Dr. Vipra Pandey, Consul General of India in Ho Chi Minh City, tells Vietnam Economic Times / VnEconomy’s Nhu Quynh about the tangible outcomes Vietnam-India cooperation has brought over the past decade.

Looking back over the past decade (2016-2026) since Vietnam and India
established their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, what were the most notable
achievements in bilateral cooperation, particularly in Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam’s
southern region?

The Vietnam-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has evolved into a robust
and multidimensional relationship over the past decade, underpinned by strong political
trust, expanding economic engagement, deepening defense cooperation, and vibrant
people-to-people ties. Ho Chi Minh City and the southern region of Vietnam have
played a particularly important role in translating this strategic vision into tangible
outcomes.

One of the most visible achievements has been the dramatic expansion of air
connectivity. From very limited direct links a decade ago, today more than 70 direct
flights a week connect major Indian cities with Vietnam, with Ho Chi Minh City serving
as the principal southern gateway. This improved connectivity has contributed to
a several-fold increase in Indian tourist arrivals, making India one of Vietnam’s
fastest-growing tourism source markets.

Economic cooperation has also gathered momentum. Southern Vietnam hosts a growing
number of Indian enterprises in IT, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, manufacturing,
textiles, and agro-processing. Ho Chi Minh City has emerged as a focal point for
trade, startups, and business cooperation.

Defense and security cooperation has deepened through regular high-level exchanges,
training programs, and capacity-building initiatives, which have helped strengthen
mutual trust. Landmark projects, such as India’s support for the Army Technology
Park in Nha Trang and the Centre for Excellence in Software Development and Training
(CESDT) in Ho Chi Minh City, reflect India’s long-term commitment to strengthening
Vietnam’s defense and technological capabilities.

Cultural cooperation has also produced enduring symbols, most notably India’s
assistance in the restoration of the My Son World Heritage Site, underscoring the
shared civilizational links between the two countries.

Taken together, these achievements demonstrate that the Comprehensive Strategic
Partnership has delivered concrete and measurable results, particularly in southern
Vietnam.

In your view, how can tourism cooperation be diversified?

Tourism holds immense untapped potential in Vietnam-India relations. While
Buddhist pilgrimage tourism remains an important pillar, feedback we regularly receive
suggests that India’s tourism image in Vietnam needs to be broadened and modernized.

There is growing interest among Vietnamese travelers, especially younger and
middle-income groups, in wellness and Ayurveda tourism, yoga retreats, medical tourism,
film and cultural tourism, cuisine, shopping, and experiential travel.

To support this, India is developing Vietnam-specific itineraries, shorter
travel durations, transparent pricing, and Vietnamese-language promotional materials.
Addressing information gaps about accommodation standards and internal connectivity
is also essential. Familiarization visits for tour operators, media, and digital
influencers would help update perceptions and facilitate the development of more
diverse tourism products.

Conversely, there is also significant scope to promote two-way tourism, as
Indian travelers increasingly explore Vietnam for leisure, MICE tourism, weddings,
cuisine, and coastal destinations. Joint promotional activities and partnerships
between tour operators on both sides could help ensure more balanced and sustainable
growth in tourism flows.

In the field of education and training, how do you assess the demand
for cooperation between universities and educational institutions in the two countries?

Demand for education and training cooperation has risen steadily due to strong
complementarities. India’s strengths in engineering, IT, management, medicine, pharmaceuticals,
and science are well recognized, while Vietnamese universities are increasingly
attracting Indian students.

In recent years, universities and institutions from both sides have expanded
faculty and student exchanges, joint research, and institutional partnerships. These
engagements signal a clear move towards deeper academic collaboration. There is
also considerable scope to expand internship opportunities in IT, manufacturing,
healthcare, pharmaceuticals, startups, and digital services.

Indian Government initiatives play an important enabling role in this process.
A growing number of Vietnamese students benefit from scholarships offered by the
Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), while the Indian Technical and Economic
Cooperation (ITEC) program provides valuable short-term training opportunities for
Vietnamese professionals and officials.

