Ministry of Defence (Vietnam)

Ministry of Defence (Vietnam)
Name	Ministry of Defence
Native name	Bộ Quốc phòng
Seal width	150
Seal caption	Emblem of the Ministry of Defence
Formed	2 September 1945
Headquarters	Hanoi, Vietnam
Minister1 name	Phan Văn Giang
Minister1 pfo	Minister of Defence
Chief1 name	Nguyễn Tân Cương
Chief1 position	Chief of the General Staff
Chief2 name	Lương Cường
Chief2 position	Chairman of the General Political Department
Parent department	Government of Vietnam
Child1 agency	Vietnam People's Army
Child2 agency	Vietnam People's Navy
Child3 agency	Vietnam People's Air Force
Child4 agency	Vietnam Border Guard
Child5 agency	Vietnam Coast Guard

Ministry of Defence (Vietnam). The Ministry of Defence is the principal government body responsible for the management and command of the Vietnam People's Army and the national defence of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Operating under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the administration of the Government of Vietnam, it is a key pillar of the state apparatus. The ministry's headquarters are located in the capital city of Hanoi.

History

The ministry traces its origins to the establishment of the Vietnam Propaganda Unit for National Liberation in 1944, which evolved into the core of the Vietnam People's Army. Following the August Revolution and the declaration of independence by Hồ Chí Minh on 2 September 1945, the provisional government formed the first defence body. During the First Indochina War, the ministry, then part of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, oversaw military strategy against the French Union forces, culminating in the victory at the Battle of Điện Biên Phủ. Throughout the Vietnam War, it directed the North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong forces in the conflict against the United States Armed Forces and the Army of the Republic of Vietnam. In the post-1975 unification era, it managed the Cambodian–Vietnamese War and the Sino-Vietnamese War, subsequently transitioning the military to a peacetime and modernization focus.

Organization

The ministry is organized into a complex structure of general departments, commands, and institutes. The central command apparatus includes the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army, the General Political Department of the Vietnam People's Army, and the General Department of Logistics. The operational forces are divided into service branches: the Vietnam People's Ground Force, the Vietnam People's Navy, the Vietnam People's Air Force, the Vietnam Border Guard, and the Vietnam Coast Guard. Key subordinate entities include the Vietnam National Defence Academy, the Military Regions commands, and various corps-level units like the 1st Corps. Research and development is conducted by institutes such as the Vietnam Institute of Military History.

Leadership

Leadership is exercised by the Minister of Defence, a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Central Military Commission. The current minister is General Phan Văn Giang. The deputy ministers and other senior officials typically include the Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army, currently Senior Lieutenant General Nguyễn Tân Cương, and the Chairman of the General Political Department of the Vietnam People's Army, currently General Lương Cường. These leaders are appointed by the National Assembly of Vietnam based on the recommendations of the President of Vietnam and the Prime Minister of Vietnam.

Functions and responsibilities

The ministry's primary function is to build, manage, and command the Vietnam People's Army to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. This includes defending the land, airspace, and maritime domains, particularly in contentious areas like the South China Sea. It is responsible for formulating national defence strategy, conducting military diplomacy, and implementing mobilization plans. The ministry also plays a significant role in national construction, participating in disaster relief, and contributing to socio-economic development projects. It oversees all military education, training, and scientific research within the armed forces.

Budget and equipment

The defence budget is allocated annually by the National Assembly of Vietnam and is not fully transparent, though it has steadily increased to support modernization goals. A significant portion is dedicated to personnel costs for the large active-duty and reserve forces. Procurement focuses on enhancing naval and air capabilities, with major acquisitions including Gepard-class frigates and Kilo-class submarines from Russia, as well as Israeli radar and missile systems. Domestic defence industry efforts, led by the Viettel Group and other state-owned corporations, aim to produce indigenous equipment like the STV rifles and coastal missile systems.

International cooperation

The ministry actively pursues defence diplomacy to strengthen bilateral and multilateral ties, emphasizing the "Four No's" defence policy. It maintains a pivotal relationship with the Chinese Ministry of National Defense, despite historical tensions, and a traditional partnership with the Russian Ministry of Defence. Cooperation has expanded with regional partners through mechanisms like the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting and with countries such as India, Japan, and the United States, including participation in the United Nations Peacekeeping missions in South Sudan and the Central African Republic. Naval engagements, including port visits and joint exercises, are common with forces from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and others.

Category:Ministries of Vietnam Category:Military of Vietnam Vietnam