From Delhi to Hanoi: The story behind Ho Chi Minh Marg and India’s cold war-era diplomacy

Not all roads in Delhi are rooted in local history. Some, like Ho Chi Minh Marg in south Delhi, reflect global political movements and India’s diplomatic positioning during the Cold War era, according to a report by Ishita Jairath in The Times of India.

Named after Ho Chi Minh, the road traces back to a period when India aligned itself with post-colonial nations navigating independence and geopolitical shifts. Ho Chi Minh, who led Vietnam’s struggle against French colonial rule and later emerged as a defining figure during the Vietnam War, is widely regarded as the architect of modern Vietnam.

India’s early diplomatic role in Vietnam


India’s engagement with Vietnam dates back to the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru, who championed support for newly decolonised nations while maintaining a non-aligned stance.


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In 1954, following the Geneva Accords, India became part of the International Control Commission tasked with overseeing the agreement in Vietnam, marking an early step in bilateral ties.

High-level visits that shaped ties

Nehru’s visit to North Vietnam in 1954, followed by Ho Chi Minh’s India visit in 1958, marked a key phase in diplomatic engagement. The Vietnamese leader was received in New Delhi, where he met Indian leadership, including President Rajendra Prasad, signalling strong political alignment.

Beyond diplomacy, symbolic gestures, such as the planting of a Bodhi tree in Hanoi in 1959—reflected deeper cultural and civilisational links.

India’s stance during the Vietnam War

As the Vietnam War intensified through the 1960s and 1970s, India maintained support for Vietnam’s sovereignty while advocating peace, in line with its non-aligned foreign policy.

Why Delhi has a Ho Chi Minh Marg?

It was during this period that Delhi began naming roads after global anti-colonial leaders. Ho Chi Minh Marg, named in the 1970s, stands as a legacy of that era, reflecting India’s political solidarity with Vietnam and its broader engagement with decolonisation movements.

Who was Ho Chi Minh?

Ho Chi Minh (1890–1969) was a Vietnamese revolutionary leader and the founding figure of modern Vietnam. He led the country’s struggle for independence from French colonial rule, later becoming the face of resistance during the Vietnam War. He served as the first president of North Vietnam and remains a global symbol of anti-colonial resistance.


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India and Vietnam shared common ground as post-colonial nations navigating independence and global politics. Under Nehru, India supported anti-colonial movements, including Vietnam’s. India’s role in the International Control Commission, high-level diplomatic visits, and its stance during the Vietnam War all contributed to strengthening bilateral ties, reflected symbolically in the naming of Ho Chi Minh Marg.


With inputs from TOI