NCC delegation in Hanoi briefed on India-Vietnam defence ties
Synopsis
Back-to-back engagements — Air Chief Marshal A P Singh's defence talks in Hanoi last week and a 15-member NCC youth delegation this week — signal that India is deliberately deepening ties with Vietnam across military, diplomatic, and people-to-people tracks at once, reinforcing Vietnam's centrality to India's Act East Policy.
Key Takeaways
A 15-member NCC delegation visited the Indian Embassy in Hanoi on 12 August as part of the Annual Youth Exchange Programme .
Ambassador Tshering W Sherpa briefed the cadets on the Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and growing India–Vietnam defence cooperation.
Ambassador Sherpa also met Vietnam's Ambassador-designate to India, Trinh Minh Manh , ahead of his departure for New Delhi.
Air Chief Marshal A P Singh held high-level defence talks with General Nguyen Tan Cuong in Hanoi last week, with both sides committing to deeper Air Force cooperation.
Vietnam is a key partner in India's Act East Policy and Vision MAHASAGAR within the ASEAN framework.
A 15-member delegation from the National Cadet Corps (NCC) visited the Indian Embassy in Hanoi on Wednesday, 12 August as part of the Annual Youth Exchange Programme, meeting with Ambassador Tshering W Sherpa for a briefing on the expanding India–Vietnam bilateral relationship. The visit underscores the growing people-to-people and defence dimensions of the Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations.
What the Ambassador Told the Delegation
Ambassador Sherpa briefed the NCC cadets on the forward-looking, multifaceted India–Vietnam relationship, with particular emphasis on the strong and growing defence cooperation between both countries. According to the Indian Embassy, the delegation will also visit defence, historical, cultural, and educational facilities in Hanoi and Nha Trang during the tour.
The Embassy described youth exchanges as 'an important pillar in the extensive people-to-people relations between India and Vietnam.'
Ambassador Meets Vietnam's Envoy-Designate to India
On the same day, Ambassador Sherpa held a meeting with Vietnam's Ambassador-designate to India, Trinh Minh Manh, ahead of the latter's departure for New Delhi. The Indian Embassy quoted Sherpa as saying: 'A pleasure to wish success and an enriching experience in Incredible India to my fellow brother... We both believe in the progressive and future looking partnership between India and Vietnam. India accords the highest priority to the Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Vietnam, a key partner in our Act East Policy and Vision MAHASAGAR, and in the ASEAN framework. The sky is not the limit for our bilateral relationship.'
High-Level Defence Talks Last Week
The NCC visit follows high-level defence talks held last week, when Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A P Singh visited Hanoi on an official three-day trip. During discussions with General Nguyen Tan Cuong, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army and Deputy Minister of National Defence, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening defence cooperation under the Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
The Indian Embassy posted on X on 5 August that the two sides reviewed 'positive developments in Vietnam–India defence cooperation, particularly emphasising the strengthening of cooperation between the two countries' Air Forces, capacity building, and promoting professional exchange activities.' They also exchanged views on regional and international security issues of mutual concern.
Strategic Significance
Vietnam occupies a central place in India's Act East Policy and the broader ASEAN framework. The back-to-back engagements — from a top military visit to a youth exchange delegation — reflect a deliberate effort to deepen ties across multiple tracks simultaneously. This is consistent with a pattern of accelerated bilateral activity since the two countries elevated their partnership to an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
The NCC delegation's exposure to defence and cultural institutions in Vietnam is expected to contribute to long-term people-to-people goodwill, an area both governments have identified as a strategic priority.
Point of View
And Vietnam's inclusion signals that New Delhi views Hanoi as a counterbalance asset in the South China Sea equation, even if that is never stated explicitly. The youth exchange pillar is the long game — cadets who interact with Vietnamese defence institutions today become the officers and officials who manage the relationship a decade from now.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NCC Annual Youth Exchange Programme with Vietnam?
It is a bilateral initiative under which NCC cadets from India visit Vietnam to interact with defence, cultural, historical, and educational institutions, strengthening people-to-people ties. The current tour includes visits to facilities in Hanoi and Nha Trang.
What is the Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and Vietnam?
It is the highest level of bilateral partnership between India and Vietnam, encompassing defence cooperation, economic ties, and people-to-people relations. India has described Vietnam as a key partner in its Act East Policy and ASEAN engagement.
What did Air Chief Marshal A P Singh discuss during his Hanoi visit?
Air Chief Marshal A P Singh met General Nguyen Tan Cuong, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army, and both sides reviewed defence cooperation, with emphasis on Air Force collaboration, capacity building, and professional exchanges. They also discussed regional and international security issues of mutual concern.
Who is Trinh Minh Manh?
Trinh Minh Manh is Vietnam's Ambassador-designate to India. He met Indian Ambassador Tshering W Sherpa in Hanoi on 12 August ahead of his departure for New Delhi to take up his posting.
Why does Vietnam matter to India's foreign policy?
Vietnam is a key partner in India's Act East Policy, Vision MAHASAGAR, and the ASEAN framework. The growing defence and people-to-people engagement reflects India's broader strategic interest in the Indo-Pacific and its relationships with Southeast Asian nations.
