Ambassador Pranay Verma hosted a luncheon reception in Hanoi to celebrate the 73rd Independence Day of India in the presence of His Excellency Mr. Le Hoai Trung, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam as the Chief Guest. The reception was attended by senior officials of the Communist Party, Government and Armed Forces of Vietnam; members of the Diplomatic corps; friends from various walks of the Vietnamese society and representatives from the Indian community in Vietnam. In his remarks on the occasion, Ambassador Verma recounted the long-standing close relationship between India and Vietnam and the promising future for their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. He described Vietnam as a key partner in India’s Act East Policy and its Indo-Pacific vision.