways, hydropower, textile, tea & sugar. 

22. 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 39 provinces of Viet Nam and further projects are under implementation in various provinces.

23. India has supported conservation and restoration of the UNESCO world heritage site of ‘My Son’ in Quang Nam, Central Viet Nam, 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. The next phase of conservation and restoration of E and F group of temples at ‘My Son’ sanctuary started in February 2025 and is coordinated by a technical team of Archeological Survey of India.

24. On 15 September 2024, 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 communities affected by typhon Yagi in northern provinces such as Lang Son and Tuyen Quang. The humanitarian supplies were handed over to Disaster and Dyke management Authority of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Developments of Viet Nam.

V. Defence Cooperation

25. 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 Partnership towards 2030 between the Defence Ministries provide the broad framework. During the visit of India’s Defence Minister Mr. Rajnath Singh to Viet Nam in June 2022, the two sides 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 Viet Nam which was handed over by the Chief of Naval Staff in July 2023. On 16 November 2023, the two Defence Ministers met in Jakarta on the margins of the 10th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus. Navy Staff Admiral R. Hari Kumar, paid an official visit to Viet Nam from 22-25 July 2023.

26. Bilateral military-to-military staff talks, defence exercises, training courses, 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 Viet Nam’s Deputy Minister of Defence was held in New Delhi on 1 August 2024. The last Army to Army Staff Talks were held in Viet Nam from 22-24 April 2025; the sixth Navy-to-Navy talks were held in New Delhi from 19-21 November 2024; and the last Air Force level Staff Talks were held in November 2023 in Hanoi; The 5th high-level meeting between Indian and Viet Nam Coast Guards in New Delhi on 22 February 2024.  The 5th Viet Nam-India Bilateral Army Exercise-2024 held in India from 04-23 November 2024. Viet Nam People’s Navy Frigate participate in the 12th Multilateral Naval Exercise MILAN in Vishakhapatnam in February 2024. Indian Naval Ships recent port call in Viet Nam was that by INS Delhi, INS Kiltan and INS Shakti at Da Nang from 24-27 July 2025. Indian public and private companies participated in the Defence Exhibition hosted by the Ministry of National Defence of Viet Nam from 19-22 December 2024, which was also attended by Secretary (Defence Production) from India.  Vietnamese defence delegation, headed by Acting Director General for Defence Industry Maj Gen Duong Van Yen, participated at the #AeroIndia  2025, in Bengaluru from 10-14 February 2025.

27. 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 cooperation, counter-terrorism, transnational crimes and related developments. The third round of the Security Dialogue was held in Hanoi on 5 December 2024. The two countries also cooperate in the field of security in terms of training, exchange of experiences, best practices, etc. A 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.

VI. Cultural, Academic, and Provincial Level Exchanges

28. People-to-People relations rooted in general warmth towards each other and linkages of Buddhism, yoga, cinema, culture, history and art are a notable feature of India-Viet Nam relationship. The Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (SVCC) under Indian Council for Cultural Relations (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 Champa 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 and in December 2022, the Deputy Minister of Culture of Viet Nam visited India when the two countries signed the (extended) Cultural Exchange Programme 2022-25. 

29. There are periodic exchanges of cultural groups between the two countries.  In 2025, Trisara Performing Arts Group, New Delhi and Mudra Creations Group, Mumbai have presented folk and tradition arts before audiences in different provinces in Viet Nam.  From Viet Nam, cultural groups from Yen Bai, Lao Cai and Dien Bien provinces have presented folk arts before audiences in India in the year 2025. Ho Chi Minh Youth Union and National Cadet Corps hold annual exchange of youth delegates between the two countries, which have last taken place in January and June 2025. 

30. Provinces in the two countries visit each other from time to time, particularly in the area of economic, business and cultural cooperation. Some recent exchanges between India and Viet Nam at provincial level included the visits of delegations of Yen Bai Province to Delhi (February 2025); Lao Cai Provincial People’s Committee to Mumbai (December 2024); Ninh Binh Province (July 2024); and from India delegations from Odisha, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand have visited Vietnam in 2025. India’s Northeast Festival was held in Ho Chi Minh City in October 2023. 

