Decree No. 284/2025/NĐ-CP on the organization and operation of the Defense Inspectorate

DECREE

Regulations on the organization and operation of Defense Inspection

Pursuant to the Law on Government Organization No. 63/2025/QH15;

Pursuant to the Law on Officers of the Vietnam People's Army No. 16/1999/QH10; the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Law on Officers of the Vietnam People's Army No. 19/2008/QH12, No. 72/2014/QH13, No. 52/2024/QH15;

Pursuant to the National Defense Law No. 22/2018/QH14;

Pursuant to the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of Eleven Laws on Military Affairs and National Defense No. 98/2025/QH15;

Pursuant to the Inspection Law No. 84/2025/QH15;

Pursuant to the Law on Handling Administrative Violations No. 15/2012/QH13; the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Law on Handling Administrative Violations No. 67/2020/QH14, No. 88/2025/QH15;

"Based on the proposal of the Minister of National Defense;"

The Government promulgates this Decree on the organization and operation of Defense Inspection.

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Decree stipulates the organization and operation of inspection agencies within the Vietnam People's Armed Forces (hereinafter referred to as Defense Inspection).

Article 2. Applicability

1. State administrative management agencies, heads of state administrative management agencies; agencies, units, organizations, and individuals under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of National Defense; inspection agencies and heads of Defense Inspection agencies; heads of inspection teams, inspectors, members of inspection teams; inspected entities; agencies, organizations, units, and individuals related to the activities of Defense Inspection.

2. Foreign agencies, organizations, and individuals operating on the territory of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam shall comply with Vietnamese laws on national defense.

Article 3. Functions of Defense Inspection

Defense Inspection assists the head of the state administrative management agency at the same level in performing state administrative management functions regarding inspection, receiving citizens, handling complaints and denunciations, and preventing corruption and negative practices; performs inspection, receiving citizens, handling complaints and denunciations, and preventing corruption, waste, and negative practices according to the provisions of the law.

Article 4. Principles of Operation of Defense Inspection

1. The operation of Defense Inspection shall be carried out in accordance with the Inspection Law, the provisions of this Decree, and relevant legal regulations.

2. Compliance with the law; military orders, regulations, and other provisions of the military; ensuring accuracy, objectivity, truthfulness, transparency, democracy, and timeliness; protecting state secrets.

3. Overlapping or duplication of inspection scope and time between inspection agencies, between inspection agencies and the State Audit Office, the Ministry of National Defense Audit Office; no overlap in exercising rights during inspections.

4. Not to obstruct the normal operations of inspected entities and other agencies, units, organizations, and individuals.

Chapter II

ORGANIZATION, TASKS, AND LIMITATIONS OF DEFENSE INSPECTION

Article 5. Organization of Defense Inspection

1. Defense Inspection agencies include:

a) The Inspectorate of the Ministry of National Defense (hereinafter referred to as the Inspectorate of the Ministry);

b) Defense Inspection agencies of Military Regions; Defense Inspection of the Command of Hanoi Capital City (hereinafter referred to as Defense Inspection of Military Regions).

2. The organization, staffing, and equipment of Defense Inspection agencies at all levels shall be regulated by the Minister of National Defense.

3. Defense Inspection agencies at all levels shall have their own seals in accordance with the provisions of the law.

Article 6. Position and Functions of the Inspectorate of the Ministry

The Inspectorate of the Ministry is an agency under the Ministry of National Defense, assisting the Minister of National Defense in state management of inspection work, receiving citizens, handling complaints and denunciations, and preventing corruption and negative practices; conducting inspections on agencies, units, and individuals within the scope of management of the Ministry of National Defense; inspecting agencies, organizations, and individuals within the scope of state management in the national defense sector of the Ministry of National Defense; performing tasks of receiving citizens, handling complaints and denunciations, and preventing corruption, waste, and negative practices according to the provisions of the law.

