Minister of Defence (Vietnam)

Minister of Defence (Vietnam)
Post	Minister of Defence
Native name	Bộ trưởng Bộ Quốc phòng
Insigniacaption	Shoulder board of the Minister of Defence
Department	Ministry of Defence (Vietnam)
Member of	Party Central Military Commission, Party Politburo, National Assembly, Cabinet
Reports to	Prime Minister, President (as Commander-in-Chief)
Seat	Hanoi
Appointer	President on advice of the Prime Minister and confirmation of the National Assembly
Termlength	Five years, renewable
Inaugural	Võ Nguyên Giáp
Formation	2 September 1945

Minister of Defence (Vietnam). The Minister of Defence is a senior official in the Government of Vietnam and the head of the Ministry of Defence (Vietnam). As a key member of the Politburo and the Central Military Commission, the minister holds paramount responsibility for the administration and command of the Vietnam People's Army. The position is central to the nation's defence policy, military strategy, and the management of all armed forces, including the Vietnam People's Ground Force, the Vietnam People's Navy, the Vietnam People's Air Force, and the Vietnam Border Guard.

History

The position was established with the August Revolution and the declaration of independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam on 2 September 1945, with General Võ Nguyên Giáp appointed as the first minister. Throughout the First Indochina War and the Vietnam War, the ministry and its leadership were instrumental in directing military strategy against the French Union and the United States Armed Forces. Following the Fall of Saigon in 1975 and Vietnamese reunification, the ministry's focus shifted to national defence, modernization, and managing regional tensions, including the Sino-Vietnamese War and issues in the South China Sea. The role has evolved to emphasize the development of a modern, professional military under the absolute leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

List of ministers

The following individuals have served as Minister of Defence: Võ Nguyên Giáp (1945–1980), Văn Tiến Dũng (1980–1987), Lê Đức Anh (1987–1992), Đoàn Khuê (1992–1997), Phạm Văn Trà (1997–2006), Phùng Quang Thanh (2006–2016), Ngô Xuân Lịch (2016–2021), and Phan Văn Giang (2021–present). Each minister has typically held the rank of General or Senior General and has been a prominent member of the Party Central Military Commission.

Responsibilities and powers

The minister's primary duty is to organize, build, manage, and command the Vietnam People's Army. Key responsibilities include advising the Politburo and the Party Secretariat on military and defence matters, formulating national defence strategy, and directing the implementation of military tasks. The minister oversees the operations of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army, the General Political Department of the Vietnam People's Army, and the General Department of Defence Industry. The minister also represents Vietnam in high-level defence diplomacy with counterparts in nations like the United States, China, Russia, Japan, and ASEAN member states.

Appointment process

The Minister of Defence is appointed by the President of Vietnam based on the proposal of the Prime Minister of Vietnam and must be approved by the National Assembly of Vietnam during its sitting. The candidate is invariably a high-ranking member of the Communist Party of Vietnam, currently serving on both the Politburo and the Central Military Commission. This dual-party and state appointment process ensures the principle of the Party's absolute leadership over the military.

Relationship with the military

The Minister of Defence serves as the Deputy Secretary of the Party Central Military Commission, with the Commission's Secretary typically being the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam. This structure guarantees unified command. The minister works directly with the Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army and the Director of the General Political Department of the Vietnam People's Army to execute daily military operations and political work. The minister also holds the position of Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, under the President of Vietnam as the titular Commander-in-Chief.

Insignia and symbols

The Minister of Defence wears the shoulder board and uniform of a Senior General or General in the Vietnam People's Army. The distinctive shoulder board features four gold stars and a national emblem. The minister's official standard is displayed at the headquarters of the Ministry of Defence (Vietnam) in Hanoi. The position is also symbolized by its authority over key national defence awards, such as the Hero of the People's Armed Forces title and the Military Exploit Order.

Category:Government of Vietnam Category:Military of Vietnam Vietnam