HANOI: Former war enemies Australia and Vietnam on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding that foresees stepped-up joint military training and exercises, Australia said.

Canberra's Minister for Defence, Stephen Smith, and his Vietnamese counterpart Phung Quang Thanh signed the document ahead of an inaugural Asia-wide defence forum being held in the Vietnamese capital on Tuesday.

It will provide the framework for enhanced practical cooperation between Australia and Vietnam in areas including strategic level policy dialogue, military training and exercises, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, a statement from the Australian embassy in Hanoi said.

Vietnam and Australia last year established a Comprehensive Partnership Agreement covering trade, development assistance, security and defence.

Australia's Smith is among eight regional defence ministers, including from the United States, who will meet Tuesday with their counterparts from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN),...