Colonel Nguyen Ba Dan, former Chief Inspector of Thanh Hoa Provincial Police, emphasised that the Party Central Committee has always attached great importance to strengthening the People’s Army and People’s Public Security forces, which President Ho Chi Minh described as “the two arms of the people, of the Party, and of the Government”.
Given the crucial role and position of these two forces, particularly since the country has been pursuing the Doi Moi (Renewal) process and international integration policy, the Party has increasingly prioritised the task of building the People’s Army and People’s Public Security forces.
From the 8th to the 10th Party Congresses, the Party consistently affirmed the need to build the People’s Army and People’s Public Security forces that are revolutionary, regular, elite, and gradually modern.
The Party Central Committee has always attached great importance to strengthening the People’s Army and People’s Public Security forces, which President Ho Chi Minh described as “the two arms of the people, of the Party, and of the Government”.
By the 13th Congress, the Party clearly defined: “Build the People’s Army and People’s Public Security forces that are revolutionary, regular, elite, gradually modern, with some services, arms, and forces advancing directly to modernity. By 2025, basically build a lean, compact, strong Army and Police, creating a solid foundation, striving by 2030 to build the People’s Army and People’s Public Security forces that are revolutionary, regular, elite, modern; strong in politics, ideology, ethics, organisation, and cadres.”
Streamlining the public security apparatus for greater efficiency
Following the organisational restructuring process in line with the policies of the 12th and 13th Party Congresses, the Politburo’s Resolutions, and the summary of implementing Party Central Committee Resolution No. 18-NQ/TW on continuing to renovate and arrange the political system’s apparatus to be lean and operate effectively and efficiently, the Central Public Security Party Committee developed Project No. 25-DA/DUCA dated January 10, 2025. This project focuses on continuing to streamline the local police apparatus to operate effectively and efficiently, meeting the requirements and tasks of the new period.
In an effort to realise Resolution No. 60-NQ/TW of the 13th Party Central Committee on merging and consolidating provincial- and commune-level administrative units and organising a two-tier local government system, the Central Public Security Party Committee and the Ministry of Public Security have proactively and effectively implemented synchronous tasks and solutions to align the People’s Public Security apparatus with administrative restructuring.
After several adjustments, the People’s Public Security force has reduced by 7 general departments, 62 departments and equivalents, 49 provincial police and fire prevention and fighting police departments, more than 2,620 division-level units, and over 18,560 team- and commune-level units.
After eight years of implementing Resolution No. 18-NQ/TW, the Ministry of Public Security’s apparatus has been streamlined, with cadres structured rationally, placing emphasis on strengthening direct combat forces and grassroots levels.
All aspects of police work have achieved comprehensive results: public order and security have improved significantly, the quality of public service has been markedly enhanced, contributing to greater prestige and meeting the requirements and tasks of building the People’s Public Security force that is revolutionary, regular, elite, and modern.
Building a lean, compact and strong people’s army
Regarding the People’s Army, in the 2020–2025 term, the Military Party Committee successfully completed the goal of building a “lean, compact, strong” army in line with the spirit of Politburo Resolution No. 05-NQ/TW dated January 17, 2022 “on the organisation of the Viet Nam People’s Army for the 2021–2030 period and subsequent years”. This has met the requirements and tasks of the new situation, aligned with the two-tier local government organisational system, and reflected the Party’s views on people-based national defence.
By September 2025, the entire army had adjusted the organisation and staffing of more than 4,000 units, ensuring synchrony and rationality among components and forces, eliminating overlapping functions and tasks, and reducing intermediate levels and service units.
With support from the Party, State, Central Military Commission, and Ministry of National Defence, military units have been equipped with advanced weapons and equipment, enhancing their combat readiness and operational capacity.
Regiment 64 is tasked with managing and protecting the airspace of Ha Noi Capital, as well as safeguarding the northern skies, seas, and islands. The regiment is equipped with the S-300PMU1 missile system, one of the world’s most powerful air defence systems. Through rigorous combat training, soldiers have mastered modern weapons and equipment, ensuring they serve as a strategic air defence force, contributing to the firm protection of the Fatherland’s skies.
Senior Lieutenant Bui Quoc Cuong, Deputy Captain of Ship CSB-4040 (Coast Guard Region 4), expressed hope that the Party Central Committee will continue investing in modern military equipment and weapons, while also encouraging policies that promote self-reliant production capacity.
Practical experience from patrol and control missions at sea demonstrates that Viet Nam-produced equipment and weapons not only incorporate advanced technology but are also well-suited to operational terrain, climate conditions, and the specific tasks of each unit.
Practical experience from patrol and control missions at sea demonstrates that Viet Nam-produced equipment and weapons not only incorporate advanced technology but are also well-suited to operational terrain, climate conditions, and the specific tasks of each unit.
In the 2020–2025 term, numerous breakthrough science and technology solutions developed by the Viet Nam People’s Army have contributed to successfully achieving the goal of building a “lean, compact, strong” army.
Promoting the development of science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation; fostering a self-reliant, self-sufficient, dual-use, modern defence industry is also one of the three breakthroughs set by the Central Military Commission and Ministry of National Defence to build the People’s Army that is revolutionary, regular, elite, and modern in the 2025–2030 period.
