Indian Navy's Eastern Fleet warships, INS Udaygiri and INS Kavaratti, arrived at Nha Rong Port in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on Monday, June 24, 2026, as part of their operational deployment to the South East Asia region. The port call underscores the deepening defence partnership between India and Vietnam.
Ceremonial Welcome and Bilateral Cooperation
The ships, led by Rear Admiral Alok Ananda, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet, were warmly received by personnel from the Vietnam People's Navy, representatives of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, and port authorities, according to a statement from the Ministry of Defence. The reception highlighted the close, longstanding ties between the two navies and the growing maritime partnership.
During the port call, the Indian Navy and the Vietnam People's Navy will engage in professional interactions, cross-deck exchanges, sporting fixtures, and community outreach activities. Senior leadership interactions are also scheduled to exchange perspectives and further strengthen bilateral naval cooperation.
Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
This deployment marks the Indian Navy's first major presence in Vietnam since the bilateral relationship was elevated to an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in May 2026. The Joint Statement from May reaffirmed that defence and security cooperation is a key pillar of the India-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Leaders commended the effective implementation of the Joint Vision Statement on India-Vietnam Defence Partnership towards 2030, which continues to guide growing defence ties.
The Joint Statement noted that leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation in traditional and emerging areas of defence, including defence policy dialogue, joint exercises, staff talks, joint research and co-production of new defence technologies, enhanced port calls by naval vessels and air force aircraft, peacekeeping activities, information sharing, hydrography, defence exhibitions, capacity building, defence industrial cooperation, maritime security, maritime safety, and search and rescue operations. These efforts aim to contribute to greater stability in the wider Indo-Pacific region. The two countries also decided to enhance defence systems procurement.
