Vietnam ranks #20 of 170 militaries worldwide in 2026, with 450,000 active troops. The Vietnamese Army fields 7,394 ground vehicles, including 1,374 main battle tanks; the Air Force flies 205 aircraft, including 71 combat aircraft; the Navy operates 112 warships, including 6 submarines. Vietnam has no nuclear weapons.
| Domain | Strength | Composition |
|---|---|---|
| Vietnam People's Air Force | 205 aircraft | 71 combat 42 helicopters 14 air bases |
| Vietnam People's Navy | 112 warships | 15 major combatants 6 submarines |
| Ground Forces | 7,394 vehicles | 1,374 main battle tanks |
| Personnel | 450,000 active | 5,000,000 reserve 40,000 paramilitary |
| Pillar | Weight | Score | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manpower | 10% | 99.4 | Active, reserve & paramilitary personnel |
| Ground forces | 20% | 48.5 | ARMS inventory power: armour & artillery by type and era, attack helicopters, armament |
| Naval power | 20% | 42.7 | SEAS inventory power: hulls by type, size and era, air wing, sustainment, armament |
| Air power | 25% | 30.8 | AIRS inventory power: aircraft by type and generation, enablers, armament |
| Nuclear deterrent | 10% | 0.0 | No declared nuclear capability |
| Defense budget | 15% | 39.8 | Annual spending, purchasing-power adjusted |
| Availability | modifier | ground ×1.04 · naval ×1.00 · air ×1.17 | Budget per point of each force, from the branch indexes |
| Population | 101M (2024) |
| GDP | $476.4 billion (2024) |
| GDP per capita | $4,717 |
| Military budget | $8.6B (2023) |
| Share of GDP | 1.8% (2023) |
| Military spending per capita | $85 (2023) |
| Inflation rate | 3.62% (2024) |
| Capital | Hanoi |
| Region | Asia |
| Land area | 310,070 km² |
| Coastline | 3,444 km |
| Land borders | 4,639 km |
| Bordering countries | 3 |
| Currency | VND |
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
Satellite imagery dated 11 August 2026 shows the Paracel Islands feature turned into a 3.7-mile landmass with a deep-water quay and a 10,000-foot runway under grading, ten months after dredging began.
A steel-cutting ceremony at Song Thu Corporation in Da Nang on August 10 launched a 2,500-3,000-tonne anti-submarine frigate designed in Vietnam and armed largely by Viettel, in a navy whose nine frigates are all Russian or Soviet designs.