The 6th edition of Vietnam-India Bilateral Army Exercise (VINBAX), a bilateral military exercise between India and Vietnam, began on November 11, 2025, at the National Military Training Centre 4 in Hanoi, Vietnam.
- The 18-day exercise, which will continue till November 27, 2025, brings together around 300 personnel from the Indian Army (IA) and the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA).
Exam Hints:
- What? Exercise VINBAX 2025 began
- Countries: India and Vietnam
- Edition: 6th
- Duration: From November 11 to 27, 2025 (18 days)
- Contingents: Engineer Regiment (India) and Peacekeeping Units (Vietnam)
- First Edition: In 2018 in Jabalpur (MP)
Exercise VINBAX 2025:
Inaugural Ceremony: It was presided by Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Defence (MoD), and Senior Lieutenant General Phung Si Tan, Deputy Chief of General Staff, VPA.
Participants: From the Indian side, troops from an Engineer Regiment and a Medical Corps detachment under the Southwestern Command.
- From the Vietnam side, personnel from the Peacekeeping Units of VPA and Military Engineering and Medical units.
Objective: The key objectives are to strengthen defence cooperation and mutual trust, enhance interoperability in United Nations Peacekeeping Operations(UNPKO), and share operational experience and best practices in modern field conditions, including medical aid, engineering tasks and SAR missions.
Background: The first edition of VINBAX was held in 2018 in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh (MP). It was formed as part of India’s Act East Policy and to strengthen ties with Vietnam.
Nature: Exercise VINBAX, conducted alternatively in India and Vietnam every year, focuses on UN-mandated peacekeeping simulations rather than combat training.
Significance: Vietnam is the only country with which India conducts an annual field-level UN peacekeeping simulation.
Training:
Phase I: In the theoretical training phase, participants undergo classroom sessions covering the fundamentals of UNPKO, the contributions of India and Vietnam, and the roles of engineering and medical units.
Phase II: In the Practical training phase, the training focuses on specialised field drills, where engineer and military medical units survey and gather information, construct roads, helipads, ammunition depots, and observation posts.
- They also practice triage, advanced trauma care, and humanitarian air medical evacuation.
Phase III: In the final phase also known as validation phase, brings together military observers, engineers, medical teams, search-and-rescue (SAR) personnel, and drone operators from both sides.
About Vietnam:
Prime Minister (PM) – Pham Minh Chinh
Capital – Hanoi
Currency – Vietnamese dong, VND