31. Cooperation between thinktanks and educational institutions contribute to people level exchanges. India Foundation and Centre for Indian Studies at the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics signed an MoU for Cooperation in January 2024; and National Maritime Foundation signed an MoU with Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam in February 2024. Viet Nam Centre for Advance Studies for India (V-CASI) under the Viet Nam Academy of Social Sciences (VAAS) was launched on 5 July 2024. 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 also engage with their Indian counterparts. From India, the Indian Council for World Affairs, Research Information System for Developing Countries & Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies & Analyses engage with their counterparts in Vietnam. President of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics (HCMNAP) and Politburo Member Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thang (NXT), during his visit to India from 11-13 November 2024, witnessed signing of an MoU between Indian Institute of Public Administration and HCMNAP for academic cooperation. 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. 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. 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. 

32. Periodic conferences and seminar facilitate enhancing understanding between Inda and Viet Nam. The Embassy of India and the Centre for Indian Studies (CIS), Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics (HCMNAP), organized a Conference on “Viet Nam – India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Toward the Vision of Viet Nam 2045 and India 2047 Viksit Bharat” on 07 November 2024 in Hanoi with presentations by specialists from both countries. On 19 March 2025, the Embassy in collaboration with the Institute for South Asian, West Asian and African Studies in Viet Nam Academy (ISAWAAS), Viet Nam Academy of Social Science (VASS), Hanoi, organized a conference in Hanoi on “Roles of India-Viet Nam in Developing Global South Cooperation” with participation of scholars from India and Viet Nam.  There are numerous other exchanges under Global South Young Diplomats Forum, Professional Course for Foreign Diplomats, Disarmament & International Security Affairs (DISA) Fellowship Programme (January 2025), the ASEAN-India Media Exchange Programme, and ASEAN-India Youth Summit.

33. The Sacred Relics of Lord Buddha enshrined at Sarnath, India, visited Viet Nam from 2 May-2 June 2025 on the request of the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha and the Government of Viet Nam.  It was timed with the celebration of the United Nations Day of Vesak in Ho Chi Minh City from 6-8 May 2025.  The Sacred Relics received enormous response across the nine provinces/cities in Viet Nam where they were enshrined.  According to Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha, about 15.5 million devotees paid their reverence to the Sacred Relics across Viet Nam.  President of Viet Nam paid a visit to the Relics apart from Deputy Prime Minister, Minsters and numerous national and provincial leaders paid visit to the Sacred Relics in Viet Nam.  Numerous Buddhist scholars and pilgrims travel to India regularly, including Buddhist sites, Vietnamese Buddhist pagoda in Bodhgaya, Buddhist conferences, etc. In April 2023, the Sanghraja of Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha, Most Venerable Thich Tri Quang was felicitated by the Prime Minister of India. In October 2024, Viet Nam Buddhist University, Ho Chi Minh City hosted a conference on ‘Exploring the historical, spiritual and cultural links of Buddhism between India and Viet Nam’ with presentation by Indian and Vietnamese scholars on Buddhist studies. 

34. 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 2025, the International Day of Yoga was marked in 35 provinces/cities throughout Viet Nam with large public participation. SVCC (Cultural Centre), Hanoi also offers regular classes in Yoga and undertakes Ayurveda and Yoga activities from time to time.

35. Two-way tourism and travel between the two countries are registering sound increase in recent years. Direct flights by Indigo, Viet Nam Airlines, Vietjet Air and Air India connect seven cities in India (Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Kochi) with Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang in Viet Nam. 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 Viet Nam and over 57,000 Vietnamese visited India in a year. India tourism was presented at tourism forum Viet Nam International Tavel Mart (VITM) in Hanoi in April 2025 and in Ho Chi Minh City in September 2024.  Ongoing tourism promotion endeavours seek to enhance two-way tourist travel between the two countries.

36. Indian films and a few TV series are known in Viet Nam.  In 2025, Indian film festivals have been organized at 34 venues across 24 provinces/cities of Viet Nam using carefully selected films.  An India-Viet Nam production ‘Love in Vietnam’ held a world premiere at Danang Asian Film Festival in Viet Nam in July 2025 and it is expected to be released commercially in the two countries and beyond in 2025.  

VII. Indian Community in Viet Nam

36. The Indian community in Viet Nam numbers around 8000. 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, mining, yoga institutions, civil aviation, hotels/restaurants, schools, investments and trading in wide-ranging goods.  Large 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