Vietnamese President To Lam visits India May 5-7 for State visit with PM Modi
Synopsis
Vietnamese President To Lam's maiden India visit is more than a diplomatic formality — it lands on the 10th anniversary of the India-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, with bilateral trade, defence, and regional security all on the table. With a business delegation in tow and stops in Bodh Gaya and Mumbai, the visit signals both civilisational depth and economic ambition.
Key Takeaways
Vietnamese President To Lam will visit India from 5 to 7 May 2025 on a State visit.
This is To Lam's first visit to India after being elected President of Vietnam in April 2025.
PM Modi and President Droupadi Murmu will both hold meetings with the visiting leader.
A ceremonial welcome is scheduled at Rashtrapati Bhawan on 6 May .
To Lam will also visit Bodh Gaya and Mumbai during the trip.
The visit marks the 10th anniversary of the India-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership , established in 2016.
Vietnamese President To Lam will arrive in India on 5 May 2025 for a three-day State visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Thursday, 30 April. This marks To Lam's first visit to India following his election as Vietnam's President earlier this month.
Key Engagements During the Visit
President To Lam, who also serves as General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, will remain in India until 7 May 2025. On 6 May, he will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi. Prime Minister Modi will subsequently hold wide-ranging discussions with To Lam covering the full spectrum of bilateral relations, as well as regional and global issues of mutual interest.
President Droupadi Murmu will also hold a separate meeting with the visiting leader, and other senior Indian leaders are expected to call on President To Lam during the course of the visit.
High-Level and Business Delegation
According to the MEA, To Lam will be accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising several Ministers and senior officials of the Government of Vietnam. Notably, a strong business delegation will also travel with the visiting dignitary, signalling the commercial dimension of the visit alongside its diplomatic significance.
Bodh Gaya and Mumbai on the Itinerary
Beyond the capital, President To Lam is scheduled to visit Bodh Gaya in Bihar and Mumbai, India's financial hub, during his stay. The inclusion of Bodh Gaya underscores the deep civilisational and Buddhist heritage ties that bind the two nations, while Mumbai reflects the growing economic engagement between India and Vietnam.
10th Anniversary of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
The MEA noted that President To Lam's visit coincides with the 10th anniversary of the elevation of India-Vietnam relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, first agreed during Prime Minister Modi's visit to Vietnam in 2016. The ministry stated that the engagements between leaders will provide
Point of View
It offers both sides an opportunity to move from milestone rhetoric to measurable deliverables. India's Indo-Pacific calculus increasingly sees Vietnam as a critical node, given Hanoi's own friction with Beijing in the South China Sea. The business delegation signals intent, but the real test is whether this visit produces binding trade or defence agreements rather than another round of MoUs. The Bodh Gaya stop is diplomatically astute, but New Delhi will be watching whether To Lam's Hanoi can translate civilisational warmth into supply-chain and defence partnerships that matter.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Vietnamese President To Lam visiting India?
Vietnamese President To Lam will visit India from 5 to 7 May 2025 on a State visit. He was invited by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as announced by the Ministry of External Affairs on 30 April 2025.
What is the purpose of To Lam's visit to India?
The visit aims to strengthen the India-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and covers bilateral, regional, and global issues of mutual interest. It also coincides with the 10th anniversary of the partnership's establishment in 2016.
Who will To Lam meet during his India visit?
President To Lam will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi for wide-ranging discussions, and will also hold a separate meeting with President Droupadi Murmu. Other senior Indian leaders are expected to call on him as well.
Which cities will To Lam visit in India?
Beyond New Delhi, where the formal diplomatic engagements will take place, President To Lam is scheduled to visit Bodh Gaya in Bihar and Mumbai during his three-day stay.
What is the India-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership?
The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and Vietnam was established during Prime Minister Modi's visit to Vietnam in 2016. It covers defence, trade, investment, and people-to-people ties, and 2025 marks its 10th anniversary.
