Historical connections between India and Vietnam: Since the founding fathers of the two nations, Presidents Ho Chi Minh, Rajendra Prasad, and Prime Minister Nehru, the relationship between India and Vietnam has been particularly cordial and close. Historical battles for independence from foreign hegemony are the main drivers of today’s traditionally amicable and friendly ties. Following Vietnam’s 1954 victory over the French at Dien Bien Phu, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was one of the first Westerners to travel there. President Rajendra Prasad visited Vietnam in 1959, and President Ho Chi Minh visited India in February 1958. The International Commission for Supervision and Control (ICSC), which was created to carry out the 1954 Geneva Accords and progress the peace process in Vietnam, was presided over by India. India supported Vietnam’s fight for independence from France because it linked that country’s fight against British domination to Vietnam’s. Since 1955, when Prime Minister Nehru emphasised that US involvement in Vietnam would be a mistake, India has been against US involvement. On January 7, 1972, India formally established diplomatic ties with North Vietnam, three years before Saigon fell in 1975 and one year before the US departed from Vietnam. Vietnam was unified with India’s help, and the two nations are friendly. In South East Asia, Vietnam is a crucial ally. Along with the UN and WTO, India and Vietnam work closely together in a number of regional fora, such as ASEAN, the East Asia Summit, the Mekong Ganga Cooperation, and the Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM). Connections between Vietnam and India in terms of trade and commerce: Vietnam was designated as India’s “Most Favored Nation” in 1977. After the two countries’ bilateral trade agreement was formed in 1978, the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPPA) was signed on March 8, 1997. The ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement, which was concluded in 2003, became effective in 2010. Vietnam is India’s fifteenth-largest trading partner and comes in fourth in the ASEAN behind Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. Vietnam is India’s tenth-largest trading partner. Since the economies of Vietnam and India were both liberalised, there has been a major increase in bilateral commerce. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, trade between India and Vietnam has decreased by 22.47 percent over the preceding fiscal years. Machinery and equipment rank among India’s major exports, which also include seafood, medicines, cotton of all varieties, textiles, and leather accessories. Chemicals, plastic resins, chemical goods, fibres of all types, steel of all sorts, fabrics of all kinds, common metals, jewellery, and precious stones are some of the other top exports. Mobile phones and their accessories, computers and electronic devices, machinery and equipment, chemicals, rubber, common metals, wood and wooden products, fibres of all kinds, pepper, automobiles, steel products, coffee, footwear, chemical goods, and polymers and resins are the main imports from Vietnam. The two nations’ bilateral foreign investments have increased as well. Energy, mineral exploration, agroprocessing, sugar, tea, coffee production, agrochemicals, information technology, and auto components are the primary industries in which India has interests. As of 2020, Vietnam had 6 active projects with an estimated total investment of $28.55 million in India. Chemicals, pharmaceuticals, information technology, and building materials make up the majority of Vietnam’s investments in India. Exploration of oil: In 1988, the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), which is under the supervision of the Indian government, started doing business in Vietnam. Block 6.1 exploration rights were granted to it. The producing fields Lan Tay and Lan Rosneft are located in Block 6.1, a 955 km2 area in the South China Sea’s Nam Con Son Basin. 1.33 million tonnes of condensate and gas with an oil equivalent were produced in Block 6.1 by ONGC Videsh, which held a 45 percent stake in the block. Vietnamese and Indian Strategic Partnership: In order to promote shared security, prosperity, and growth for everyone in the area, India and Vietnam have resolved to step up their strategic partnership in accordance with India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. The Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, which aims to promote and enhance close ties between India and Southeast Asian countries, includes Vietnam and India as participants. Vietnam has endorsed India’s proposal to join the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and become a permanent member of the UN Security Council (APEC). India and Vietnam have also joined together in strategic partnerships to create nuclear energy, improve regional security, and combat terrorism, global crime, and drug trafficking. Military collaboration Defense cooperation has grown to be a pillar of our strategic alliance with Vietnam. Vietnam is interested in India’s Brahmos missiles, Dhruv advanced light helicopters, and Akash surface-to-air systems. Along with this, additional elements of defence relations include collaboration on defence R&D, capacity building, resolving common security issues, and personnel training. In 2020, the Indian Navy’s INS Kiltan made a stop in Ho Chi Minh City to deliver flood relief supplies to the citizens of Central Vietnam (Mission Sagar III). In addition to the Vietnamese People’s Navy, it took part in the PASSEX exercise. The relationship between India and Vietnam has: In order to advance bilateral defence cooperation, the defence ministers signed the “Joint Vision Statement on India-Vietnam Defense Partnership towards 2030.” With the completion of the projects covered by a USD 500 million Defense Line of Credit, Vietnam’s defence capabilities will significantly increase, advancing the government’s objective to “Make in India, Make for the World.” There has been the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Mutual Logistics Support. Moving forward: In India’s Act East strategy, which strives to fortify mutually beneficial ties and guarantee equitable prosperity for everyone in the region, Vietnam has a vital role to play. Vietnam will eventually become more integrated into the SAGAR (Security and Growth All in the Region) plan as it moves closer to realisation. The Indo-Pacific region benefits from the relationship between India and Vietnam in terms of security and the blue economy.