Duties, Powers, and Responsibilities of the Vietnam Coast Guard Forces

To be specific, according to the provisions of the Ordinance on Vietnam Coast Guard 2008, these contents are specified as follows:

1. Officers and soldiers of the Vietnam Coast Guard must be absolutely loyal to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, have good moral qualities, possess the necessary professional qualifications, be well-versed in the laws of Vietnam and relevant international treaties to which Vietnam is a member, and complete all assigned tasks.

Officers and soldiers of the Vietnam Coast Guard are not allowed to misuse their positions, powers, or job placements to cause damage to the interests of the State, or the lawful rights and interests of organizations and individuals.

2. In the internal waters, territorial sea, and port waters of Vietnam, the Vietnam Coast Guard is tasked with inspection and control according to the laws of Vietnam and relevant international treaties to which Vietnam is a member, in order to protect sovereignty; maintain security, order, and safety; protect resources, prevent environmental pollution; detect, prevent, and combat acts of smuggling, illegal transportation and trafficking of people, illegal transportation and trade of goods, weapons, explosives, narcotics, precursors, and other violations of the law.

3. In the contiguous zone, exclusive economic zone, and continental shelf of Vietnam, the Vietnam Coast Guard is tasked with patrolling and controlling according to the laws of Vietnam and relevant international treaties to which Vietnam is a member, in order to protect sovereign rights and jurisdiction; protect resources, prevent environmental pollution; detect, prevent, and combat acts of smuggling, piracy, armed robbery against ships, illegal transportation and trafficking of people, illegal transportation and trade of narcotics, precursors.

4. The Vietnam Coast Guard performs international cooperation tasks within the scope of its functions, tasks, and powers according to the laws of Vietnam and relevant international treaties to which Vietnam is a member, to contribute to maintaining security, order, peace, and stability on the seas.

5. The Vietnam Coast Guard is tasked with collecting, receiving information, promptly handling, and notifying relevant functional agencies in accordance with the laws of Vietnam and relevant international treaties to which Vietnam is a member; participate in search and rescue, handling marine incidents, and carry out environmental protection activities, organizing responses to marine environmental incidents.

6. The Vietnam Coast Guard is tasked with participating in the dissemination, communication, and legal education to the people engaging in marine activities; cooperating with other forces to protect the State's assets, the lives and properties of individuals and legal means operating in Vietnam's maritime areas and continental shelf; cooperating with other units of the armed forces to protect sovereignty, national security on islands, seas under the territory of Vietnam, and sovereign rights, jurisdiction rights in the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of Vietnam.

7. Upon detecting individuals and means with signs of violating Vietnamese laws and relevant international treaties to which Vietnam is a member, the Vietnam Coast Guard has the right to inspect and control; if a violation is found, they are to handle the administrative violation in accordance with the law, requiring the individuals and means to cease the violation, leave the activity area or the Vietnamese sea; arrest and detain individuals and means caught red-handed, record the violation for handling within their authority or transfer to the competent agency for handling in accordance with the law of Vietnam.

8. In case individuals and means violating the law do not comply with orders, resist, or intentionally escape, the Vietnam Coast Guard has the right to coerce, pursue, or exercise other rights in accordance with Vietnamese laws and relevant international treaties to which Vietnam is a member.

9. In urgent situations of chasing law violators, rescuing victims, or responding to serious environmental incidents, the Vietnam Coast Guard has the right to mobilize people and means belonging to Vietnamese individuals and organizations but must return them immediately once the urgent situation ends; in case there is damage to property, compensation must be provided.

If the mobilized individuals are injured or die while performing their duties, they will be compensated according to State policies; if there are no Vietnamese individuals or means to mobilize or if the situation is not resolved despite mobilization, the Vietnam Coast Guard can request help from foreign individuals or means operating in Vietnam's maritime areas and continental shelf in accordance with Vietnamese laws and relevant international treaties to which Vietnam is a member.

In extremely necessary situations for national defense, security, and national interest, the authorized person in the Vietnam Coast Guard has the right to requisition the property of Vietnamese individuals or organizations according to the law on requisitioning property.

10. The Vietnam Coast Guard is equipped with and uses weapons, technical equipment, professional tools, and methods to perform their duties as prescribed by law.

11. When performing their duties, the Vietnam Coast Guard is allowed to use firearms in certain legally defined cases.

12. The Vietnam Coast Guard conducts criminal investigations according to the Criminal Code, the Criminal Procedure Code, the law on the organization of criminal investigations, and other relevant legal documents.

These provisions are specified in Chapter 2 of the Ordinance on Vietnam Coast Guard 2008, effective from July 1, 2008.

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