The Act East policy of New Delhi has ushered in a new level of trust and confidence among the key players of Indo-Pacific region. This year, the Republic Day parade saw a rare spectacle of heads of all the 10 Asean countries in attendance as chief guests. One of them was Prime Minister of Vietnam, Nguyen Xuan Phuc. President Tran Dai Quang's visit to India to commemorate the establishment of 45 years of diplomatic relations between New Delhi and Hanoi is in the fitness of things. Defence and security have been the key foundations for the two nations to build upon their ties. During his 2016 Vietnam visit, Prime Minsiter Narendra Modi had given $500 million line of Credit to Vietnam for defence. Vietnam is one country which is trying to offer some resistance to the marauding China.
New Delhi has time and again indicated that it wishes to abide by the United Nations Convention on the law of the Sea in the said matter, which has ruffled Beijing much to the glee of other nations of the region. Though Hanoi is a part of Beijing's ‘One Belt One Road’, it is unambiguous where its heart lies. It is often said that India needs to engage Vietnam along the lines of China's engagement with Pakistan. That being said, trade, nuclear energy, agriculture, coal and port are other areas of common interest. President Quang starting his India sojourn via Bihar's Bodhgaya is significant because securing cultural threads between the two countries is important.