Consolidated Document number 47/VBHN-BQP on the defense area

DECREE

On Defense Areas

Decree No. 21/2019/NĐ-CP dated February 22, 2019 of the Government on Defense Areas, which took effect from April 10, 2019, was amended and supplemented by:

Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP dated August 7, 2025 of the Government amending and supplementing certain articles of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military when organizing local administrative levels at two tiers, which took effect from August 7, 2025.

||| Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the Government dated June 19, 2015;

Pursuant to the Law on Organization of Local Administration dated June 19, 2015;

Based on Decree No. 168/2018/NĐ-CP dated December 28, 2018 of the Government on defense work at central ministries and localities;

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

The Government promulgates the Decree on Defense Areas[1].

Chapter I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Decree stipulates guidance, command, coordination relationships, support work, and responsibilities of organizations, agencies, units, and individuals regarding the defense of Military Regions and Defense Areas.

Article 2. Applicability

This Decree applies to organizations, agencies, units, and citizens of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Article 3. Explanation of Terms

In this Decree, the following terms shall be understood as follows:

1. A Military Region is a military unit directly subordinate to the Ministry of National Defense organized according to territorial principles, comprising several adjacent provinces and centrally-administered cities with related military and national defense aspects. Forces include main force units directly under the Military Region, local forces, and self-defense militia units under provincial military offices within the Military Region's territory. The Military Region Command, which is the General Command of the Military Region, has the function of guiding national defense work and building potential and military posture in peacetime; commanding and directing the armed forces of the Military Region during wartime.

2. The Military Region Defense Posture is the comprehensive arrangement of the Defense Area Posture and the deployment of main force units of the Military Region, units of the Ministry of National Defense stationed in the Military Region's territory, natural and social environmental factors, and postures within the Defense Area, forming a defense posture along strategic directions of the country.

3. The Defense Area Posture is the deployment of armed forces at various levels; forces of ministries and sectors deployed in the area; natural and social environments, and postures within the Defense Area.

4. The Military Region Defense Potential is the comprehensive potential of Defense Areas within the Military Region's territory and the nation's mobilized potential for the Military Region's defense mission.

5. The Defense Area Potential is the capability to mobilize human resources, material resources, and morale for the Defense Area and to provide support and assistance to other Defense Areas, including: Political and spiritual potential; economic, cultural, social, scientific, and technological potential; military, security, foreign affairs potential, and other potentials.

6.[2] The Military Region Defense Force is the comprehensive force of provincial-level Defense Areas within the Military Region's territory.

7. The Defense Area Force is the comprehensive force organized tightly under the unified leadership, guidance, and command of the Party Committee, administration, People's Council of the United Front of Vietnam at the same level, and the military and public security commanders of each locality, including: Forces of the Party Committee, administration, Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee at the same level, political organizations, political-social organizations, professional political-social organizations, mass organizations of the people, local armed forces cooperating with main force units, public security units, and central organizations and agencies in the area.

8.[3] The Supply Council of the Defense Area is an agency established by the Provincial People's Committee, tasked with advising and assisting the Provincial People's Committee in ensuring national defense for the Defense Area.

Article 4. Principles of Command, Control, and Coordination in Military Region Defense and Defense Zone

1. Adhere to the Constitution and laws of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; be under the absolute, direct leadership in all aspects by the Communist Party of Vietnam, directly by the Central Military Commission, under the command of the President, unified management by the Government, and direct management and command by the Minister of National Defense.

2. Mobilize the comprehensive strength of the entire political system, at all levels, sectors, forces, and the whole people in military region defense and defense zone activities, with armed forces serving as the core.

3. Ensure centralized and unified command, in accordance with the functions, tasks, and authorities of the military, police, self-defense forces, central ministries and sectors, and local authorities as prescribed by law; maintain secrecy regarding plans, schemes, forces, and means in performing defense duties.

4. Closely integrate economic, cultural, and social development with national defense consolidation, security, and foreign relations.

5. The use of people's armed forces to perform military region defense and defense zone duties shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the law.

6. Be ready to provide support and assistance to organizations, agencies, units of central ministries and sectors within their jurisdiction and other areas, creating a nationwide defense posture.

Article 5. Military Region Defense and Defense Zone Steering Committee

1. Central Level

a) The Prime Minister decides on the establishment of the Central Steering Committee for Military Region Defense and Defense Zone, directly serving as its Chairman; directs the implementation of military region defense and defense zone duties throughout the country;

b) The Chairman of the Steering Committee issues operational regulations; defines the composition, tasks, and authorities of members and the permanent office of the Steering Committee;

c) The permanent office of the Steering Committee is the Ministry of National Defense.

2. Military Region Level

a) The Minister of National Defense decides on the establishment of the Military Region Steering Committee for Military Region Defense and Defense Zone, with the Military Region Commander serving as Chairman, assisting the Ministry of National Defense and the Prime Minister in directing and commanding the implementation of military region defense and defense zone duties within the military region;

b) The Chairman of the Steering Committee issues operational regulations; defines the composition, tasks, and authorities of members and the permanent office of the Steering Committee;

c) The permanent office of the Steering Committee is the Military Region General Staff Office.

