National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Monday, 2 November 2026, visited the historic Quan Su Pagoda in Hanoi, underscoring Buddhism as a shared civilisational bond between India and Vietnam. The visit came during Doval's official trip to Hanoi — he had arrived on Sunday — during which he held high-level meetings with Vietnamese leadership in line with the India-Vietnam Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The Pagoda Visit and Its Symbolism

At the Quan Su Pagoda, Doval 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 Indian Embassy in Vietnam shared glimpses of the visit on X, noting: 'Buddhism is the civilisational bridge between the people of India and Vietnam.' The gesture carries deliberate diplomatic weight — Buddhism, which traces its origins to India, remains a living cultural thread connecting the two nations' societies across centuries.

Diplomatic Meetings with Vietnamese Leadership

Earlier on Monday, Doval met Le Hoai Trung, Politburo Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and Minister of Foreign Affairs. The two sides discussed ways to mark the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Vietnam, due in 2027. According to the Indian Embassy, 'Both sides discussed ways to commemorate this historic milestone in the spirit of India-Vietnam Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.'

Doval also held talks with Senior Lieutenant General Luong Tam Quang, Politburo Member and Minister of Public Security of Vietnam, focusing on security sector cooperation. The Indian Embassy stated that 'bilateral security cooperation reflects the deep, profound, and mutually trusted civilizational partnership between India and Vietnam,' with both sides agreeing to deepen multifaceted ties and exchanging views on regional and global developments.

Defence Cooperation in Focus

Doval additionally met General Phan Van Giang, Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence. According to the Indian Embassy, both sides reviewed the status of ongoing defence cooperation and agreed to further strengthen activities in this field. The defence dimension adds strategic heft to a visit that also carried strong cultural messaging.

Context: A Strengthening Strategic Partnership

This is not a standalone visit. India and Vietnam elevated their bilateral relations to an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during Vietnamese President To Lam's State Visit to India in May 2026. Doval's engagements — spanning foreign affairs, public security, and defence — signal that New Delhi intends to operationalise that elevation across multiple domains. This comes amid India's broader effort to deepen ties with Southeast Asian partners, particularly as regional security dynamics in the South China Sea remain fluid. The Quan Su Pagoda visit reinforces a people-to-people dimension that often underpins lasting strategic alignment.

As the 2027 diplomatic anniversary approaches, both governments are expected to announce a slate of commemorative events and potentially new bilateral frameworks.