The traditional friendship between Viet Nam and India has been built on the firm foundation of historical, cultural, artistic, and religious ties, and has stood strong amid changes in the regional and global situation.
Since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1972, the fine Viet Nam-India relationship has made long and steady strides. The year 2026 marks the 10th anniversary of the upgrade of ties to the Viet Nam-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, providing an opportunity to look back on a decade of cooperation with many achievements to be proud of.
India is currently among Viet Nam’s 10 largest trading partners. Bilateral trade reached around 16.4 billion USD in 2025 and about 4.8 billion USD in the first three months of 2026, up 28% year on year. On the solid foundation consolidated over the past years, Viet Nam and India have set a target of raising two-way trade to 25 billion USD by 2030.
To realise this goal, the two sides are working to implement measures to facilitate greater access for each country’s goods to the other’s market, while also promoting supply chains in areas of shared interest.
In the joint statement on the enhanced comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, issued during the state visit by Party General Secretary and President To Lam to India in May 2026, the leaders of the two countries agreed to strengthen cooperation between the two economies, including closer coordination between governments and business communities to promote trade, investment, and technology cooperation.
Shared development visions and similar views on many regional and international issues also provide an important foundation for Viet Nam and India to expand the space for bilateral cooperation.
The two sides share many similarities in their visions and aspirations for national development, as both are working towards new development goals on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of their founding. India is on the path to realising its vision of a developed country by 2047, while Viet Nam aims to become a developed, high-income country by 2045.
Although these two goals are being pursued under different conditions, both place science-technology, innovation, and high-quality human resources as important driving forces. On international issues and at multilateral forums, the two countries also share a common vision of building an order based on international law, strengthening multilateral institutions, and maintaining peace, stability, and sustainable development.
The close and effective cooperation between Viet Nam and India is also demonstrated through Viet Nam’s active, proactive, and responsible participation, as a partner country, in activities of BRICS — a grouping of major emerging economies of which India is a key member. Viet Nam’s participation in BRICS contributes to deepening its bilateral relations with BRICS members, including India.
In addition, Viet Nam’s position and prestige have been enhanced. BRICS expands the space for Viet Nam to diversify markets and partners, creating favourable conditions for trade and investment activities, and helping strengthen resilience against fluctuations in the global economy.
The cooperation achievements gained over more than half a century provide favourable conditions for Viet Nam and India to continue advancing bilateral cooperation to new heights. The close friendship and cooperation also add momentum for the two countries to move forward firmly on the path to realising their respective development goals and aspirations.
The cooperation achievements gained over more than half a century provide favourable conditions for Viet Nam and India to continue advancing bilateral cooperation to new heights. The close friendship and cooperation also add momentum for the two countries to move forward firmly on the path to realising their respective development goals and aspirations.
