Two of Asia's most consequential economies — Vietnam and India — have turned toward each other with fresh intention, committing at a high-level New Delhi summit to nearly double their bilateral trade to $25 billion by dismantling the quiet, stubborn barriers of logistics, regulation, and market access that have long muted their potential. The agreement, born from the 19th session of their Joint Commission on Trade and Cooperation, reflects a broader human truth: that proximity and goodwill alone do not build commerce — roads, rails, direct flights, and harmonized rules do. For industries like