At the same time, more Indian students are enrolling in universities in southern
Vietnam, particularly in medical programs, adding a new and positive dimension to
bilateral educational exchanges.

What initiatives will the Consulate General pursue to strengthen people-to-people
exchanges, especially among young people?

Strengthening people-to-people ties – particularly among students and young
professionals – remains a central priority. The Consulate plans to promote deeper
engagement through a combination of educational, cultural, and experiential initiatives.

A key focus will be on promoting greater cultural and academic immersion for
Vietnamese students in India, including structured exposure visits to leading Indian
institutions of excellence such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), the
Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), premier universities, research centers,
innovation hubs, and cultural institutions. These visits will allow students to
experience India’s academic ecosystem and technological capabilities first-hand.

We also plan to expand outreach to Vietnamese educational institutions through
initiatives such as the establishment of “India Corners” in universities and public
libraries. These spaces will offer curated collections on India’s history, philosophy,
science, economy, and contemporary society, serving as permanent platforms for informed
engagement with India.

In parallel, we will continue organizing education fairs, lectures, and university
interactions, while expanding student exchanges, internships, and collaborative
research. Cultural diplomacy through festivals, film screenings, yoga, and performances
will continue to present a modern and relatable image of India.

As the two countries look towards the tenth anniversary of the Comprehensive
Strategic Partnership, where do you expect to see breakthrough progress?

The bonds of friendship between Vietnam and India have matured and evolved
steadily over the years. The partnership today covers a broad canvas encompassing
political engagement, development cooperation, defense and security collaboration,
trade and investment ties, and extensive people-to-people exchanges. We view this
journey as very much a work in progress.

As Vietnam and India approach the tenth anniversary of the Comprehensive Strategic
Partnership, both countries have articulated their respective long-term development
visions. For India, this is encapsulated in the vision of a “Developed India @2047”
(Atmanirbhar Bharat @2047), while Vietnam is pursuing its “Vietnam 2045” objective.
These complementary visions call for enhanced cooperation in selected priority areas.

Innovation, critical and emerging technologies, renewable energy, and healthcare
hold significant promise. Areas such as AI, quantum computing, next-generation chip
design, rare earth processing, advanced manufacturing, space technologies, digitalization
for good governance, and data and cybersecurity all offer substantial potential
for future-oriented cooperation.

Trade and commerce remain areas where mutual ambitions have yet to be fully
realized, and efforts will continue to enhance bilateral trade. Defense and security
cooperation will remain a key pillar of the partnership and is expected to see further
consolidation and expansion, particularly in training, capacity-building, defense
industry collaboration, technology cooperation, and maritime security.

Education, innovation, and startup collaboration are also poised for rapid
growth, alongside renewed momentum in tourism and cultural exchanges. Above all,
people-to-people ties will continue to anchor the partnership, ensuring that it
remains inclusive, sustainable, and forward-looking.

Ho Chi Minh City is widely regarded as Vietnam’s economic engine. In
your role, how will the Consulate contribute to promoting bilateral economic and
investment links?

Ho Chi Minh City occupies a central position in India’s economic engagement
with Vietnam. The Consulate General works closely with Vietnamese authorities, business
associations, Chambers of Commerce, and Indian industry bodies to identify opportunities
and promote structured business engagement.

Our focus is on encouraging Indian investment into southern Vietnam while supporting
Vietnamese enterprises entering the Indian market. This includes organizing business
delegations, B2B meetings, sector-specific dialogues, and regulatory briefings.

We expect a number of business delegations from India, along with government
officials, to visit Vietnam in 2026 and beyond. Given recent policy changes on both
sides, it is essential to capitalize on these developments to further streamline
bilateral processes for mutual benefit.

At a systemic level, an important ongoing effort is the review of the ASEAN-India
Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA), signed in 2009. India is working closely with
Vietnam and other ASEAN Member States to update this framework so that it better
reflects contemporary economic realities. This review is expected to enhance trade
resilience amid global uncertainties, and we look forward to Vietnam’s continued
constructive and positive support in this important process, which will help further
boost bilateral trade and investment within Vietnam and across ASEAN.

VET-Nhu Quynh