Vietnam President Begins India Visit From Gaya’s Mahabodhi Temple Before Delhi Arrival; BrahMos Deal On The Cards?
Vietnamese President To Lam arrived in Gaya, where he was received at the airport by Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary along with senior officials. Image courtesy: RNA
While New Delhi is the preferred place for most world leaders on their India visit, Vietnam President To Lam chose Bihar on his first visit to the country after being elected last month. He arrived in Gaya, Bihar on Tuesday (May 5, 2026) and received a warm welcome to the sacred land of Lord Buddha.
Vietnamese President Lam’s first official visit to India since assuming office in April is being closely watched as a key moment in the evolving strategic partnership between the two nations. The three-day visit, from May 5 to 7, which combines cultural outreach, high-level political meetings and potential defence discussions, is expected to add fresh momentum to bilateral ties marking a decade of comprehensive strategic partnership.
Vietnamese President’s India visit: How did To Lam begin his first India visit?
President To Lam began his India visit with a culturally significant stop in Gaya, Bihar, where he arrived on Tuesday morning. He was received at the airport by Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and senior officials, underscoring the importance attached to the visit. Shortly after his arrival, Lam visited the Mahabodhi Temple, one of Buddhism’s holiest sites, where he offered prayers.
The visit to Gaya highlighted the deep civilisational and cultural links between India and Vietnam, particularly through shared Buddhist heritage.
Welcoming the Vietnamese leader, Chief Minister Choudhary described Gaya as a spiritual city that “warmly honors” his arrival and expressed confidence that the visit would take bilateral relations to “new heights.”
Who is President To Lam scheduled to meet in India?
Following his arrival in Bihar, President Lam travelled to New Delhi for the main leg of his visit. He was accorded a warm welcome and received by Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai. “This year, we are marking the milestone of 10 years of India-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” the MEA said.
He is scheduled to hold wide-ranging talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (May 6, 2026), where discussions are expected to cover bilateral cooperation as well as regional and global developments. The Vietnamese President is also expected to meet President Droupadi Murmu during his stay in the national capital.
Ahead of these engagements, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval met President Lam and discussed ways to further strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, signalling early movement on key strategic issues.
What is on the agenda for India-Vietnam talks?
The discussions between Prime Minister Modi and President Lam are expected to focus on expanding cooperation across multiple sectors. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the engagement is likely to “provide fresh momentum” to bilateral ties and open new avenues of collaboration.
Key areas include defence cooperation, trade, investment, and regional security in the Indo-Pacific. The visit also coincides with the 10th anniversary of the India-Vietnam comprehensive strategic partnership, giving added significance to the talks.
President Lam is accompanied by a high-level delegation, including ministers and business representatives, indicating that economic engagement will be a major focus alongside strategic discussions. He is also scheduled to visit Mumbai to further boost trade and investment ties.
India-Vietnam BrahMos missile deal also on the table?
Defence cooperation is expected to be a central theme of the visit, with particular attention on a potential deal for the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system. According to reports, Vietnam may explore the possibility of acquiring the missile, which is jointly developed by India and Russia.
While discussions on expanding defence ties are anticipated, sources indicate that no formal agreement is likely to be signed during this visit. However, the issue is expected to be part of broader talks on strengthening military cooperation.
India has already exported BrahMos missiles to countries like the Philippines, and Indonesia recently signed an agreement to procure the system. A potential deal with Vietnam would further expand India’s defence export footprint in Southeast Asia.
Vietnam President Begins India Visit From Gaya’s Mahabodhi Temple Before Delhi Arrival; BrahMos Deal On The Cards?
