Vietnam Coast Guard Ship Reaches Chennai for Joint Exercise Sahyog HOP TAC

Chennai, August 24, 2026; A Vietnamese Coast Guard vessel has arrived in Chennai for the second edition of the India-Vietnam Joint Exercise Sahyog HOP TAC, marking another step towards closer maritime security cooperation between the two countries.

The visit includes a six-member delegation from the Vietnam Coast Guard and is being held alongside the 7th India-Vietnam Coast Guard High-Level Meeting. The engagement will focus on strengthening coordination between the two maritime forces through professional interaction and the exchange of operational expertise.

Key areas of cooperation during the exercise include maritime law enforcement and responses to marine pollution incidents. The joint activities are expected to provide both sides with an opportunity to share operational practices and enhance their preparedness for maritime challenges.

The latest engagement comes amid a series of defence exchanges between India and Vietnam. Earlier this month, a five-member delegation of the Vietnam People’s Army, headed by Major General Do Minh Xuong, visited Mhow from August 17 to 20.

During the visit, the Vietnamese delegation examined India’s capabilities in areas including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, advanced weapon systems and modern tactical training. The interaction was aimed at promoting mutual learning and further expanding defence cooperation.

India and Vietnam have also intensified military-level engagement in recent months. During Air Chief Marshal A P Singh’s visit to Hanoi earlier in August, discussions with General Nguyen Tan Cuong, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army and Deputy Minister of National Defence, covered strengthening military cooperation and regional and international security concerns.

Defence and security remain key components of the India-Vietnam Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Cooperation between the two nations has expanded beyond traditional military engagement to include training, capacity building and exchanges across different branches of their armed forces.

The arrival of the Vietnamese Coast Guard ship in Chennai further underlines the growing focus on practical cooperation in maritime security and law enforcement between New Delhi and Hanoi.