3. Provincial Level[4]

a) The Chairman of the People's Committee decides on the establishment of the Defense Zone Steering Committee at his own level and serves as Chairman, assisting the People's Committee at the same level in directing and commanding the implementation of construction and operation tasks of the defense zone; decides on the establishment of a Supply Council to assist the People's Committee in ensuring material, logistics, technical, and financial support for the construction and operation of the defense zone;

b) The Chairman of the Steering Committee issues operational regulations; defines the composition, tasks, and authorities of members and the permanent office of the Steering Committee;

c) [5] The permanent office of the provincial-level Steering Committee is the Provincial Military Command, the Hanoi Capital Military Command, and the Ho Chi Minh City Military Command.

4. The Military Region Defense and Defense Zone Steering Committee operates on a concurrent basis.

Chapter II. MILITARY REGION DEFENSE

Section 1. COMMAND AND CONTROL

Article 6. Mechanism for Command and Control of Military Region Defense

1. The Prime Minister directs

a) Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated agencies, and localities cooperate with the Ministry of National Defense to implement the tasks stipulated in Clause 2, Article 8 of the National Defense Law;

b) The Ministry of National Defense takes the lead, coordinating with ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated agencies, and localities to implement the provisions at points a, c, d, đ, e of Clause 2, Article 8 of the National Defense Law;

c) Conduct exercises, inspections, supervision, interim reviews, and final summaries of the implementation of military region defense construction and operations.

2. The Minister of National Defense directs and commands

a) Develop a military region defense plan consistent with the determination to defend the Socialist Republic of Vietnam as stipulated in point a, Clause 2, Article 8 of the National Defense Law;

b) Agencies and units under their authority perform the tasks stipulated in points b, e, g, h, i of Clause 2, Article 8 of the National Defense Law.

3. The Minister of Public Security directs and commands agencies and units under their authority to take the lead, coordinating with agencies and units of the military region to implement the tasks stipulated in point h of Clause 2, Article 8 of the National Defense Law.

4. Central ministries and sectors direct agencies and units under their authority to coordinate with agencies and units of the military region to implement the tasks stipulated in points c, d, đ, e, g, i of Clause 2, Article 8 of the National Defense Law.

5. The People's Committee at the provincial level directs departments and sectors to take the lead, coordinating with agencies and units of the military region and related organizations to implement the tasks stipulated in points c, d, đ, e, g, i of Clause 2, Article 8 of the National Defense Law.

6. The Military Region Command directs and commands

a) Organizing the implementation of military and national defense work and building defense potential during peacetime; directing and commanding military region forces during wartime to protect the military region area;

b) Agencies and units under their authority coordinate with local departments and sectors to advise party committees and governments in building the political system, consolidating the great unity of the people, and strengthening grassroots administration;

c)[6] Directing the provincial military agency to advise the provincial People's Committee on constructing and operating the defense zone in conjunction with the military region defense posture.

Article 7. Building the Military Region Defense Plan

1. The Military Region Command shall build the Military Region Defense Plan; the content of the plan must be consistent with the Resolution on Defending the Socialist Vietnam Homeland, nationwide, and appropriate to the characteristics, conditions, and terrain of the Military Region.

2.[7] The procedures for building, form, and content of the Military Region Defense Plan shall be carried out in accordance with the Regulations on Combat Operations Staff Work of the Vietnam People's Army.

Article 8. Building the Military Region Defense Force

1. The Military Region Defense Force includes: The defense forces at the provincial defense area level within the Military Region, the main force units of the Military Region, and the units under the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security that are reinforced to the Military Region's armed forces.

2. Content of building the Military Region Defense Armed Forces

a) Building agencies and units under the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security within the region to meet the requirements of the Military Region Defense Plan as stipulated by the Minister of National Defense and the Minister of Public Security;

b) Building the Military Region Headquarters sufficient in quantity and organizational structure according to the regulations of the Ministry of National Defense, ensuring quality, having professional expertise sufficient to advise and direct subordinate units to complete the Military Region Defense tasks;

c) Building the main force units of the Military Region strong politically, ideologically, and organizationally; revolutionary, regular, elite, gradually modernized; having professional skills, combat readiness, and the ability to win in all situations;

d) Building local military agencies capable of taking the lead and coordinating with various departments, mass organizations to advise the same-level Party Committee and Administration in implementing military and national defense tasks, constructing and operating the defense area; coordinating with the same-level Public Security agency to advise on handling security, public order, and social safety situations locally; coordinating with related forces in border, sea, and island protection and airspace control within the region;

đ) Building local militia and self-defense units and reserve mobilization units with technical and tactical levels suitable to the characteristics and combat conditions of the region; timely supplementing sufficient numbers according to the establishment requirements and defense tasks of the Military Region;

