India and Vietnam: Strengthening Defence Ties

Syllabus: GS2/International Relation

Context

• Recently, India and Vietnam convened the 15th Defence Policy Dialogue in Hanoi, reaffirming their commitment to deepening defence cooperation across traditional and emerging domains.

About India–Viet Nam Relationship

• Evolution of Relations: India and Viet Nam share a long-standing bilateral relationship built on historical, cultural, and political foundations, rooted in the shared ideals of Mahatma Gandhi and President Ho Chi Minh.
  • India established full diplomatic relations with Viet Nam in 1972, and further evolved into political, economic, defence, cultural, and people-to-people cooperation.
  • 2016: Bilateral ties were elevated from a ‘Strategic Partnership’ to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. It was further defined by the ‘Joint Vision for Peace, Prosperity and People’ adopted during the Virtual Summit (2020).
  • 2022: 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations observed. 
• Political Exchanges:
  • Vietnamese Prime Minister’s Visit to India (2024): It led to the signing of a Plan of Action for 2024–2028 and ten bilateral agreements, expanding cooperation across diverse sectors.
  • High-level meetings were held between the two Prime Ministers on the sidelines of major global summits such as ASEAN, BRICS, and G7 Plus.
  • Bilateral exchanges between ministers of defence, justice, and public security, along with frequent interactions at multilateral forums, further strengthened political understanding.
• Institutional Mechanisms:
  • Joint Commission Meeting (JCM), 2023: The 18th JCM on Economic, Trade, Scientific, and Technological Cooperation was held in Hanoi.
  • Strategic Dialogue & Foreign Office Consultations, 2025: The 13th round was conducted in New Delhi.
  • Defence, Maritime, Atomic Energy, and Policy Planning Dialogues are held periodically to coordinate activities.
  • Parliamentary exchanges, such as the Viet Nam – India Parliamentary Friendship Group, enhance inter-parliamentary collaboration.

Defence and Security Cooperation

• Guided by the Joint Vision on Defence Partnership towards 2030, cooperation includes logistics, training, and defence production.
• India gifted an indigenously built missile corvette INS Kirpan to Viet Nam in 2023.
• Regular staff talks, joint exercises, and naval visits underscore strong defence collaboration.
• The 5th Viet Nam–India Bilateral Army Exercise (VINBAX-2024) and participation in MILAN-2024 demonstrate operational cooperation.
• Security dialogue mechanisms focus on counter-terrorism and transnational crime prevention.

Trade and Economic Cooperation

• Bilateral trade has reached USD 15.76 billion (2024–25).
  • India’s exports include engineering goods, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural products.
  • India’s imports mainly consist of electronics, machinery, coffee, and garments.
• Indian investments in Viet Nam total around USD 2 billion, with over 430 active projects.
  • Viet Nam’s investments in India stand at approximately USD 12.69 million.
• VinFast’s EV assembly plant in Tamil Nadu marks a new chapter in industrial cooperation.
• Trade fairs and business forums such as VINAMAC, Vietramed, and Bharat Global Mobility Expo promote mutual business engagement.

Development Partnership

• India’s development cooperation with Viet Nam spans education, capacity building, and community development:
  • Over 200 Vietnamese nationals receive training annually under the ITEC and ICCR programmes.
  • India has contributed to institutions like the Cuu Long Delta Rice Research Institute, Hi-Tech Cyber Forensic Laboratory, and Advanced ICT Centre in Hanoi.
  • Quick Impact Projects (QIPs), 46 completed since 2017, benefit local communities in over 39 provinces.
  • India supports heritage conservation projects such as the My Son Sanctuary restoration, reinforcing civilizational ties.
  • Under Operation Sadbhav (2024), India extended humanitarian aid worth USD 1 million to typhoon-affected regions in Viet Nam.

Cultural, Academic, and Provincial-Level Exchanges

• The Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (SVCC) in Hanoi promotes yoga, art, and cultural programmes.
• Vesak celebrations (2025) saw 15.5 million devotees venerate the Sacred Relics of Lord Buddha across Viet Nam.
• Academic cooperation includes partnerships between ICWA, HCMNAP, and IIPA, fostering policy and research collaboration.
• Cultural troupes, youth exchanges, and India–Viet Nam Film Festivals enhance mutual understanding.
  • The co-production ‘Love in Vietnam’, premiered at the Da Nang Asian Film Festival 2025, symbolizes growing cultural ties.
• Indian Community in Viet Nam: Approximately 8,000 Indians reside in Viet Nam, primarily in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, contributing to sectors such as IT, mining, education, and trade.

Key Concerns & Related Suggestions

• China’s Assertiveness: Both countries share concerns over China’s growing influence — India in the Himalayas and Vietnam in the South China Sea.
  • Vietnam’s proximity and economic ties with China require careful diplomatic balancing, which may limit overt strategic alignment with India.
• ASEAN Dynamics: Vietnam’s role within ASEAN sometimes requires consensus-based diplomacy, which can slow bilateral initiatives with India that demand quicker execution.
• Technology Transfer & Capacity Gaps: While India and Vietnam have signed agreements on defence manufacturing and training, actual implementation is often hampered by bureaucratic delays and limited industrial capacity.
  • Operationalizing the recent MoU on submarine search and rescue requires sustained investment and trust-building.
• Low Bilateral Trade Volume: Despite growing ties, trade between India and Vietnam remains below potential.
  • Tariff barriers, logistical bottlenecks, and lack of awareness among businesses hinder deeper economic integration.
• Digital & Infrastructure Gaps: Vietnam’s digital transformation is accelerating, but India’s engagement in tech and innovation sectors remains limited compared to other partners like South Korea or Japan.

Conclusion

• The India–Viet Nam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership continues to thrive as a model of mutual respect, shared growth, and regional stability. Guided by the vision of ‘Peace, Prosperity, and People’ both nations remain committed to expanding cooperation across political, economic, defence, and cultural dimensions.
  • India and Viet Nam stand as steadfast partners in shaping a secure, sustainable, and inclusive future for the region, with a shared Indo-Pacific outlook and centuries-old civilizational ties.

Source: TH