Article 7. Tasks and Authorities of the Inspectorate of the Ministry

1. In state management of inspection within the scope of state management of the Ministry of National Defense, the Inspectorate of the Ministry has the following tasks and authorities:

a) Advising and building proposals for the Minister of National Defense to promulgate and guide, urge the implementation of regulations on the organization and operation of national defense inspection;

b) Building draft inspection plans, submitting them to the Minister for comments on policy direction, promulgation, and organization of implementation of inspection plans;

c) Directing inspection work, guiding, and training on inspection business for the national defense inspection cadre at all levels; guiding, disseminating, and checking the implementation of laws on inspection for agencies and units under the management of the Ministry of National Defense;

d) Requesting Military Regions and the Commandant of the Capital City's Command (hereinafter referred to as Military Region) to compile and report results on inspection work;

đ) Implementing mid-term reviews, final summaries, drawing lessons learned, providing information, reporting, conducting scientific research, compiling professional materials on national defense inspection work;

2. In inspection activities, the Inspectorate of the Ministry has the following tasks and authorities:

a) Inspecting the implementation of policies, laws, tasks, powers, and state plans on national defense; management regulations on national defense and professional-technical matters for agencies, units, organizations, and individuals in sectors under the scope of state management of the Ministry of National Defense;

b) Inspecting the implementation of policies, laws, tasks, powers, and state plans on national defense; orders, directives, and decisions of the Minister of National Defense for agencies, units, and individuals under the management of the Minister of National Defense; inspecting enterprises in the military established by the Minister of National Defense, and enterprises established by the Prime Minister but directly managed by the Ministry of National Defense;

c) Inspecting cases within its jurisdiction upon discovering signs of law violations; inspecting other cases assigned by the Minister of National Defense; re-inspecting cases that have been concluded by the Inspectorate of Military Region but show signs of law violations through reviewing complaints, denunciations, recommendations, and reports;

d) Checking the accuracy and legality of inspection conclusions issued by the Chief Inspector of Military Region, the Chief Inspector of the Capital City's Command (hereinafter referred to as the Chief Inspector of Military Region), and decisions on post-inspection handling made by the Commander of Military Region, the Commander of the Capital City's Command (hereinafter collectively referred to as the Commander of Military Region) when necessary;

đ) Monitoring, urging, and checking the implementation of inspection conclusions and post-inspection handling decisions of the Inspectorate of the Ministry and the Minister of National Defense;

e) Checking the accuracy and legality of post-inspection handling decisions of the Chairman of the People's Committee at the provincial level for cases within the scope of state management of the Ministry of National Defense when necessary.

3. Assisting the Minister of National Defense in state management of citizen reception, complaint, and denunciation work; performing citizen reception, complaint, and denunciation tasks according to the provisions of the law.

4. Assisting the Minister of National Defense in state management of anti-corruption and anti-negative practice work; performing anti-corruption, anti-waste, and anti-negative practice tasks according to the provisions of the law.

Article 8. Duties and Authorities of the Inspector General of the Ministry

1. The Inspector General of the Ministry shall perform the following duties:

a) Leading, directing, inspecting, and supervising inspection work within the scope of state management of the Ministry of National Defense; leading the Ministry's Inspectorate to carry out its duties and authorities as prescribed in Article 7 of this Decree and performing other tasks and authorities as stipulated by laws on inspection, the Military Unit Management Regulations, and other relevant laws;

b) Taking the lead in handling overlapping and repetitive inspection scopes and times within the field of state management of the Ministry of National Defense.

2. The Inspector General of the Ministry shall have the following authorities:

a) Directing the development, issuance, and implementation of inspection plans;

b) Deciding to conduct inspections when signs of law violations are detected and bearing responsibility before the Minister of National Defense for such decisions;

c) Deciding to reinspect cases that have been concluded by the Inspector General of the Military Region but where signs of law violations are discovered;

d) Imposing administrative penalties or recommending competent authorities to impose administrative penalties according to the law on handling administrative violations;