Article 9. Building the Military Region Defense System

1. Components of the Defense System

a) Provincial defense areas;

b) Defensive positions, support points, clusters of support points; campaign outposts of the Military Region;

c) Border defense positions of the border guard troops; positions against enemy air raids, blockades, airborne and amphibious landings, and island defense lines near the coast;

d) Anti-aircraft observation posts, radar stations, anti-aircraft positions, military airports, landing zones within the Military Region;

đ) Communication relay stations, transmission stations, and receiving stations;

e) Road and bridge systems, port facilities, river crossing docks;

g) Storage systems; production and repair workshops; logistics and technical bases of the Military Region and the Ministry of National Defense located within the region;

h) Military Region command posts; rear bases of the Military Region; central safe areas and evacuation areas for central ministries and sectors;

i) National defense economic zones;

k) Enemy air raid shelters; evacuation and hiding areas, natural caves, and other facilities serving needs during wartime;

l) Civilian facilities planned for use for national defense purposes during wartime;

m) Locations for deploying units under the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Public Security, and central ministries and sectors within the region.

2. Content of Building the Defense System

a) Determining the locations and land areas for constructing components of the national defense system in the Military Region Defense;

b) Determining overall deployment plans for national defense and security facilities and construction boundaries for these facilities;

c) Compiling lists and estimating funding sources for investment projects to construct national defense and security facilities in the Military Region Defense;

d) Preparing maps for constructing, managing national defense and security facilities, natural caves, and civilian facilities planned for use for national defense purposes during wartime within the Military Region;

đ) Construction of national defense and security facilities within the Military Region shall be carried out in accordance with the regulations of the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Public Security, and other relevant laws;

3. Procedures for establishing, reviewing, approving, and adjusting investment projects to construct facilities belonging to the Military Region Defense System shall be implemented in accordance with the law.

Article 10. Building Defense Potential of Military Region

1. Defense potential includes: Political, spiritual potential; economic, cultural, social potential; scientific and technological potential; military, security, foreign affairs potential, and other potentials.

2. The contents of building defense potential of military region shall be implemented in accordance with the provisions of Articles 26, 27, and 28 of this Decree.

3. Mobilizing other national potentials for the defense of military regions shall be carried out in accordance with the law and decisions of competent authorities.

The Command of the Military Region shall coordinate with the provincial Party Committee and People's Administration within the Military Region to lead and direct the Military Service Office to take the main responsibility and cooperate with relevant departments, branches, and local organizations to advise on building the potentials as stipulated in Articles 26, 27, and 28 of this Decree; to develop plans to ensure defense needs in the first year of war; plans to construct and protect defense works and military areas within the region.

Section 2. COOPERATION RELATIONS

Article 11. Building Plans, Organizing Preparation and Implementation of Defense of Military Region

1. The Ministry of National Defense shall direct the Military Regions to take the main responsibility in building plans for the defense of Military Regions; coordinate with agencies and units of central ministries and localities to prepare and organize the implementation of defense tasks of Military Regions.

2. Central ministries and sectors shall, according to their functions and tasks and requirements for the defense of Military Regions, direct and guide subordinate agencies and units to organize and implement defense tasks of Military Regions.

3. Localities within Military Regions shall build plans and organize the implementation of regional defense tasks, ready to support human and material resources for other localities and central ministries and sector units within the region.

Article 12. Building a Strong and Comprehensive Armed Force with High Combat Readiness

1. The Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security shall take the main responsibility in building military and public security units within Military Regions into revolutionary, regular, elite forces, gradually modernized, ensuring political stability, national security, public order and safety, and successfully handling situations occurring during peacetime, defeating wars of aggression, and protecting the Military Region territory.

2. Central ministries and sectors shall, according to their functions and tasks, direct subordinate agencies and units to cooperate with military and public security forces within their management to manage reserve mobilization sources, ready to execute mobilization orders and provide other resources to the armed forces within the Military Region.

3. The Command of the Military Region shall direct the Military Service Office to advise the Party Committee and People's Administration at the same level to build strong local troops, reserve mobilization forces, and widespread self-defense militia forces meeting the requirements and tasks of protecting the territory.

4. The Provincial People's Committee shall take the main responsibility and coordinate with the Military Region to organize the construction of local troops, self-defense militia forces, and reserve mobilization forces capable of protecting the territory.

Article 13. Building a Solid Defense System of Military Region, Building a Total People's National Defense Foundation, and a Total People's National Defense Strategy Linked with a Total People's Security Foundation and a Total People's Security Strategy within the Military Region

1. The Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security shall take the main responsibility and coordinate with central ministries and sectors and localities to build a solid defense system of Military Regions, build a total people's national defense foundation and strategy linked with a total people's security foundation and strategy, forming comprehensive strength on each strategic area and throughout the country.

2. Central ministries and sectors shall coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security to direct and guide subordinate agencies and units to implement tasks of building a defense system of Military Regions, building a total people's national defense foundation and strategy linked with a total people's security foundation and strategy within the Military Region.

