National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, called on Vietnamese President Tô Lâm in Hanoi, conveying the greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and thanking the Vietnamese leader for his 'steadfast support in strengthening the India-Vietnam Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership'. The visit marks Doval's wide-ranging diplomatic engagements across Hanoi, spanning security, defence, and bilateral diplomacy ahead of a landmark anniversary.

Courtesy Call and Partnership Review

During the meeting, NSA Doval briefed President Tô Lâm — who also serves as General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam — on the outcomes of his broader engagements during the visit, according to the Indian Embassy in Vietnam. Doval recalled the landmark State Visit of Tô Lâm to India in May 2026, during which the two nations elevated bilateral ties to an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The Tuesday meeting underscored the momentum built since that elevation.

Security and Defence Talks

NSA Doval held separate talks with Senior Lieutenant General Lương Tam Quang, Politburo Member and Minister of Public Security of Vietnam. Both sides reviewed current security cooperation and agreed to deepen the 'multifaceted relations' further, with discussions also touching on regional and global developments. The Indian Embassy described bilateral security ties as reflecting a 'deep, profound, and mutually trusted civilizational partnership.'

Doval also met Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang, where both sides reviewed the status of ongoing defence cooperation and agreed to strengthen activities in that field, the Indian Embassy said.

Diplomatic Milestones and the 2027 Anniversary

In a separate meeting, NSA Doval sat down with Le Hoai Trung, Politburo Member and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, to discuss how the two countries plan to commemorate the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2027. Both sides agreed to mark the milestone in the spirit of the Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, signalling a year of intensified bilateral engagement ahead.

Cultural Diplomacy at Quan Su Pagoda

On the preceding day, Monday, NSA Doval visited the historic Quan Su Pagoda in Hanoi, where he was received by Most Venerable Thich Thanh Nhieu, Standing Vice President and Chief Abbot of the Pagoda, and Most Venerable Thich Duc Thien, Vice President and Secretary General of the National Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS). The visit is consistent with India's broader civilisational diplomacy, which frames the India-Vietnam relationship within shared Buddhist heritage and historical connectivity.

What This Visit Signals

This comes amid India's intensified strategic outreach across Southeast Asia, with the Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership — formalised only in May 2026 — already generating a dense calendar of high-level contacts. Notably, Doval's visit covered the full spectrum of bilateral engagement: presidential diplomacy, security cooperation, defence ties, foreign ministry coordination, and cultural outreach — all within a single trip. With the 2027 diplomatic anniversary approaching, New Delhi and Hanoi appear to be laying the groundwork for a high-profile commemorative agenda.