Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently made a short visit to Malaysia. Although it was only a two-day visit, the South Asian leader's trip was considered more successful than expected, breathing new life into India-Malaysia relations and adding new colours to New Delhi's diverse and colourful picture of cooperation.

At first glance, the newly concluded trade agreement between India and the US appears to be a “win-win” deal, giving fresh impetus to bilateral trade ties. Yet beneath the surface lie unresolved questions, particularly over the extent to which New Delhi will cut its imports of Russian oil.

A seminar held recently in Kolkata by the Indian – Viet Nam Solidarity Committee (IVSC) looked into the main outcomes and major achievements of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV), convened from January 19 to 23.

Before 2016, the number of Indian visitors to Viet Nam stood at only around 100,000 arrivals. By 2019, this figure had risen to nearly 200,000. After the Covid-19 pandemic, thanks to the expansion of direct air routes, the number of Indian tourists to Viet Nam has increased sharply, reaching about 750,000 in 2025, 4.5 times higher than in 2019.

As part of trade promotion activities toward the Viet Nam Glorious Spring Fair 2026, the Viet Nam Trade Office in India, in coordination with industry associations of both countries, organised an online seminar to connect businesses and expand cooperation in textiles and garments, footwear, wood products and furniture.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is set to pay his first official visit to India since taking office early next week. The trip not only signals an adjustment in Berlin’s strategic thinking but also highlights New Delhi’s increasingly prominent role in Europe’s long-term calculations.

Vietnamese farm produce and food products have drawn strong interest at Indusfood 2026, Asia’s premier food and beverage tradeshow, which is taking place from January 8–10 at the India Exposition Mart in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh state.

The Indian Ambassador expressed his hope to further strengthen direct engagement with Vietnamese travel companies, which he described as “ambassadors of tourism connectivity” between the two countries, to jointly explore measures for tightening tourism links.

In 2025, South Asia remained a hotspot of conflict and instability on the global map, marked by confrontations between neighbouring countries, political crises, and the growing imprint of major-power strategic competition.

Although lasting only two days, the State visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to India — the world’s most populous nation — drew intense international attention, as it sought to consolidate the Asia–Europe strategic alliance at a time when both countries are under considerable pressure from the West.

The first Congress of the Vietnamese Students’ Association in India for the 2025–2027 tenure was held in India on the morning of November 30.

The 2025 Viet Nam–India bilateral army exercise on United Nations peacekeeping operations (VINBAX 2025) concluded on November 27 after nearly 20 days of intensive training carried out in a spirit of responsibility and professionalism.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had separate meetings on the morning of November 22 (local time) with the President of the Republic of Korea (RoK) and the Prime Minister of India and Spain to discuss ways to advance bilateral cooperation and exchange views on international issues of shared concern.

The Startup Flight 2025 took place on November 11 at Amity University in Uttar Pradesh, India, as part of a broader initiative to promote startup collaboration, innovation, and technology ecosystem connections between Viet Nam and India amid the region’s accelerating digital transformation.

Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang hosted a reception for Indian Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh in Ha Noi on November 10, during which both sides expressed satisfaction with the fruitful outcomes of the 15th Viet Nam – India Defence Policy Dialogue held earlier the same day.

Sen. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien, Deputy Minister of National Defence of Viet Nam, and Indian Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh co-chaired the 15th Viet Nam – India Defence Policy Dialogue in Ha Noi on November 10.

In 2023, Viet Nam welcomed 392,000 Indian visitors. This figure increased to 507,000 in 2024. In the first eight months of 2025, 443,000 Indian tourists arrived in Viet Nam. This demonstrates Viet Nam’s growing appeal to the Indian market, opening up vast potential for deepened tourism cooperation between the two countries.

"Love in Viet Nam", a co-production between Innovations India and Samten Hills Viet Nam, had its official premiere in New Delhi on September 7, attracting wide interest from audiences in both countries.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held meetings with leaders of Cambodia, Malaysia, India, the UN, and ASEAN on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit 2025 in Tianjin, China, on September 1.

Indian Ambassador to Viet Nam Sandeep Arya highlighted India’s key socio-economic achievements since independence and seven decades of robust ties with Viet Nam on the occasion of India’s 79th Independence Day on August 15.