3. The Provincial People's Committee shall take the main responsibility and coordinate with agencies and units of central ministries and sectors and the Military Region to implement the construction of a continuous and solid defense system, building a total people's national defense foundation and strategy linked with a total people's security foundation and strategy; building strong potentials on the territory, forming a solid defense system of Military Region.

Article 14. Construction and organization of civil defense; prevention and combat against information warfare and cyber warfare

1. The Ministry of National Defense shall take the lead and coordinate with central ministries and sectors to direct and guide the Military Region Command in building plans for civil defense and prevention and combat against information warfare and cyber warfare within their respective military regions in accordance with the provisions of the law.

2. Central ministries and sectors, provincial People's Committees shall direct agencies and units under their jurisdiction to cooperate with military region armed forces in implementing civil defense and measures to prevent and combat information warfare and cyber warfare within their respective military regions.

Article 15. Development of socio-economic activities in conjunction with national defense; national defense with socio-economic development

1. The Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security shall direct agencies and units under their jurisdiction to participate in providing opinions and reviewing projects for socio-economic development in conjunction with national defense and security within their respective military regions in accordance with the provisions of the law.

2. Central ministries and sectors, localities shall establish socio-economic development projects that integrate national defense and security; submit them to the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security for participation and review before they are approved by competent authorities. When violations of national defense and security regulations are discovered, the Minister of National Defense and the Minister of Public Security shall report to the Prime Minister for adjustment or cancellation.

3. Provincial People's Committees shall establish socio-economic development projects that integrate national defense and security; direct relevant military and public security agencies at the same level to provide opinions; submit them to the Military Region Command for review before they are approved by competent authorities. When violations of national defense and security regulations are discovered, adjustments or cancellations must be made.

Article 16. Development of national defense industry and national defense education and security

1. The Ministry of National Defense shall take the lead and coordinate with central ministries and sectors, localities to build plans and allocate resources for the development of the national defense industry; direct agencies and units to mobilize the industry and implement education and training on national defense and security knowledge for relevant subjects in accordance with the provisions of the law.

2. Central ministries and sectors, localities shall coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense to implement plans and allocate resources for the development of industries serving civilian needs and ready to mobilize for national defense tasks; and implement education and training on national defense and security knowledge for relevant subjects in accordance with the provisions of the law.

Article 17. State management of the national border; maintenance of security, order, and social safety in border areas, ports, maritime zones, and airspace

1. The Ministry of National Defense shall take the lead and coordinate with central ministries and sectors, and related localities to manage state affairs concerning the national border; maintain security, order, and social safety in border areas, sea and land ports, maritime zones, and airspace of Vietnam in accordance with the provisions of the law.

2. Central ministries and sectors related to the national border shall coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense to manage state affairs concerning the national border; maintain security, order, and social safety in border areas, sea and land ports, maritime zones, and airspace of Vietnam in accordance with the provisions of the law.

3. Localities with national borders shall take the lead and coordinate with Border Guard Forces and functional forces of the Ministry of National Defense to manage the border according to administrative geography and sea and land ports, maritime zones, and airspace within their respective jurisdictions.

4. The Military Region Command shall coordinate with the Border Guard Command to direct subordinate forces to advise People's Committees of border provinces in managing state affairs concerning the national border, border diplomacy, people-to-people diplomacy, maintaining a peaceful, friendly, and stable border.

Article 18. Defense Diplomacy

1. The Ministry of National Defense shall take the lead and coordinate with central ministries, agencies, and localities to direct the Military Region Command to implement defense diplomacy work within their jurisdiction as prescribed in Article 14 of the National Defense Law.

2. The Military Region Command shall take the lead and coordinate with the People's Committee at the provincial level according to their functions and tasks to cooperate with the Ministry of National Defense in implementing defense diplomacy tasks within their jurisdiction as prescribed by law and directives from the Ministry of National Defense.

Article 19. Building Political System, All-People Solidarity Front, and Comprehensive Strong Bases

1. Central ministries and agencies shall coordinate with local party committees and authorities to participate in building a comprehensive strong political system, all-people solidarity front, and to leverage the combined strength of political organizations and social-political organizations in military district defense and defense zones.

2. Localities within the military district shall take the lead and coordinate with central ministries and agencies' units to build comprehensive strong grassroots political systems, all-people solidarity fronts, and to leverage combined strength for defense zone protection within their jurisdiction.

Article 20. National Security Protection, Ensuring Social Order and Safety, and Combating Crime

1. The Ministry of Public Security shall take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense and relevant central ministries, agencies, and localities to protect national security, ensure social order and safety, and combat crime in each military district and nationwide, maintaining a peaceful and stable environment conducive to economic and social development, as prescribed by law.

2. The Ministry of National Defense and relevant central ministries and agencies shall direct functional forces to closely coordinate with public security forces and localities in protecting national security, ensuring social order and safety, and combating crime.

