New Delhi: The Indian Navy continued to deepen its strategic engagement with Vietnam as INS Sagardhwani, India’s oceanographic research vessel, concluded a successful visit to Cam Ranh from May 4 to May 8, 2026.
The visit highlighted the growing maritime cooperation, scientific collaboration, and defence engagement between the two countries, reflecting the steady expansion of the India-Vietnam strategic partnership in the Indo-Pacific region.
During the port call, the Commanding Officer of INS Sagardhwani held important interactions with senior Vietnamese military officials, including Tran Van Cuong and Nguyen Huu Minh. Discussions focused on enhancing maritime cooperation, professional exchanges, naval training, and scientific collaboration as both countries continue to strengthen bilateral defence ties.
The visit also coincided with a significant milestone marking a decade of the India-Vietnam Strategic Partnership, underlining the increasing importance both nations place on regional stability, maritime security, and cooperative engagement in the Indo-Pacific.
Recent naval interactions between the two countries have further reinforced this relationship. Earlier in 2026, a ship from the Vietnam People’s Navy participated in the International Fleet Review 2026 and MILAN 2026 held at Visakhapatnam, reflecting the growing operational engagement between the two navies.
As part of the professional exchange programme during the visit, the Commanding Officer interacted with Ho Thanh Hoa to discuss opportunities for expanding cooperation in naval education and training. Officers and cadets from the Vietnamese Naval Academy also visited INS Sagardhwani, where they received insights into the vessel’s operational functions, scientific role, and onboard research capabilities.
The visit was not limited to official meetings alone. In a display of friendship and camaraderie, personnel from the Indian Navy and the Vietnam People’s Navy participated in friendly volleyball matches and joint yoga sessions, helping strengthen interpersonal ties and cultural understanding between the two sides.
Scientific cooperation formed another major pillar of the engagement. Scientists from Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory, operating under the Defence Research and Development Organisation, held detailed discussions with researchers from the Institute of Oceanography in Nha Trang. The interactions focused on research collaboration, knowledge exchange, and capacity building in oceanographic science and technology.
Researchers from the National Oceanographic Institute also visited the vessel during its stay, further broadening the scientific engagement between institutions from both countries.
INS Sagardhwani is a specialised oceanographic research vessel that supports scientific studies related to marine environments, underwater acoustics, and oceanographic data collection. Such missions are increasingly important in the modern maritime domain, where scientific understanding contributes directly to naval operations, maritime security, climate research, and underwater surveillance capabilities.
The successful visit to Cam Ranh reflects the broader strategic convergence between India and Vietnam, especially in the context of regional maritime cooperation and a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific. Over the years, both countries have steadily expanded defence ties through naval exchanges, training initiatives, capacity-building programmes, and coordinated maritime engagement.
The port call also underscored the growing role of science and technology diplomacy in strengthening bilateral partnerships. By combining naval cooperation with oceanographic research and educational exchanges, both countries are seeking to build a multidimensional maritime relationship that extends beyond traditional defence interactions.
As India continues to strengthen partnerships across Southeast Asia, engagements such as the INS Sagardhwani visit are expected to play an important role in enhancing regional connectivity, scientific collaboration, and strategic trust between friendly maritime nations.
