India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval spent Monday, November 2, in a run of high-level meetings in Hanoi, sitting down with three of Vietnam's most powerful ministers. Doval, who arrived in the Vietnamese capital on Sunday, discussed security, defence and diplomatic ties, and both sides agreed to take their partnership further, according to the Indian Embassy in Hanoi.
Why This Visit Matters
India and Vietnam have been close partners for decades, but the relationship got a fresh push in May 2026. During Vietnamese President To Lam's state visit to India, the two countries raised their ties to an "Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" and set a target of USD 25 billion in annual trade by 2030. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and To Lam also reviewed progress on the Joint Vision Statement on India-Vietnam Defence Partnership towards 2030.
Doval's trip is the first big security-level follow-up since that upgrade. It comes at a time when both countries are watching developments in the Indo-Pacific closely, and when security cooperation is seen as one of the main pillars of the new partnership.
Who Doval Met and What Was Discussed
Minister of Public Security Luong Tam Quang
Doval's key meeting was with Senior Lieutenant General Luong Tam Quang, a Politburo member and Vietnam's Minister of Public Security, who handles internal security and policing. The two reviewed ongoing security cooperation and exchanged views on regional and global developments. They agreed to keep strengthening what the embassy called the "multifaceted" relationship.
The Indian Embassy summed it up in a post on X, saying bilateral security cooperation "reflects the deep and mutually trusted civilisational partnership between India and Vietnam."
Defence Minister General Phan Van Giang
Earlier on Monday, Doval met General Phan Van Giang, who is a Politburo member, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence. They went over ongoing defence cooperation between the two militaries and agreed to deepen engagement in the sector. Defence ties have been a growing area of work, covering training, capacity building and naval cooperation.
Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung
Doval also held talks with Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung, another Politburo member. A big part of the discussion was about 2027, when India and Vietnam will mark 55 years of diplomatic relations. Both sides talked about ways to celebrate the milestone "in the spirit of the India-Vietnam Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership", the embassy said. Specific events have not been announced yet.
A Stop at Quan Su Pagoda
Away from the meeting rooms, Doval visited the Quan Su Pagoda in Hanoi, the headquarters of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha. Buddhism is often described as the civilisational bridge between the two countries, and the visit was a reminder of the cultural ties that sit beneath the strategic ones.
| Key Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Visitor | NSA Ajit Doval |
| Dates | Arrived November 1; talks on November 2, 2026 |
| Place | Hanoi, Vietnam |
| Security talks | Sr Lt Gen Luong Tam Quang, Minister of Public Security |
| Defence talks | Gen Phan Van Giang, Deputy PM and Defence Minister |
| Diplomatic talks | Le Hoai Trung, Foreign Minister |
| Partnership level | Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (since May 2026) |
| Trade target | USD 25 billion a year by 2030 |
| Next milestone | 55 years of diplomatic ties in 2027 |
What It Means for India
Vietnam is a key part of India's Act East policy and one of its most trusted partners in Southeast Asia. Closer security ties give India a stronger voice in the region and open up more room for cooperation on maritime security, counter-terrorism, cyber threats and transnational crime.
For Indian businesses, a stable and deepening relationship also supports the trade goal set in May. Vietnam is a fast-growing manufacturing hub, and better coordination between the two governments makes it easier for companies on both sides to invest and trade.
The visit also fits a wider pattern. India has been stepping up defence and security engagement with friendly countries in the Indo-Pacific, and at home the Navy is adding new warships, including the next-generation corvettes for which contracts were signed this week.
What Happens Next
The agreements reached in Hanoi are broad commitments rather than new deals, so the real test will be in follow-up meetings between officials. Watch for more defence and security dialogues in the coming months, and for an announcement on how the two countries plan to mark the 55th anniversary of their diplomatic relations in 2027.
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