3. People's Committees at various levels shall coordinate with central ministries and agencies' forces to leverage the combined strength of the political system and the entire people to fulfill national security protection, social order and safety assurance, and crime prevention and suppression tasks at the local level.

Chapter III. DEFENSE ZONE AT THE PROVINCE LEVEL[8]

Section 1. DIRECTING AND COMMANDING

Article 21. Mechanism for Directing and Commanding the Defense Zone

1. The Prime Minister directs

a) The Ministry of National Defense shall establish land use planning for national defense combined with socio-economic development throughout the country, serving as a basis for central ministries, agencies, and localities to establish military positions within the defense zone; allocate targets and plans for central ministries, agencies, and localities to meet national defense needs during the first year of war;

b) Direct central ministries, agencies, and localities to implement tasks of building and operating the defense zone as prescribed in Clause 2, Article 9 of the National Defense Law;

c) Issue Regulations on the operation of forces within the defense zone.

2. The Minister of National Defense directs and commands

a) Develop defense zone plans in localities consistent with military district defense plans;

b) Military agencies shall take the lead in implementing tasks as prescribed in points a, c, d, and e of Clause 2, Article 9 of the National Defense Law; coordinate with functional agencies of the Ministry of Public Security and central ministries, agencies, and localities to implement tasks as prescribed in points b, c, d, g, and h of Clause 2, Article 9 of the National Defense Law;

c) Conduct exercises, inspections, supervision, interim reviews, and final summaries of the implementation of defense zone construction and operations.

3. The Minister of Public Security shall direct subordinate agencies and units according to their functions and tasks, take the lead, and coordinate with military and public security agencies and localities within the defense zone to implement tasks as prescribed in points b, c, d, e, and h of Clause 2, Article 9 of the National Defense Law.

4. Central ministries and agencies shall direct subordinate agencies and units according to their functions and tasks, take the lead, and coordinate with military, public security agencies, and localities within the defense zone to implement related tasks as prescribed in Clause 2, Article 9 of the National Defense Law.

5.[9] The Provincial People's Council shall make decisions and supervise the construction and operation of the defense zone; make decisions and measures to shift economic and social activities in the defense zone to wartime status as prescribed by the National Defense Law.

6. Local party committees and authorities shall lead, direct, manage, and operate the construction and operation of the defense zone centrally and uniformly; the military agency shall take the lead and coordinate with the public security agency and local departments and mass organizations to provide advice and organize implementation according to assigned functions, tasks, and powers.

In cases of emergency regarding national defense and war, they shall be under the absolute and direct leadership of the party committee; unified command and management by the People's Committee, with the local military commander taking the lead in advising and commanding the armed forces of the defense zone, coordinating with other forces to be ready for combat and engage in combat.

In anti-crime struggles, demonstrations, disturbances; anti-terrorism, hostage-taking, riots, and national security and social order and safety assurance, the head of the public security agency at the local level shall take the lead in advising and commanding the public security force to cooperate with the military and other forces to handle situations according to their functions, tasks, and powers as prescribed by law.

The readiness for combat and combat operations of armed forces in the defense zone shall be carried out according to regulations issued by the Minister of National Defense and the Minister of Public Security.

7.[10] The Military Region Command shall take the lead and coordinate with provincial party committees and authorities; the Hanoi Capital Military Command shall advise the Hanoi City Party Committee and Hanoi Municipal People's Committee on leading, directing, and guiding the construction and operation of the defense zone; in cases of national defense emergency and war, they shall lead and command the armed forces uniformly to perform combat tasks.

8. The local military agency shall coordinate with departments, bureaus, commissions, and mass organizations to advise local party committees and authorities on building the political system, building the all-people solidarity front, building a strong grassroots administration, building the defense zone; building the whole-people national defense foundation, the whole-people national defense posture, and the people's security foundation, the people's security posture, and other tasks prescribed in Clause 2, Article 9 of the National Defense Law.

Article 22. Construction and Implementation of Defense Area Plans[11]

1. The Military Region Command shall direct the provincial military offices to construct defense area plans, which must be reviewed by the same-level military party committee before being submitted to the Military Region Commander for approval. Based on the approved provincial defense plan, the provincial military office shall direct the Regional Defense Command Board to construct the regional defense plan, which must be reviewed by the Party Committee and submitted to the Provincial Military Command Chief for approval. The contents of the defense area plan and the regional defense plan must be consistent with the higher-level defense plan, suitable to the characteristics, conditions, and terrain of the locality.

2. The provincial military office shall advise the provincial party committee (city party committee), the provincial People's Committee to direct departments and agencies to construct assurance plans according to their functions and tasks.

3. The provincial People's Committee shall direct departments and agencies to base on the provincial defense plan to cooperate with the Provincial Military Command to construct assurance plans, which must be reviewed by their respective party committees and submitted to the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee for approval.

4. Based on the approved plans, departments and agencies shall organize implementation; annually and during each term, adjust and supplement the plans to suit the situation and requirements.