đ) In necessary cases, recommending heads of agencies and units under the Ministry of National Defense to inspect and check within their scope of management when signs of law violations are detected;

e) Recommending the Minister of National Defense to suspend, within his authority, the enforcement of decisions contrary to the law in the field of state management of the Ministry of National Defense discovered through inspections of units directly managed by the Ministry of National Defense; resolving issues related to inspection work;

g) Recommending the Minister of National Defense to consider responsibility and handle persons under his management who violate the law discovered through inspections or fail to implement inspection conclusions and decisions; requiring heads of agencies and organizations to consider responsibility and handle persons under their management who violate the law discovered through inspections or fail to implement inspection conclusions and decisions;

h) Recommending competent state authorities to amend, supplement, or issue regulations in accordance with management requirements; recommending suspension, revocation, or abolition of regulations found to be contrary to the law through inspection work;

i) Reporting to the Minister of National Defense and the Chief Inspector General of the Government on inspection work within their responsibilities;

k) Inspecting the responsibility of heads of agencies and units under the management of the Minister of National Defense in implementing laws on inspection, receiving citizens, handling complaints and denunciations, and preventing corruption, waste, and negative practices.

Article 9. Position and Functions of the Military Region Inspectorate

The Military Region Inspectorate is an agency subordinate to the Military Region, assisting the Commander of the Military Region in managing and directing inspection work, citizen reception, complaint and denunciation resolution, and anti-corruption efforts; conducting inspections of agencies, units, and individuals within the scope of management of the Military Region Commander and inspections within the scope of state management in the defense sector on the managed territory; carrying out tasks of citizen reception, complaint and denunciation resolution, and anti-corruption efforts in accordance with the law.

Article 10. Tasks and Authorities of the Inspectorate of the Military Region

1. Drafting the inspection plan proposal, reporting to the Inspectorate of the Ministry of National Defense for consideration and comments before submitting to the Commander of the Military Region for comments on the policy; issuing and organizing the implementation of the inspection plan.

2. Inspecting the implementation of policies, laws, tasks, and authorities concerning agencies, units, organizations, and individuals under the management of the Commander of the Military Region; inspecting the compliance with policies and laws of agencies, organizations, and individuals in the defense sector within the scope of management of the Military Region.

3. Inspecting other matters assigned by the Commander of the Military Region.

4. Supervising, urging, and inspecting the implementation of conclusions and recommendations of the Inspectorate of the Military Region and decisions on handling inspections issued by the Commander of the Military Region. Summarizing and reporting on the results of inspection work within the scope of management of the Military Region.

5. Implementing mid-term reviews, final summaries, participating in compiling professional materials of the defense inspection sector.

Article 11. Tasks and Authorities of the Chief Inspector of the Military Region

1. The Chief Inspector of the Military Region has the following tasks:

Leading, directing, supervising, and inspecting inspection work within the scope of management of the Military Region; leading and commanding the Inspectorate of the Military Region to perform tasks and authorities as stipulated in Article 10 of this Decree and other regulations of the law on inspection, the Regulations on Military Unit Management of the Vietnam People's Army, and other relevant legal documents.

2. The Chief Inspector of the Military Region has the following authorities:

a) Directing the development, issuance, and implementation of inspection plans;

b) Deciding to conduct an inspection when signs of law violations are detected and bearing responsibility before the Commander of the Military Region for such decisions;

c) Recommending the Commander of the Military Region to suspend the execution of decisions containing content contrary to the law discovered through inspections of agencies and units directly managed by the Military Region;

d) Recommending the Commander of the Military Region to resolve issues related to inspection work; if such recommendation is not accepted, reporting to the Chief Inspector of the Ministry;

đ) Recommending the Commander of the Military Region to consider responsibility and handle individuals under the management of the Commander of the Military Region who have been found to violate the law through inspections or who have not implemented inspection conclusions or decisions; requesting the heads of agencies and organizations to consider responsibility and handle individuals under their management who have been found to violate the law through inspections or who have not implemented inspection conclusions or decisions;

e) Recommending competent state agencies to amend, supplement, or issue regulations in accordance with management requirements; recommending suspension or cancellation of regulations found to be contrary to the law through inspection work;

g) Recommending competent authorities to decide to suspend disciplinary actions or job transfers of commanders of agencies and units under the Military Region if such actions are deemed to obstruct the inspection process;

h) Reporting to the Commander of the Military Region and the Chief Inspector of the Ministry on inspection work within the scope of their responsibilities;

i) Inspecting the responsibility of heads of agencies and units under the management of the Commander of the Military Region in implementing laws on receiving citizens, handling complaints and denunciations, and preventing corruption, waste, and negative practices;

k) Imposing administrative penalties or recommending competent authorities to impose administrative penalties according to the law on handling administrative violations.

