The sixth edition of the Exercise VINBAX 2025 — Vietnam-India Bilateral Exercise has started. India’s Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Dy Chief of General Staff Lt Gen Phung Si Tan presided over the opening ceremony on Tuesday, at the National Military Training Centre 4 in Hanoi.
Exercise VINBAX is a bilateral military exercise between India and Vietnam, co-hosted by the defence ministries of both the countries.
The aim of the exercise remains to enhance interoperability, share best practices in UN peacekeeping operations, and boost defence cooperation between the armies.
India’s Defence Secretary praised the military exercise, calling it a "vibrant symbol" of the strong defence cooperation and strategic trust between the two armies.
He stressed that VINBAX has become one of the most vital pillars of bilateral defence cooperation, demonstrating the shared commitment of both Vietnam and India to regional peace and stability.
The Secretary noted that the exercise has evolved significantly, transforming from basic tabletop drills into a comprehensive, in-depth professional activity, and added that the training provides armies of both countries with a key opportunity to learn practical experience in humanitarian and peacekeeping scenarios.
Meanwhile, on Monday, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh called on Minister of National Defence of Vietnam Gen Phan Van Giang on the sidelines of the 15th India–Viet Nam Defence Policy Dialogue.