What is the starting time of military service in 2025 in Vietnam?

1. What is the starting time of military service in 2025 in Vietnam?

The Ministry of National Defense of Vietnam has promulgated Guidance 4705/HD-BQP on October 31, 2024, regarding the selection and conscription of citizens for military service in 2025.

To implement the Military Service Law 2015; Decision 102/QD-TTg dated September 20, 2024, concerning the conscription of citizens in 2025, it is specified that in 2025, citizens will be selected and conscripted for one round; the handover of soldiers will take place from February 13 to the end of February 15, 2025.

Thus, in 2025, the selection and conscription of citizens will be conducted in one phase, with the handover period from February 13 to the end of February 15, 2025.

2. Guidance on the selection and conscription of female citizens for military service in 2025 in Vietnam

At point e, Section 3 of Guidance 4705/HD-BQP 2024 regarding the selection and conscription of female citizens for military service in 2025:

In addition to the general conditions and standards applicable to male citizens, female citizens must volunteer to serve in the military, with such voluntary intent being confirmed by a family representative and the People's Committee at the commune level where they reside, and meet the following specific conditions and standards:

- Age: From 18 to under 25 years old; for citizens who have graduated from college or university, the age limit is up to 27 years old; they must be unmarried and have no children.

- Health: Must meet health standards type 1 or type 2 as stipulated in Circular 105/2023/TT-BQP; specifically, a height of 1.60m or more, with a balanced physique and a pleasant appearance.

- Technical expertise: Must have graduated from intermediate training or higher; citizens with a university or college degree in professions that suit military needs will be given priority. Those with special talents will be considered according to specific regulations of the Ministry of National Defense.

Units assigned to recruit female citizens into the military are to proactively coordinate with localities to ensure they meet the required conditions and standards; to recruit from localities nationwide (in small numbers) and count towards the 2025 recruitment quota of the locality/unit; after recruitment, coordinate and handover to the Hanoi Capital Command (for northern units) and Military Zone 7 Command (for southern units) for training, ensuring all formalities, on-time, absolute safety, and proper military management.

Departments and units under the Ministry, assigned with the recruitment of female citizens for military service, are instructed to closely collaborate with local authorities in organizing the recruitment to ensure the necessary conditions and standards are met and bear responsibility before the Minister of National Defense for the quality of female citizens recruited by the unit.

3. Who is recognized as completing military service without conscription in Vietnam?

According to clause 4, Article 4 of the Military Service Law 2015 (amended by point a, clause 1, Article 49 of the Militia and Self-Defense Law 2019), citizens under the following conditions are recognized as having completed military service in peacetime:

(1) Permanent militia members who have served for at least 24 months are recognized as having completed peacetime military service, as decided by the Commander of the District Military Command based on the recommendation of the Chairman of the People's Committee at the commune level or village head where there is no commune-level administrative unit, or the head of the agency or organization;

(2) Completion of duties as a continuous Commune Police Officer for at least 36 months;

(3) Officials and public employees, students graduating from university or higher, who have been trained and conferred the rank of reserve officer;

(4) Young citizens with university, college, and intermediate degrees volunteering to serve in economic-defense units for at least 24 months as per Schemes decided by the Prime Minister;

(5) Citizens serving on fishery law enforcement ships for at least 24 months.

Thus, citizens falling into one of the above five cases will be recognized as having completed military service in peacetime without having to enlist.

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