Rajnath Singh Meets To Lam in Hanoi

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited Vietnam from 18 to 19 May 2026 and met President Tô Lâm in Hanoi on 19 May 2026. He also held a bilateral meeting with Vietnamese Defence Minister General Phan Van Giang, and both sides discussed defence cooperation under the Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and Vietnam.

India-Vietnam Defence Cooperation

India and Vietnam maintain defence ties through maritime security, training, defence industry cooperation, and regional stability discussions. The two countries have also exchanged views on coastal defence, military education, and strategic coordination in the Indo-Pacific region.

Key Agreements and Institutional Links

The two sides jointly inaugurated a Language Lab at the Air Force Officers College in Vietnam on 19 May 2026. A Memorandum of Understanding in Artificial Intelligence and quantum technology was also exchanged during the visit.

Strategic and Historical Context

Rajnath Singh paid homage at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum during the visit, which coincided with the 136th birth anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh. The visit followed President Tô Lâm’s state visit to India earlier in May 2026.

Important Facts for Exams

• India and Vietnam upgraded their ties to an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
• Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam and the venue of the 2026 defence meetings.
• BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile system developed by India and Russia.
• Ho Chi Minh is regarded as the founding father of modern Vietnam.

Defence Industry and Maritime Security

BrahMos missile systems were discussed as a possible defence export to Vietnam for coastal defence requirements. Maritime security remains a major area of cooperation between India and Vietnam in the South China Sea and the wider Indo-Pacific region.