Citizen’s national defence rights and obligations in Vietnam

Citizen’s national defence rights and obligations in Vietnam (Internet image)

Regarding this matter, LawNet would like to answer as follows:

1. Citizen’s national defence rights and obligations in Vietnam

Citizen’s national defence rights and obligations are stipulated in Article 5 of the Law on on National Defence 2018 including:

- Protection of the Homeland is the sacred duty and the noble right of each citizen.

- Citizens shall have the duty to be loyal to the Homeland; perform military service; have obligations to join the militia and self-defense force, to build all people's national defense; submit to measures of the State and competent persons in the performance of national defense tasks under the provisions of this Law and other relevant laws.

- Citizens shall have access to propaganda and dissemination of the guidelines and viewpoints of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the State's policies and laws on national defense; national defense and security education; training in knowledge and skills in civil defense according to the provisions of law.

- Citizens serving in the people's armed forces or mobilized for performance of the national defense duty, they and their relatives shall enjoy legally required benefits and policies.

- All citizens shall be entitled to equal treatment in implementation of the national defence duty.

2. State policies on national defence in Vietnam

- Consolidate and strengthen the all-people national defense and military strength so as to build and firmly protect the Vietnam’s socialist Homeland and contribute to the protection of peace in the region and the globe.

- Exercise independence, sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity on land, islands, at sea and in the airspace; implement the policy of peace and self-defense; use sound and proper measures to prevent, deter, repel and defeat all plots and acts of aggression.

- Carry out the defense external relation activities in line with the foreign policy of independence, self-control, peace, friendship, cooperation and development; prevent wars in any form; actively and enthusiastically integrate and expand international cooperation, defense dialogue and create an international environment favorable for building and protection of the Homeland; disagree participation in military forces or alliances with one party against the other; refuse to allow foreign entities to establish their military bases or use the territory of Vietnam to attack other countries; repulse threatening or use of force in international relations; settle all disputes and discrepancies by peaceful means on the principle of respect for independence, sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit; comply with the Constitution, the laws of Vietnam and related international treaties of which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a member.

- Mobilize resources of domestic agencies, organizations and individuals for the performance of national defense tasks.

- Encourage and create favorable conditions for agencies, organizations and individuals to provide material, financial and spiritual support to national defense on the principle of voluntariness, not infringing Vietnamese laws and conforming to international law.

- Develop science and technology to build all people's national defense, the people's armed forces, the national defense and security industry to meet requirements of the task of building and defending the Homeland.

- The State shall adopt preferential policies for agencies, organizations and individuals in the performance of defense tasks; issue particular policies for the border areas, on offshore islands, strategic and key regions and geographical areas that play crucial national defense roles.

- The State shall recognize meritorious work and commends agencies, organizations and individuals that have made outstanding achievements in the performance of national defense tasks.

(Article 4 of the Law on on National Defence 2018)

>> CLICK HERE TO READ THIS ARTICLE IN VIETNAMESE