After national anthems of both India and Vietnam were played by the armed forces band, dressed in sharp white with gold tassels and black gum boots, the prime minister inspected a guard of honour by the three armed forces of the host country.
Immediately afterwards Modi, in white churidar kurta with grey jacket, was taken to the humble traditional stilt house near the palace where Vietnam's beloved leader Ho Chi Minh lived intermittently between 1958-1969. He was shown the place by the Vietnamese president.
Later he will hold talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc.