By Adriel Lawrence

On the morning of September 2, when the streets from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh city are captured by the red banner with its solitary 'Gold Star', walking down the Ba Dinh square, one can feel the echoes of the autumn day of 1945. On this day, the legendary hero of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh stepped up to declare Vietnam's independence. At that time, Vietnam was a nation that was shattered through famine, split apart by the colonial rule and facing an uncertain future. Ho Chi Minh gave the address, quoting the American and French declarations of independence to argue that self-determination was a universal right.
Down the memory lane from day of independence to the present, it is not just a backward glance at colonial conquest, instead, it is a celebration of what has silently transformed into one of the most dynamic growth stories of Asia. If Vietnam is solely remembered through the lens of grainy war footages or battles written in textbooks, then it is safe to assume that we have missed one of the most remarkable transformations of our time. The true turning point arrived in the year of 1986 with the Đổi Mới economic reforms, that had steered the nation away from the central planning and injected it straight into the flow of global trade. In today's time, Vietnam is not submerged in the work of just assembling low cost T-shirts or stitching running shoes. As the multinationals diversify away from excessive reliance on the China+1 banner under Beijing, Vietnam has transformed itself into a vital hardware hub, pumping out the high-end consumer electronics and setting the sights firmly on semi-conductor packaging, artificial intelligence, and cutting-edge digital infrastructure (Hanh, 2026).
Alongside this, Hanoi has also transformed itself from an isolated regional nation to an institutional anchor of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) (Vietnam News Agency (VNA), 2026). Vietnam also possesses profound diplomatic influence by consistently upholding international law, most notable the 1982 United Nations Convention on the law of the Sea (UNCLOS), to defend its exclusive economic zone across the shifting waters of the South China Sea (Hanh, 2026).
The questions roll down to "How does a country that sits at a challenging geographic neighborhood hold down its ground without getting flattened by major power rivalry?"
Short answer is its 'Bamboo Diplomacy'. The long answer lies in the idea of a 'bamboo shoot', the roots are buried deep into the core national interests, while the trunk bends flexibly with whatever geopolitical upheaval occurs to blow through it. Guided by the 'four No's defence doctrine' - No military alliances; No hosting foreign military bases; No teaming up with one country against another; and No using of force in international disputes, Vietnam deliberately refuses to be under anyone's influence. It maintains a top tier partnership with Washington, Beijing, Moscow Tokyo, Canberra and Seoul (Vietnam News Agency (VNA), 2025). Frictional situations with China have often been handled through the economic and party channels, while simultaneously deepening the regional security ties.
Vietnam is a living proof that strategic autonomy does not mean sitting on the fenceline, but rather the active management of the available options so that no country can take them for granted.
This brings us to the question of understanding India-Vietnam multi-faceted partnership. If a lens is used to look at the vibrant ties between New Delhi and Hanoi, the relationship began long before the notion of modern diplomacy was invented. Millenia ago, seafaring monks and traders carried Hindu and Buddhist culture across the Bay of Bengal, leaving behind a spiritual imprint that still stands tall in the weathered Cham brick temples of My Son (Loan, 2026). During the period of the twentieth century, that civilizational goodwill evolved into mutual empathy. Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru shared letters, ideas and solidarity with Ho Chi Minh (Embassy of India, 2026). India had even chaired the international commission for supervision and control following the 1954 Geneva Accords, standing firmly by Vietnam during its long postwar isolation when few other non-communists nations stood by it.
It must, however be understood that sentimental history alone cannot fuel modern statecraft. What drives this relationship with energy today is their strategic convergence. Vietnam is the major pillar of India's 'Act East Policy' and a key player of its 'Indo-Pacific Strategy' (Hanh, 2026). As India dives outward into the wider realm of Indo-Pacific, it sees in Vietnam a like minded partner that sits right across the vital maritime lanes, both abhor the idea of an Asian order that is dominated by a singular hegemon, and there has been a race to which both are a party to, racing in a parallel modernization timeline. Hanoi aspires to become a developed, high-income country by 2025, marking a century of its independence, under its Vision 2045, finding a parallel in New Delhi's own ambition for a Viksit Bharat by 2047 (Vietnam News Agency (VNA), 2026).
The confluence of these countries was underscored by significant milestone in May 2026, when the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President, To Lam had a State visit to India (Embassy of India, 2026). Both leaderships took the decisive step of elevating their relationship to an 'Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership' (Ministry of External Affairs, 2026). This title might sound like a diplomatic jargon, albeit, its implications carry a profound effect, it placed India in an elite, distinct tier within the Vietnam's external partnerships (Vietnam News Agency (VNA), 2025). More importantly, the two sides backed up the symbolic handshake with hard numbers, pledging to elevate two-way trade to 25 billion US $ by 2030.
In maritime security, India is not providing a verbal support but rather an entire operational, indigenously built missile corvette, INS Kirpan, to the Vietnam's people's Navy, and backed patrol boat manufacturing with generous defence credit lines (Embassy of India, 2026). The two militaries regularly train together in their flagship VINBAX exercises, practicing everything, from peacekeeping to the coastal interoperability (Embassy of India, 2026).
The cooperation extends far onto the deeper front of technology and economy. To break out of the critical mineral chokeholds, India's IREL and Vietnam's Institute for Technology and Radioactive and Rare Elements have teamed up to process the rare earth minerals (Hanh, 2026). In the digital world, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the State Bank of India (SBI) paved the way for India's UPI to talk directly to Vietnam's NAPAS network, that will let all the travellers, students and merchants scan the QR codes and transfer money across borders in seconds (Hanh, 2026).
All of this leaves us with the truth that, though India-Vietnam friendship was established through history, but modern-day strategic interests are deepening the partnerships. (Loan, 2026). Neither of the country is willing to outsource its sovereign judgment to external superpower states nor interested in joining any rigid military bloc. However, both countries are developing practical gateway to provide a free, open and multipolar Indo-Pacific where the nations, whether small or large, have an equal say in matters.
When the fireworks light up the Ba Dinh Square on the National Day, 2nd September must not be remembered merely as an anniversary of anti-colonial survival. It is the true living celebration of a nation that took a revolutionary passion for sovereignty, tied its knot with economic ambitions and evolved itself into a confident, influential player on the world stage. Throughout the journey of safeguarding its autonomy in turbulent times, Vietnam has found a valued partner in India.