Article 12. Relationship of Defense Inspection

1. The Ministry of National Defense's Inspectorate is subject to leadership from the competent authority; management and command from the Minister of National Defense; and business guidance from the Government Inspectorate.

2. Military Region Inspectorates are subject to leadership from the competent authority; management and command from the Military Region Commander; and business guidance from the Ministry of National Defense's Inspectorate.

3. The relationship between the Ministry of National Defense's Inspectorate and functional agencies under the Ministry of National Defense is a cooperative relationship in performing assigned tasks according to the law and regulations of the Ministry of National Defense.

4. The relationship between the Ministry of National Defense's Inspectorate and inspectorates of the Ministry of Public Security, State Bank, Government Cryptographic Board; and provincial and municipal inspectorates is a cooperative relationship in performing inspection tasks within the scope of national administration of the Ministry of National Defense.

Chapter III

DEFENSE INSPECTORS

Article 13. Defense Inspectors

1. Defense Inspectors are officers of the Vietnam People's Army appointed to the Inspector positions to perform inspection tasks and other tasks assigned by the head of the Inspectorate.

2. Defense Inspectors must meet the criteria stipulated in Article 12 of the Law on Officers of the Vietnam People's Army and Clause 2 of Article 8 of the Inspection Law.

3. Defense Inspectors wear uniforms as prescribed by the Vietnam People's Army; they enjoy benefits and policies as prescribed by law.

4. Ranks of Defense Inspectors

a) Inspector;

b) Senior Inspector;

c) Senior Inspector (High Rank).

Article 14. Authority to Appoint and Relieve Inspector Ranks

The Minister of National Defense appoints and relieves Inspector ranks upon the proposal of the Board for Reviewing Officer Titles in Professional, Technical, and Business Fields at the Ministry of National Defense.

Article 15. Criteria for Inspector Rank

1. An officer of the Vietnam People's Army.

2. Graduated with a bachelor's degree or higher in a field relevant to their current work.

3. Hold an Inspector rank vocational training certificate and other certificates as prescribed by law regarding cadres and civil servants.

4. Have at least two years of work experience in an Inspectorate or have at least five years of service in another agency, organization, or unit before transferring to an Inspectorate.

Article 16. Criteria for Senior Inspector Rank

1. An officer of the Vietnam People's Army.

2. Graduated with a bachelor's degree or higher in a field relevant to their current work.

3. Graduated from mid-level or brigade-level cadre training at military or defense academies in a field relevant to their current work or hold a postgraduate degree.

4. Hold a Senior Inspector rank vocational training certificate and other certificates as prescribed by law regarding cadres and civil servants.

5. Have been appointed to the Inspector rank for at least four years or have served as a mid-level battalion commander (or equivalent) or an officer holding an equivalent rank to Senior Inspector who has transferred to an Inspectorate and must have at least one year of work experience in an Inspectorate.

Article 17. Criteria for High-Rank Senior Inspector

1. An officer of the Vietnam People's Army.

2. Graduated with a bachelor's degree or higher in a field relevant to their current work.

3. Graduated from strategic campaign planning and operations training at the National Defense Academy.

4. Hold a High-Rank Senior Inspector vocational training certificate and other certificates as prescribed by law regarding cadres and civil servants.

5. Hold a high-level political theory qualification.

6. Have been appointed to the Senior Inspector rank for at least four years or have served as a division-level commander (or equivalent) or an officer holding an equivalent rank to High-Rank Senior Inspector who has transferred to an Inspectorate and must have at least one year of work experience in an Inspectorate.

