The Vietnam People's Army (VPA) is official name for the armed forces of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. During the Vietnam War (1957–1975), the U.S. incorrectly referred to it as the North Vietnamese Army (NVA), or People's Army of North Vietnam and this term is commonly found throughout Vietnam War-related subjects. The name in Vietnamese is Quân Đội Nhân Dân Việt Nam, and has always been officially known as such since its initial formation in 1944. The VPA was not exactly the Viet Cong (although certain elements disguised as such occasionally and after the reunification of the country in 1976, all former Viet Cong forces that had not been demobilized were incorporated into the VPA). During the war against the French (First Indochina War, 1946-1954), the VPA was referred to as the Viet Minh even though Viet Minh was the name of the overall independence movement that preceded the founding of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in 1945. The VPA now includes the: Vietnam People's Ground Forces (including VPA Strategic Rear Forces and Border Defence Forces), Vietnam People's Navy (including VPN Naval infantry), Vietnam People's Air Force, and Coast Guard.

History

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The predecessor of the VPA was the Armed Propaganda Unit for National Liberation, an organization that was formed by Ho Chi Minh on December 22, 1944 to drive the French colonialists and Japanese occupiers from Vietnam. http://indochine54.free.fr/vm/vietminh.html#top

General Vo Nguyen Giap was the first Commander-in-Chief of VPA and the fourth Minister of National Defence (after Chu Van Tan, Phan Anh, Ta Quang Buu).

During peaceful periods, the VPA has actively been involved in Vietnam's workforce to develop the economy of Vietnam, in order to coordinate national defense and the economy. The VPA is involved in such areas as industry, agriculture, forestry, fishery and telecommunications.

The Vietnam People’s Army today

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Organization

The President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is the Commander-in-Chief, while the Minister of National Defense oversees operations of the VPA. The Minister of National Defense oversees such agencies as the General Staff and the General Logistics Department. However, military policy is ultimately directed by the Central Military Commission of the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam.

The VPA is composed of a main force and local forces. As with most countries' armed forces, the VPA consists of standing, or regular, forces as well as reserve forces. During peacetime, the standing forces are minimized in number, and kept combat-ready by regular physical and weapons training, and stock maintenance.

Branches

The Vietnam People's Army is comprised of various units of the main forces (Chủ lực), local forces (Địa phương) and the People's Defence Forces (Dân quân-Tự vệ).

It is subdivided into the following branches and sub-branches:

• Lục quân (Ground Force)
  • Biên phòng (Border Defence Force)
  • Quân cơ động (Strategic Rear Force)
• Hải quân (Naval Force)
  • (Naval Infantry or Marines)
  • Hải phòng (Coast Guard)
• Phòng không-Không quân (Air Defence and Air Force).

As mentioned above, reserves exist in all branches and are organized in the same way as the standing forces, with the same chain of command, and with officers and non-commissioned officers.

See Vietnamese military ranks and insignia.

International presence

The Foreign Relations Department of the Ministry of National Defense organizes international operations of the VPA.

Apart from its occupation of half of the disputed Spratly Islands, which have been claimed as Vietnamese territory since the 17th century, Vietnam has not had forces stationed internationally since its withdrawal from Cambodia and Laos in early 1990.

Components

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Main Force

The main force of the VPA consists of combat ready troops, as well as educational institutions for logistics, officer training, and technical training.

Local Forces

Local forces are an entity of the VPA that, together with the militia and "self-defense forces," act on the local level in protection of people and local authorities. While the local forces are regular VPA forces, the militia consists of rural civilians, and the self-defense forces consist of civilians who live in urban areas and/or work in large groups, such as at construction sites or farms.

Manpower

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The Vietnam People's Army consists of:

• Military manpower - military age: age for compulsory service: 18-27 years old; conscript service obligation - 2 years

• Military manpower - availability:
  • males age 15-49: 21,341,813 (2005 est.)

• Military manpower - fit for military service:
  • males age 15-49: 16,032,358 (2005 est.)

• Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
  • males: 915,572 (2005 est.)

• Military expenditures: $1 billion (FY2002)

• Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 0.5% (FY2002)

Military of Vietnam | Vietnam People's Army

Vietnamesische Volksarmee | Armée populaire vietnamienne | Vietnams folkehær | Quân đội Nhân dân Việt Nam