Can I take a leave of absence to visit relatives after a year of enlistment in Vietnam?

Can I take a leave of absence to visit relatives after a year of enlistment in Vietnam?

In Article 3 of Decree 27/2016/ND-CP, leaves of active non-commissioned officers and soldiers are as follows:

1. From the 13^th month on service, an active non-commissioned officer or soldier has an annual leave of 10 days (exclusive of the travel time) and receive allowances for travel cost under current regulations.

2. For non-commissioned officers and soldiers who have studied in military or non-military schools or institutes for at least one year and have a summer vacation between two academic years, such vacation shall be considered period of leave and payment for travel cost shall be made as per current provisions. 

3. If leave cannot be granted due to a combat situation or threat thereof or difficulty in travel, the leave will be converted into an amount of money.  The payment for one leave day shall be equal to the daily meal allowance of a non-commissioned officer/foot soldier.

4. For non-commissioned officers/soldiers who have used up their annual leave, if their family suffer from natural disaster or a serious fire or their parents, parents-in-law; lawful fosterer; spouse; children or legally-adopted children pass away or they gain remarkable achievements during duty performance, they will be given a special leave of a period of no more than 5 days (exclusive of the travel time) and receive an allowance for travel.

Thus, according to the regulations in Vietnam, from the 13^th month on service, an active non-commissioned officer or soldier has an annual leave of 10 days. Therefore, if you have only been in the army for a year, you are not eligible to have a day off to visit your family.

What policies are relatives of enlisted soldiers entitled to in Vietnam?

Article 6 of Decree 27/2016/ND-CP stipulates benefits for families of active non-commissioned officers and soldiers as follows:

1. In any of the following cases, the family of an active non-commissioned officer/soldier specified in Clause 2 Article 2 hereof shall receive an irregular allowance of:

a) VND 3,000,000/time if the house of the active non-commissioned officer/soldier collapses due to a fire or natural disaster or the incident results in relocation or causes severe financial damage;

b) VND 500,000 for each family member who has suffered from illness for at least 1 month or has undergone one-time treatment in the hospital for at least 7 days;

c) The irregular allowances specified in Point a this Clause shall not be provide more than two times a year for each active non-commissioned officer/soldier; The irregular allowances mentioned in Point b this Clause shall not be provided more than two times a year for each member of family of an active non-commissioned officer/soldier;

d) of VND 2,000,000 for each family member of an active non-commissioned officer/soldier who is killed in combat or dies or is missing.

2. Children and legally-adopted children of an active non-commissioned officer/soldier shall be entitled to remission of tuition fees in public or private general education institution as regulated in Decree No.86/2015/ND-CP dated October 02, 2015 of the Government on collection and management of tuition fees applicable to education institutions in the national education system and policies on remission of tuition fees and financial support from academic year 2015 - 2016 to 2020 – 2021.

According to this Article, when you enlist in the army, your relatives will be supported according to the above regimes and policies in accordance with the law in Vietnam.

What are policies for demobilized non-commissioned officers/soldiers in Vietnam?

In Clause 3, Article 50 of the 2015 Law on Military Service, regulations on policies for active duty non-commissioned officers/enlisted soldiers, demobilized non-commissioned officers/enlisted soldiers and their family are as follows:

3. Regarding demobilized non-commissioned officers/soldiers:

a) Provided with fares and allowances for travel, demobilization allowance;

b) People who were studying at schools affiliated to vocational education institutions or higher education institutions before enlistment shall have the study results reserved and may continue their study at such schools;

c) Having preference when finding jobs;

d) Before the enlistment, if a person was working at a regulatory agency, political organization or a socio-political organization, then when he/she is demobilized, such agency/organization shall arrange him/her the job with earnings not lower than those of the one before they enlisted; if such agency/organization has been dissolved, the direct superior shall arrange appropriate job for him/her;

dd) Before the enlistment, if a person was working at an economic organization, then when he/she is demobilized, such organization shall arrange him/her the job with earnings not lower than those of the one before they enlisted; if such organization has been shutdown, dissolved or bankrupt, such person shall be handled according to the policies applicable to other employees;

e) Having benefits from social insurance according to the provisions of Law on social insurance;

g) Non-commissioned officers/enlisted soldiers that are demobilized according to the regulations in clause 1 Article 43 and clause 1 Article 48 of this Law who come back to their local areas shall get preferences in finding jobs and enrollment and recruitment of officials and civil servants; such people shall get 100% of salary and allowances of the recruitment rank in proportion to their training level.

The above are policies to support demobilized non-commissioned officers/soldiers in accordance with the law in Vietnam.

Best Regards!