Article 18. Selection, training, improvement, utilization, and management of personnel for defense inspection work

The selection, training, improvement, utilization, and management of personnel for defense inspection work shall be regulated by the Minister of National Defense.

Chapter IV

SOME PROVISIONS ON THE ACTIVITIES OF DEFENSE INSPECTION

Article 19. Objects of Defense Inspection

1. Agencies, units, organizations, and individuals under the management authority of the Ministry of National Defense.

2. Agencies, organizations, and individuals of Vietnam obligated to comply with laws on military affairs and national defense; to perform tasks and regulations on specialized-technical matters, and management regulations within the field of military affairs and national defense.

3. Foreign agencies, organizations, and individuals operating on the territory of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam related to Vietnam's laws on military affairs and national defense.

Article 20. Construction and issuance of annual inspection plans

1. The construction and issuance of inspection plans must be based on the guidance program of inspections, instructions from higher-level inspection agencies, and the management requirements of the Ministry of National Defense, as well as the requirements and management tasks within their jurisdiction.

2. By no later than October 30 each year, based on the guidance program of inspections and instructions from the Government Inspectorate, the Ministry Inspectorate guides the Military Region Inspectorates to draft inspection plans for their respective agencies and units.

3. By no later than November 20 each year, the Chief Inspector of the Ministry of National Defense submits the inspection plan for review and comments by the Minister of National Defense.

By no later than November 30 each year, the Minister of National Defense has the responsibility to provide written comments on the inspection plan; the Chief Inspector of the Ministry of National Defense issues the inspection plan no later than five working days after receiving comments from the Minister of National Defense.

The inspection plan of the Ministry Inspectorate is immediately sent to the Head of the Ministry of National Defense, the Government Inspectorate, the State Audit Agency, relevant agencies and organizations, and notified to the inspected objects.

4. By no later than December 5 each year, the Chief Inspector of the Military Region submits the inspection plan for review and comments by the Commander of the Military Region and the Chief Inspector of the Ministry of National Defense.

By no later than December 10 each year, the Commander of the Military Region and the Chief Inspector of the Ministry of National Defense have the responsibility to provide written comments on the inspection plan; the Chief Inspector of the Military Region issues the inspection plan no later than five working days after receiving comments from the Commander of the Military Region and the Chief Inspector of the Ministry of National Defense.

The inspection plan of the Military Region Inspectorate is immediately sent to the Ministry Inspectorate, the Commander of the Military Region, the Ministry Audit Office, relevant agencies and organizations, and notified to the inspected objects.

Article 21. Re-inspection and handling of overlapping and duplicate activities in defense inspection

1. When there is a basis as prescribed in the Law on Inspection and guiding documents, the Chief Inspector of the Ministry decides to re-inspect cases that have already been concluded by the Military Region Inspectorate. The procedures and formalities for re-inspection are carried out according to the provisions of the Law on Inspection and guiding documents.

2. Handling of overlapping and duplicate activities in defense inspection is implemented according to the provisions of the Law on Inspection and guiding documents.

Article 22. Ensuring Activities for Inspection

1. The funds to ensure activities for national defense inspection shall be allocated in the annual state budget estimate of the Ministry of National Defense and other sources of funding as prescribed by law. The establishment, management, and utilization of these funds shall be carried out in accordance with the State Budget Law and other relevant laws.

2. The material and means to serve the organization and activities of inspection at all levels of national defense shall be the responsibility of the commanders at the same level in accordance with the regulations of the Minister of National Defense.

Chapter V

IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 23. Effectiveness of Implementation

1. This Decree takes effect from November 6, 2025.

2. Decree No. 33/2014/NĐ-CP dated April 26, 2014 of the Government on the organization and operation of national defense inspection shall cease to be effective from the date this Decree takes effect.

Article 24. Responsibility for Implementation

The Minister, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of government agencies, Chairpersons of provincial People's Committees, and related agencies, organizations, and individuals are responsible for implementing this Decree.