Article 23. Construction of Local Armed Forces

1.[12] The provincial and communal People's Committees shall direct the local military and police offices to implement the construction of local armed forces in sufficient quantity and quality as prescribed by the Minister of National Defense and the Minister of Public Security.

2. Local military and police offices shall organize training and exercises for subordinate forces to ensure readiness for combat and combat in accordance with the requirements and tasks within the defense area.

Article 24. Struggle against the plots and methods of hostile forces' sabotage, protection of national security, maintenance of social order and safety, struggle against crime; combat to protect the area

1.[13] The public security force shall take the lead and coordinate with the military force and other forces to grasp the situation, advise the provincial and communal People's Committees on measures to prevent and struggle to defeat the plots and methods of sabotage by hostile forces, protect national security, maintain social order and safety, and struggle against crime according to their functions, tasks, and laws.

2.[14] The provincial and communal People's Committees shall direct agencies and departments to organize propaganda for the people to clearly understand the plots and methods of hostile forces; coordinate with military units to implement Clause 1 of this Article.

3. Central ministries and sectors shall direct agencies and units under their jurisdiction within the defense area to coordinate with local authorities and military units to implement Clause 2 of this Article.

Article 25. Civil Defense; Prevention and Counteraction of Information Warfare, Cyber Warfare; Curfew, Martial Law, State of Emergency in National Defense, State of War, Mobilization Order

The direction and command of constructing plans and organizing the implementation of civil defense; prevention and counteraction of information warfare, cyber warfare; implementation of curfew, martial law, state of emergency in national defense, state of war, and mobilization order shall be carried out in accordance with the law.

Article 26. Building Political, Spiritual, Cultural, and Social Potential

1. Building the Party committees, administrative bodies, and political-social organizations at all levels within the defense area to be clean, strong, enhancing leadership capacity, management effectiveness, operational efficiency, and implementation of national defense and security tasks, thereby creating political, spiritual, cultural, and social strength within the defense area.

2. Educating and training knowledge on national defense and security for individuals within the defense area, with emphasis on educating the two strategic tasks of building and defending the country, the people's national defense policy, the people's war policy, and the policy on building the defense area by the Party and State.

3. Developing programs to coordinate the implementation of policies on ethnic groups and religions, maintaining political stability, and promoting the strength of national solidarity; implementing state policies and laws comprehensively to promote democracy and maintain social discipline within the defense area. Implementing well the policies towards families of martyrs, wounded soldiers, families with meritorious service to the revolution, and the rear support policy for the military according to the provisions of the law.

4. Developing people's foreign affairs work in localities bordering neighboring countries in accordance with the Party's foreign policy viewpoint.

5. Combining education and training with information and propaganda work to preserve and promote the national cultural identity, prevent harmful cultural infiltration, prevent and combat social evils and law violations; building a healthy cultural and spiritual life, raising public awareness within the defense area.

Article 27. Building Economic, Scientific, and Technological Potential

1. The development of economic and social activities of localities in each period must be linked with the military posture within the defense area to meet the requirements of consolidating national defense and security.

2. The development of industry nationwide, in each region, and in localities must be integrated with the planning of national defense industry and other related national defense plans; civilian industrial development projects during peacetime must meet the requirement of being ready to switch to producing goods serving national defense and security within the defense area.

3. Agricultural development must ensure food security, meet the needs of the people, and accumulate for the needs of the defense area. Protecting and developing forests must create a force deployment arrangement within the defense area. Implementing population resettlement policies, population distribution, and constructing economic-military zones within the defense area contribute to completing the defense area posture.

4. Urban and rural planning must ensure integration with other related national defense plans and the construction of the military posture within the defense area.

5. Developing postal, telecommunications, and information technology networks to ensure the combination of serving civilian needs and national defense and security within the defense area; having plans to prevent and combat information warfare and cyber warfare.

6. Developing transportation networks must meet the requirements of building the defense area; prioritizing concentration in combat bases, rear bases, key defense areas, and between components of the military posture within the defense area.

7. Other resource utilization planning and environmental protection planning must be integrated with land use planning for national defense and the construction of the military posture within the defense area.

8. Developing service industries in conjunction with strengthening national defense and security potential, meeting the requirements of the defense area.

9. Developing science and technology to combine serving economic and social development with enhancing scientific and technological capabilities of forces within the defense area; investing in building and developing scientific and technological potential for the defense area, ensuring national defense and security.

10. Developing plans and mobilizing resources to supplement units of the armed forces.

11. Building self-defense militia and reserve mobilization forces in conjunction with labor management, structural adjustment, and employment resolution within the defense area.

12. Developing a healthcare system combining military and civilian medical services, implementing health care, protection, and enhancement of the health of the people within the defense area.

13. Comprehensive planning of the national reserve storage system to meet the defense requirements of localities according to the provisions of the law on national reserves.

