Hanoi: National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval arrived in Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi, on Sunday for an official visit during which he is scheduled to interact with the country’s leadership as India and Vietnam seek to deepen their strategic and security cooperation.
The Indian Embassy in Vietnam confirmed Doval’s arrival in a post on X, stating that his visit would be in line with the India-Vietnam Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
The visit comes as the two countries work to expand cooperation across security, defence, trade, technology and other strategic areas. India and Vietnam elevated their bilateral relationship to an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during Vietnamese General Secretary and President To Lam’s state visit to India from May 5 to 7, 2026.
The elevation marked a further strengthening of ties between the two countries, which have expanded cooperation in recent years across regional security, defence and economic engagement.
India and Vietnam Expand Security and Defence Cooperation
Security cooperation remains an important pillar of the India-Vietnam partnership. The two countries held their fourth bilateral Security Dialogue in New Delhi on October 16, co-chaired by India’s Deputy National Security Advisor Pavan Kapoor and Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Public Security, Senior Lieutenant General Pham The Tung.
During the dialogue, both sides reviewed cooperation in economic security, maritime engagement, counter-terrorism, emerging technologies and cybersecurity. They also exchanged views on regional and global security developments and reaffirmed their commitment to closer cooperation.
The discussions followed the broader strengthening of defence ties between the two countries. In September, India and Vietnam also held discussions on defence industrial cooperation during engagements on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
The two countries have been exploring opportunities to deepen defence cooperation, including collaboration in defence production and technology, while strengthening coordination on regional and maritime security issues.
Parliamentary and Economic Engagement Also Gain Momentum
Alongside security and defence cooperation, India and Vietnam have also been strengthening parliamentary and economic engagement.
On October 27, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla met Vietnamese MP Mai Dung Thai Quynh and members of the Parliamentary Friendship Group on the sidelines of the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in New Delhi. The discussions focused on enhancing parliamentary exchanges, institutional cooperation and collaboration in trade, industry, information technology and artificial intelligence.
Birla said both sides had discussed ways to ensure that technological developments serve humanity and promote public welfare.
Earlier, on September 14, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Vietnamese Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung co-chaired the 19th India-Vietnam Joint Commission Meeting in New Delhi. The discussions covered defence cooperation, market access, connectivity, nuclear energy and space cooperation.
Doval’s visit is taking place against this backdrop of expanding bilateral engagement, with both countries seeking closer coordination on security and regional issues while exploring new areas of economic and technological cooperation.