Navy comparison: China vs Vietnam
Overview
China's 1060-ship navy outnumbers Vietnam's 112 vessels (9.5x advantage). Of these, 1042 and 109 are in active service respectively.
The fleet breakdown includes 81 vs 6 submarines, 3 vs 0 aircraft carriers, 62 vs 0 destroyers, 59 vs 9 frigates, 50 vs 16 corvettes, 80 vs 11 amphibious ships, 94 vs 32 patrol boats, 0 vs 3 coastal boats, 58 vs 8 mine warfare ships (China vs Vietnam).
China's navy is officially the People's Liberation Army Navy, while Vietnam's is the Vietnam People's Navy.
People's Liberation Army Navy 🇨🇳
| Official Name | People's Liberation Army Navy |
| Total ships | 1060 as of 2026 |
| Active ships | 1042 as of 2026 |
| Naval Ensign |
|
Vietnam People's Navy 🇻🇳
| Official Name | Vietnam People's Navy |
| Total ships | 112 as of 2025 |
| Active ships | 109 as of 2025 |
| Naval Ensign |
|
Chinese ships by category
| Ship category | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| Submarines | 81 | |
| Aircraft carriers | 3 | |
| Destroyers | 62 | |
| Cruisers | 0 | |
| Frigates | 59 | |
| Corvettes | 50 | |
| Coastal boats | 0 | |
| Patrol boats | 94 | |
| Amphibious ships | 80 | |
| Mine Warfare ships | 58 | |
| Cargo ships | 27 | |
| Support ships | 479 | |
| Other ships | 67 | |
Vietnamese ships by category
| Ship category | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| Submarines | 6 | |
| Aircraft carriers | 0 | |
| Destroyers | 0 | |
| Cruisers | 0 | |
| Frigates | 9 | |
| Corvettes | 16 | |
| Coastal boats | 3 | |
| Patrol boats | 32 | |
| Amphibious ships | 11 | |
| Mine Warfare ships | 8 | |
| Cargo ships | 0 | |
| Support ships | 17 | |
| Other ships | 10 | |
Ship Categories Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more naval ships, China or Vietnam?
China has a larger navy with 1,060 ships compared to Vietnam's 112 ships.
Which navy has more submarines, China or Vietnam?
China operates more submarines with 81 compared to Vietnam's 6.
Which country has more aircraft carriers, China or Vietnam?
China has 3 aircraft carrier(s) compared to Vietnam's 0.
Which navy has more destroyers, China or Vietnam?
China operates 62 destroyers compared to Vietnam's 0.
Which navy has more frigates, China or Vietnam?
China operates 59 frigates compared to Vietnam's 9.
How do the China and Vietnam navies compare in size?
China's navy is 9.5 times larger than Vietnam's in terms of total ships (1,060 vs 112).