Vietnam President in India: Vietnam President To Lam accorded ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan, meets PM Modi

Vietnamese President To Lam was ceremoniously welcomed at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, during his first official visit to India.

The Vietnamese leader was welcomed by President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi upon his arrival at the presidential palace. This visit marks President Lam’s first state visit to the country since being elected President of Vietnam in April this year.

Ahead of the official ceremony, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval held talks with President Lam on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, to explore ways to strengthen the “comprehensive strategic partnership” shared by the two countries. The President began his three-day official visit by arriving in Gaya, Bihar, on the morning of Tuesday, May 5, 2026. He was welcomed at the airport by Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and other senior officials before he started praying at the historic Mahabodhi Temple. Welcoming the Vietnamese leader, Mr Choudhary said the spiritual city of Gaya “warmly honored” the President’s arrival and expressed confidence that the visit would elevate bilateral relations to “new heights”.

Following these spiritual and preliminary talks, President Lam is scheduled to hold comprehensive talks with Prime Minister Modi on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), their dialogue is expected to cover pressing “regional and global issues” as well as bilateral relations. The ministry stated that “the high-level interaction between the leaders is expected to give new impetus to strong bilateral relations and open new avenues for cooperation between India and Vietnam.”

The timing of the trip, Mr Lam’s first official visit since “being elected President in April”, is particularly significant as it marks the “10th anniversary of the comprehensive strategic partnership” between the two countries. Following her talks in the national capital, President Lam will head to Mumbai, where she plans to “strengthen trade and investment ties” through meetings with business leaders.