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India and Vietnam on Wednesday agreed to elevate their bilateral relationship to an “Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership”, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vietnamese President To Lam unveiled an expansive roadmap covering trade, technology, defence, and cultural cooperation following delegation-level talks at Hyderabad House.
Addressing a joint press meet, Modi highlighted that the India-Vietnam partnership draws strength equally from “heritage and development,” pointing to deep-rooted civilizational links alongside growing strategic and economic engagement. He cited the recent exhibition of Buddhist relics in Vietnam, which drew more than 15 million visitors — nearly 15% of the country’s population — as a reflection of enduring spiritual ties between the two nations.
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Emphasising cultural preservation, Modi announced that India is undertaking restoration work at temples of the ancient Champa civilization, including My Son Sanctuary and Nhan Tower, and will expand efforts to digitize ancient manuscripts. He noted that President Lam’s decision to begin his India visit from Bodh Gaya symbolized the deep spiritual connection shared by the two countries.
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Calling the elevation of ties a “natural progression,” Modi said the partnership would now expand across key sectors including connectivity, capacity building, sustainability, security, and supply chain resilience. Economic cooperation featured prominently in the discussions, with bilateral trade having doubled over the past decade to reach $16 billion. Both sides have now set a target of $25 billion by 2030, supported by measures to ease market access and strengthen sectoral collaboration.
The Prime Minister also announced a memorandum of understanding between drug regulatory authorities to improve access to Indian medicines in Vietnam, alongside steps to facilitate smoother exports of agricultural, fisheries, and animal products. Both nations agreed to update the India–ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement by year-end to boost trade and investment flows, while expanding cooperation in critical minerals, rare earths, and energy to enhance economic security.
Highlighting improving connectivity, Modi said air links between the two countries are growing steadily and revealed plans to link India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with Vietnam’s fast payment system, marking a significant step toward financial integration.
On the strategic front, Modi described Vietnam as a key pillar of India’s Act East Policy and Vision SAGAR, underscoring shared perspectives on the Indo-Pacific. He said enhanced defence and security cooperation would contribute to maintaining rule of law, peace, and stability in the region, while also strengthening India’s engagement with ASEAN.
He also expressed gratitude for Vietnam’s support on counter-terrorism, noting Hanoi’s strong condemnation of the recent Pahalgam terror attack and its solidarity with India in combating terrorism.
President Lam, in his remarks, reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment to deepening ties, stating that both countries had agreed to strengthen political trust and elevate security cooperation. His visit to India within weeks of assuming office, accompanied by senior officials and business leaders, is being viewed as a clear indication of Vietnam’s intent to prioritise its relationship with New Delhi.
Placing the partnership in a broader global context, Modi noted that India and Vietnam are among the fastest-growing economies amid global uncertainty and said their strengthened ties would support mutual development goals. Invoking the teachings of the Buddha, he remarked that helping others ultimately illuminates one’s own path, adding that both nations would “walk together, grow together, and succeed together” in pursuit of becoming developed economies.
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