14. Developing plans to ensure the first-year war needs according to the requirements of the defensive combat plan.

15. Combining scientific research and technology development with rapid and effective application of scientific and technological achievements from various fields to serve national defense and security tasks; investing and mobilizing resources for scientific research, application, and development; establishing mechanisms and policies to attract and utilize talent in the field of science and technology to serve national defense and security tasks.

Article 28. Building Military, Security, and Foreign Affairs Potential

1. Building a strong armed force politically and ideologically; training to enhance combat capabilities within the defensive zone.

2. Constructing material infrastructure for logistics, technical support, and preparing reserves ready for combat; plans to ensure weapons and equipment for the armed forces within the defensive zone.

3. Building plans to meet defense needs in the first year of war.

4. Organizing, building, and deploying the armed forces within the defensive zone according to the provisions of the law.

5. Building military positions within the defensive zone according to the provisions of Articles 29 and 30 of this Decree.

6. Building and protecting defense and security works, military areas within the defensive zone according to the provisions of the law.

7. Implementing national defense foreign affairs work and people's foreign affairs work at localities within the defensive zone sharing borders with neighboring countries according to the Party’s foreign policy viewpoints and guidelines.

Article 29. Components of the Military Position within the Defensive Zone

1. The components of the military position within the defensive zone include:

a) Villages, hamlets, communes, townships, residential wards, neighborhoods, communities, clusters of villages, hamlets, communes, townships, residential wards, neighborhoods, communities, secret base areas; communes, towns; economic units;

b) [15] Key defensive zones, combat bases, provincial rear bases;

c) Logistics and technical bases and sub-bases;

d) Evacuation areas;

đ) Command posts at various levels;

e) Important targets;

g) Support points, clusters of support points, defensive areas, combat deployment areas, and combat support areas for main force troops, border guards, local forces, and self-defense forces;

h) National defense economic zones;

i) Combat engineering structures on near-shore islands.

2.[16] Based on the defensive combat plan of the military region, the Command of Hanoi Capital, provinces (cities) may determine additional components according to the decision of the competent authority.

Article 30. Building Military Positions

1. Building military positions within the defensive zone must be consistent with the land use planning and plans for national defense and security approved by the Prime Minister, and adjusted when necessary, in accordance with the approved defensive plans.

2. The contents of building military positions within the defensive zone include:

a) Determining locations and areas of land usage according to the components of the military position within the defensive zone;

b) Determining overall layout plans for national defense and military works and construction boundaries for these works;

c) Preparing lists and anticipated funding sources for investment projects to build national defense and military works within the defensive zone;

d) Creating maps for the planning of national defense and military works within the defensive zone;

đ) The planning of the system of national defense and military works within the defensive zone shall be carried out according to the regulations of the Minister of Defense and other relevant state regulations.

3. Establishing, reviewing, approving, and adjusting the military position plan within the defensive zone

a) [17] The provincial military command shall take the lead in assisting the provincial People's Committee in establishing the military position planning within the defensive zone according to the guidance of the Military Region Command. The Hanoi Capital Command shall take the lead in assisting the Hanoi City People's Committee in establishing the military position planning within the Hanoi Capital defensive zone according to the guidance of the Minister of Defense;

b) Based on the approved defensive combat plan and the overall planning for the integration of national defense deployment with socio-economic development across the country approved by the Prime Minister, the Minister of Defense shall stipulate the review and approval procedures for the plans to build military positions within the defensive zone at all levels;

c) When the tasks of the defensive zone change due to objective geographic, natural, or infrastructure changes, or other related changes, adjust the military position within the defensive zone. The authority that approves the plan to build the military position within the defensive zone is the authority that approves the adjustment plan.

Section 2. COOPERATION RELATIONS

Article 31. Construction and Implementation of Defense Area Plans

1. The Military Region Command shall coordinate with the Provincial People's Committee to direct the provincial military agency to construct defense area plans; coordinate with local agencies and sectors to organize implementation.

2.[18] The provincial military agency shall coordinate with local agencies and sectors at the same level to provide advisory services and construct plans for defense assurance.

3.[19] The Provincial People's Committee shall coordinate with agencies and units under central ministries and branches within its territory to perform defense tasks.

Article 32. Construction of Potential Forces

1. The Provincial People's Committee shall take the lead in coordinating with the Military Region Command and agencies and units under central ministries and branches within its territory to construct potential forces in the defense area as stipulated in Articles 26, 27, and 28 of this Decree.

2. Central ministries and branches shall direct agencies and units under their jurisdiction within the territory, according to their functions and responsibilities, to coordinate with the Provincial People's Committee to construct potential forces in the defense area as stipulated in Articles 26, 27, and 28 of this Decree.

Article 33. Construction of the All-People National Defense Foundation and the All-People National Defense Strategy Linked with the People's Security Foundation and the People's Security Strategy on the Territory

1. The Military Region Command shall coordinate with the Provincial People's Committee to construct the all-people national defense foundation and the all-people national defense strategy linked with the people's security foundation and the people's security strategy in the defense area.