References Cited:
Embassy of India, H. (2026, August 31). Bilateral Relations. https://www.indembassyhanoi.gov.in/page/bilateral-relations/
Hanh, V. N. (2026, May 7). Vietnam, India Upgrade Ties to Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership: Highlights for Businesses. Vietnam Briefing. https://www.vietnam-briefing.com/news/vietnam-india-upgrade-ties-to-enhanced-comprehensive-strategic-partnership-highlights-for-businesses.html/
Loan, K. (2026, May 11). Viet Nam-India relations: From CSP to enhanced CSP. Viet Nam Government News. https://en.baochinhphu.vn/viet-nam-india-relations-from-csp-to-enhanced-csp-111260511105930566.htm
Ministry of External Affairs, G. of I. (2026). Joint Statement on Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the Republic of India and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. https://www.mea.gov.in/bilateral-documents?dtl/41108/Joint_Statement_on_Enhanced_Comprehensive_Strategic_Partnership_between_the_Republic_of_India_and_the_Socialist_Republic_of_Vietnam_May_06_2026
Vietnam News Agency (VNA). (2025, April 28). Japanese expert lauds Vietnam's art of bamboo diplomacy. Vietnam Plus. https://en.vietnamplus.vn/japanese-expert-lauds-vietnams-art-of-bamboo-diplomacy-post318320.vnp
Vietnam News Agency (VNA). (2026, August 26). Vietnam, India seek to deepen Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. VietnamPlus. https://en.vietnamplus.vn/vietnam-india-seek-to-deepen-enhanced-comprehensive-strategic-partnership-post350859.vnp

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(Adriel Lawrence is a research intern at the Centre for Vietnam studies, New Delhi).