Rajnath Singh, Phan Van Giang Exchange Handshake in Hanoi

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh shook hands with Vietnam Defence Minister Gen. Phan Van Giang during a formal ceremonial welcome in Hanoi on 19 May 2026, marking the opening of high-level India-Vietnam defence talks.

Rajnath Singh inspected a guard of honour alongside Gen. Phan Van Giang in Hanoi on 19 May 2026, a ceremonial honour extended to visiting defence ministers under Vietnam's bilateral protocol.

The ceremonial welcome in Hanoi on 19 May 2026 signals deepening ties between India and Vietnam, two nations that upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in recent years.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a bilateral meeting with Vietnam's Defence Minister Gen. Phan Van Giang in Hanoi on 19 May 2026, with defence cooperation and regional security expected to top the agenda, according to ministry sources.

Rajnath Singh's visit to Hanoi on 19 May 2026 is seen as part of India's broader 'Act East' policy, reinforcing defence and strategic ties with Vietnam amid evolving security dynamics in the Indo-Pacific region.

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