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| National Defence (Vietnam) | |
|---|---|
| Name | National Defence (Vietnam) |
| Native name | Quốc phòng |
| Founded | 1944 |
| Country | Vietnam |
| Allegiance | Vietnamese Communist Party |
| Headquarters | Hanoi |
| Commander in chief | President of Vietnam |
| Defense minister | Minister of National Defence |
| Active personnel | 400,000 (approx.) |
| Reserves | 5,000,000 (approx.) |
| Paramilitary | Vietnam People's Public Security |
| Notable conflicts | First Indochina War, Vietnam War, Cambodian–Vietnamese War, Paracel Islands dispute, South China Sea disputes |
National Defence (Vietnam) is the set of institutions, forces, laws, and doctrines charged with protecting Vietnam's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political system. Rooted in revolutionary struggles against colonialism and foreign intervention, it integrates the People's Army of Vietnam, Vietnam People's Public Security, reserve forces, militia, and civil defense mechanisms under the leadership of the Vietnamese Communist Party. Contemporary priorities emphasize territorial disputes in the South China Sea, modernization, and contributions to United Nations peacekeeping operations.
Vietnamese national defence traces to anti-colonial movements led by figures such as Ho Chi Minh and organizations like the League for the Independence of Vietnam (Viet Minh). The First Indochina War against French Indochina culminated in the Battle of Dien Bien Phu and the Geneva Conference (1954), which set the stage for the Vietnam War involving the United States, Army of the Republic of Vietnam, and the National Liberation Front. Post-1975 efforts included the 1978 intervention in Cambodia against the Khmer Rouge and clashes with the People's Republic of China in the 1979 Sino-Vietnamese War. Reforms under the Đổi Mới policy affected defence posture alongside economic opening influenced by engagement with ASEAN and the World Trade Organization. Recent incidents such as the 2014 China–Vietnam oil rig dispute and recurrent Paracel Islands dispute confrontations have influenced modernization and maritime strategy.
The constitutional and legal basis for defence rests on the Constitution of Vietnam, which assigns national defence responsibilities to the State, codified in laws including the Law on Defense (Vietnam) and the Law on Military Service (Vietnam). Civil–military relations are structured through the Vietnamese Communist Party Central Military Commission and legal instruments governing the People's Army of Vietnam, Vietnam People's Public Security, and militia organization. International legal commitments such as accession to the United Nations Charter and participation in ASEAN Regional Forum dialogues shape rules of engagement and obligations under treaties like the Convention on the Law of the Sea concerning authoritatively claimed maritime zones.
The primary armed force, the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN), comprises the Vietnamese Ground Force, Vietnam People's Navy, Vietnam People's Air Force, and supporting arms including air defense and logistics formations. The Ministry of National Defence (Vietnam) oversees force structure alongside the General Staff of the People's Army of Vietnam. Paramilitary and internal security roles are fulfilled by the Vietnam People's Public Security with units such as the Cảnh sát cơ động riot police and border regiments. Territorial defence relies on a large militia and reserve system organized at provincial and district levels, reinforced by mobilization ordinances and local militia laws.
Strategic doctrine emphasizes "people's war" heritage blended with modern deterrence, force modernization, and maritime security to protect claimed features in the South China Sea. Key strategic documents advocate combined arms capability, asymmetric defense to counter superior technological adversaries, and protection of critical infrastructure including ports such as Cam Ranh Bay and energy assets in the Gulf of Tonkin. Civil–military planning coordinates with agencies represented in the Central Military Commission, while national strategy is influenced by regional dynamics involving China–Vietnam relations, United States–Vietnam relations, and multilateral frameworks like ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus.
Vietnam's civil defence system draws on historical mobilization during the Indochina Wars and wartime logistics models. Laws require local authorities to maintain emergency plans, evacuation protocols, and civil defence training in coordination with the Ministry of National Defence and the Vietnam Red Cross Society. Mobilization frameworks integrate conscription managed under the Law on Military Service (Vietnam) with reserve call-up procedures, industrial mobilization in sectors such as shipbuilding at yards like Z189 Shipyard, and national disaster response cooperating with agencies including Vietnam Disaster Management Authority and international partners during floods and storms.
Domestic defence industrialization is led by state-owned enterprises such as Vietnam Shipbuilding Industry Group (Vinashin), Viettel, and Z111 Factory producing small arms, munitions, and naval platforms. Procurement balances indigenous development with imports from partners like Russia, India, Israel, and increasingly diversified sources including South Korea and France. Notable acquisitions encompass Kilo-class submarine purchases, SU-30MK2 combat aircraft, and coastal patrol vessels to bolster maritime domain awareness. Defence modernization is driven by technology transfer agreements, offset arrangements, and collaboration with research institutions like the Military Technical Academy.
Vietnam participates in international military diplomacy through bilateral ties with the Russian Armed Forces, People's Liberation Army engagements, and defense dialogues with the United States Department of Defense and Japanese Self-Defense Forces. Multilateral engagement includes contributions to United Nations peacekeeping operations with Vietnamese contingents deployed as military observers and engineering units under UNMISS and MINUSMA mandates. Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief cooperation occurs within ASEAN mechanisms and with partners such as Australia and China for search-and-rescue and medical support.