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Navy comparison: Flag of China China vs Flag of Vietnam Vietnam

China's 1033-ship navy outnumbers Vietnam's 117 vessels (8.8:1 advantage). Of these, 1005 and 112 are in active service respectively.

SEAS (Sea Equipment Aggregate Strength) Index face-off Full ranking →
Naval ensign of China ChinaWorld #2 91.9
SEAS Index / 100

China leads on 10 of 10 categories

Naval ensign of Vietnam VietnamWorld #23 18.0
  • 3 Aircraft carriersweight ×200 · size, era 0
  • 62 Destroyersweight ×50 · size, era 0
  • 62 Submarinesweight ×45 · size, era 6
  • 59 Frigatesweight ×30 · size, era 9
  • 50 Corvettesweight ×15 · size, era 17
  • 81 Amphibiousweight ×12 · size, era 8
  • 37 Mine warfareweight ×5 · size, era 8
  • 86 Patrol boatsweight ×2 · size, era 24
  • 34 Unmannedweight ×2 · size, era 0
  • 8 Coastal boatsweight ×1 · size, era 11
  • 442 Support shipsnot scored 19
  • 27 Cargo shipsnot scored 0
  • 54 Other shipsnot scored 10
China Vietnam Bars: weighted contribution to the SEAS Index (hulls × category weight × size, era and propulsion factors, minor vessels capped at 30 % of the combatant points; the air-wing, sustainment, armament and availability multipliers apply on top) · figures: active hulls at each side's latest inventory year · Methodology
Key figures as of 2026
China Vietnam Ratio
Official name People's Liberation Army Navy Vietnam People's Navy
Total ships 1,033 117 🇨🇳 8.8×
Active ships 1,005 112 🇨🇳 9.0×
On order / planned 0 1 🇻🇳
Submarines 62 6 🇨🇳 10×
Principal surface combatants 121 9 🇨🇳 13×
Aircraft carriers 3 0 🇨🇳
Amphibious ships 81 8 🇨🇳 10×
Show full breakdown · 5 more rowsHide the 5 extra rows
Corvettes 50 17 🇨🇳 2.9×
Patrol boats 86 24 🇨🇳 3.6×
Mine warfare 37 8 🇨🇳 4.6×
Coastal boats 8 11 🇻🇳 1.4×
Auxiliaries 523 29 🇨🇳 18×
Backbone classes one per tier held
🇨🇳 ChinaType 003-class ×1Type 039A-class ×18Type 052D-class ×35
🇻🇳 VietnamKilo-class ×6Petya-class ×5Project 1241.1 Molniya-class ×12
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Frequently Asked Questions

Which country has more naval ships, China or Vietnam?
China has a larger navy with 1,033 ships compared to Vietnam's 117 ships.
Which navy has more submarines, China or Vietnam?
China operates more submarines with 85 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 66 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 8.8 times larger than Vietnam's in terms of total ships (1,033 vs 117).