Vietnam Military Forces 🇻🇳

Strategic Position

Vietnam maintains a defense posture characterized by the "Four Nos" policy, reaffirmed during the 14th National Party Congress in January 2026. This doctrine stipulates: no military alliances, no siding with one country against another, no foreign military bases on Vietnamese soil, and no use or threat of force in international relations. This framework is designed to preserve strategic autonomy while navigating the competition between major powers in the Indo-Pacific.

Primary security concerns center on maritime sovereignty in the South China Sea, which Hanoi refers to as the East Sea. Vietnam asserts claims over the Paracel and Spratly Islands, leading to frequent maritime friction. To mitigate these risks, Vietnam has elevated its diplomatic status to Comprehensive Strategic Partnerships with several major powers, including the United States, China, Russia, India, Japan, South Korea, and Australia.

Defense priorities emphasize the protection of territorial integrity and the maintenance of a peaceful environment for economic development. Vietnam also participates in multilateral frameworks such as ASEAN and contributes personnel to United Nations peacekeeping operations.

Military Forces

The People’s Army of Vietnam (PAVN) is the unified military force under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Central Military Commission. The force is structured into the Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force, Border Guard, and Coast Guard.

• Personnel: Active duty strength is approximately 480,000, supported by a reserve force and militia estimated at 5,000,000.
• Ground Forces: De facto ground operations are managed through military regions and army corps. The inventory includes T-90S and T-90SK main battle tanks alongside legacy T-54/55 and Type 59 models. Artillery modernization includes the procurement of K9A1 self-propelled howitzers.
• Navy: The Vietnam People’s Navy focuses on littoral defense and sea denial. Key assets include Kilo-class (Project 636.1) diesel-electric submarines, Gepard-class frigates, and Molniya-class corvettes. The navy operates P-360 Yakhont (Bastion-P) and indigenous coastal defense missile systems.
• Air Force: The Air Defence-Air Force Service operates a fleet of Su-30MK2 multirole fighters and Su-27 air superiority fighters. The force is phasing out aging Su-22 fighter-bombers. Training capabilities were enhanced in 2025 with the deployment of Yak-130 and T-6 Texan II trainer aircraft.
• Specialized Units: The Cyberspace Operations Command (Command 86) manages electronic warfare and network defense. Elite commando (Dac Cong) units are maintained for unconventional warfare and counter-terrorism.

Defense Industry

Vietnam’s defense industry is led by state-owned enterprises, most notably the General Department of Defense Industry (GDDI) and Viettel. Domestic production has expanded beyond small arms to include radar systems, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and advanced missile technology.

In 2025, Vietnam showcased the VCS-01 Truong Son coastal defense missile system and the Song Hong missile, both indigenous developments. The STV series of assault rifles, based on the Galil ACE design, has become the standard issue for the infantry.

While historically dependent on Russian equipment, Vietnam has moved to diversify its supply chain due to international sanctions and production delays affecting Russian exports. Notable recent agreements include a $700 million deal finalized in April 2025 for Indian BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and the co-production of components with South Korean and Czech aerospace firms.

Strategic Trends

The 14th National Party Congress in 2026 set a deadline for the PAVN to become a "revolutionary, regular, elite, and modern" force by 2030. Modernization efforts are shifting from land-centric defense toward enhancing maritime and aerial denial capabilities.

Defense spending is estimated at approximately 2.3% to 2.5% of GDP, with the budget forecast to exceed $10 billion annually by 2029. Procurement priorities include: * Replacing legacy Soviet-era fighter fleets with modern multirole platforms. * Expanding the domestic production of dual-use technologies, particularly in telecommunications and satellite surveillance. * Strengthening cyber defense infrastructure to protect critical military networks.

The primary constraint remains the technical and logistical challenge of integrating Western or non-Russian hardware into a force structure traditionally built on Soviet doctrine and equipment. Vietnam continues to seek technology transfer agreements to bolster self-sufficiency and reduce reliance on foreign imports.