Maritime News: Indian Navy’s oceanographic research vessel INS Sagardhwani concluded a five-day operational visit to Cam Ranh, Vietnam, reinforcing the expanding maritime and scientific partnership between India and Vietnam.
The visit, held from May 4 to May 8, 2026, focused on naval cooperation, professional exchanges and oceanographic research collaboration, coinciding with a decade of the India–Vietnam Strategic Partnership.
Naval Cooperation and Strategic Engagement
During the visit, the Commanding Officer of INS Sagardhwani held meetings with senior Vietnamese defence officials, including:
- Sr Col Tran Van Cuong, Deputy Head of Khanh Hoa Military Command
- Sr Capt Nguyen Huu Minh, Deputy Political Commissar, Naval Region 4
The discussions explored opportunities for deeper maritime cooperation, naval training exchanges and scientific engagement between the two countries.
The visit also follows Vietnam People’s Navy participation in International Fleet Review 2026 and MILAN 2026 hosted at Visakhapatnam earlier this year, highlighting growing naval interactions between the two nations.
Naval Training and Professional Exchanges
As part of the engagement programme, the Commanding Officer interacted with Sr Capt Ho Thanh Hoa, Deputy Director of the Naval Academy, Vietnam.
The interactions focused on expanding cooperation in:
- naval education
- officer training
- maritime skill development
- professional exchanges
Officers and cadets from the Vietnamese Naval Academy visited INS Sagardhwani and were introduced to the vessel’s operational role, onboard scientific systems and maritime research capabilities.
Scientific Collaboration in Oceanographic Research
A key highlight of the visit was the scientific engagement between Indian and Vietnamese researchers.
Scientists from the Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL) under DRDO held discussions with researchers from the Institute of Oceanography, Nha Trang.
The collaboration focused on:
- oceanographic research
- scientific knowledge sharing
- marine technology cooperation
- capacity building initiatives
Scientists from the National Oceanographic Institute also visited the vessel during the port call.
The growing cooperation in ocean sciences comes at a time when oceanographic research is becoming increasingly important for:
- maritime security
- submarine operations
- climate monitoring
- seabed mapping
- underwater surveillance systems
Cultural Exchanges Strengthen Bilateral Ties
Reflecting the broader diplomatic relationship between the two countries, personnel from the Indian Navy and Vietnam People’s Navy also participated in:
- friendly volleyball matches
- joint yoga sessions
- cultural interaction programmes
Officials said such engagements help strengthen interpersonal ties and mutual understanding between naval personnel.
India Expanding Maritime Presence in Indo-Pacific
The deployment of INS Sagardhwani reflects India’s growing maritime outreach across the Indo-Pacific region, where scientific diplomacy and naval engagement are becoming increasingly interconnected.
India and Vietnam continue to deepen cooperation across maritime security, naval interoperability and regional stability amid evolving strategic dynamics in the South China Sea and wider Indo-Pacific waters.
The visit also highlights India’s increasing use of specialised research vessels as instruments of maritime diplomacy and scientific collaboration.
