On the face of it, it is hard to understand the appeal of the world’s largest democracy for a Communist country like Vietnam. Yet New Delhi’s appeal for Vietnam stems from the very factor that has been identified by some scholars as an impediment to its soft diplomacy: India’s multiple identities. While retaining its identity as a democracy, India has also preserved its image as an anti-colonial, non-aligned state whose cooperation with Hanoi dates back to early 1970s. Supplementing these long-standing ties, the Indian government in August 2014 declared its Act East Policy, which complements Vietnam’s inclination to look West, enhancing their political affiliations.
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