2. Central ministries and branches shall direct agencies and units under their jurisdiction within the defense area, according to their functions and responsibilities, to coordinate with the Provincial People's Committee to construct the all-people national defense foundation and the all-people national defense strategy linked with the people's security foundation and the people's security strategy.

3. The Provincial People's Committee shall coordinate with central ministries and branches and the Military Region Command to direct agencies and sectors to implement the construction of the all-people national defense foundation and the all-people national defense strategy linked with the people's security foundation and the people's security strategy on the territory.

Article 34. Construction of Strong and Comprehensive Local Armed Forces

1. The military and public security agencies shall take the lead in coordinating with local agencies and sectors to construct armed forces under their jurisdiction ensuring quantity, quality, and sufficient capability to maintain political stability, national security, social order, and safety in the defense area.

2. Central ministries and branches shall direct agencies and units under their jurisdiction according to their functions and responsibilities to coordinate with military and public security forces to manage mobilization reserves, ready to execute mobilization orders and support other resources for armed forces in the defense area.

3. The Provincial People's Committee shall coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security and the Military Region Command to direct public security and military agencies to advise local party committees and authorities in constructing local police, reserve forces, and self-defense militia capable of protecting the territory.

Article 35. Struggle to Protect National Security, Ensure Social Order and Safety, and Combat Crime

1. The public security agency shall take the lead and coordinate with the military agency and relevant local agencies, sectors, and mass organizations to advise the Provincial People's Committee on struggles to protect national security, ensure social order and safety, and combat crime in the defense area, ensuring cleanliness of the territory during peacetime and wartime.

2. Central ministries and branches shall direct agencies and units under their jurisdiction according to their functions and responsibilities to coordinate with public security and military forces and localities to participate in protecting national security, ensuring social order and safety, and combating crime in the territory, creating conditions for local economic and social development in accordance with the law.

3. People's Committees at all levels shall coordinate with forces from central ministries and branches, mobilizing the combined strength of the entire political system and the whole people to fulfill the task of protecting national security, ensuring social order and safety, and combating crime in the defense area.

Article 36. Economic and social development linked with national defense and security; national defense and security with economic and social development

1. The Military Region Command shall coordinate with the People's Committee of the province to direct the provincial military office to cooperate with the public security agency and other competent agencies at the same level to advise local authorities on building and reviewing projects for economic and social development in the locality linked with national defense and security.

2. Central ministries and sectors shall direct agencies and units under their jurisdiction within their functions and tasks to cooperate with localities in building and developing economic and social activities combined with national defense and security in the defense area.

3. The People's Committee of the province shall build projects for economic and social development combined with national defense and security in accordance with Clause 3 of Article 15 of this Decree.

Article 37. Implementation of civil defense and prevention and combat against information warfare, cyber warfare; implementation of curfew, martial law; in emergency situations regarding national defense, war conditions, national mobilization

1. The Military Region Command shall direct the Steering Committees at all levels to build and implement civil defense in the defense area according to assigned tasks; coordinate with the People's Committee of the province to build plans and implement prevention and combat against information warfare and cyber warfare in the defense area.

2. Central ministries and sectors related shall direct agencies and units under their jurisdiction within their functions and tasks to cooperate with military and public security agencies and relevant departments, mass organizations at the local level to implement civil defense and measures to prevent and combat information warfare and cyber warfare in the defense area.

3. The People's Committee of the province shall take the lead and coordinate with agencies and units of central ministries and sectors within its territory to organize the implementation of civil defense and measures to prevent and combat information warfare and cyber warfare in the defense area.

4. Implementation of curfew, martial law, emergency situations regarding national defense, war conditions, national mobilization shall be carried out in accordance with relevant laws.

Chapter IV. ENSURING MILITARY REGION DEFENSE AND DEFENSE AREA

Article 38. Ensuring forces

1. Military region defense

a) The Ministry of National Defense shall take the lead and coordinate with central ministries and sectors and localities to direct military regions to build military region defense forces;

b) Central ministries and sectors shall coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense to build plans for readiness to mobilize human and material resources by territorial zones and strategic areas, ensuring the operation of military regions during peacetime and wartime;

c) Localities within the military region shall build local armed forces to meet the requirements and tasks of military region defense; organize registration and management of mobilization reserves, ready to mobilize for military units.

2. Defense area

a) The military office shall take the lead and coordinate with the public security agency and relevant departments, mass organizations at the same level to advise the Party committee and local authorities on building local armed forces as the core, meeting the requirements and tasks of building and operating the defense area;

b) Departments, mass organizations at the local level shall coordinate with the military office at the same level to build plans and be ready to mobilize local human and material resources to ensure the construction and operation of the defense area in accordance with the law;

c) The People's Committee of the province shall coordinate with the Military Region Command to build plans to create sources, organize registration and management of mobilization resources, ready to mobilize for the armed forces.

Article 39. Ensuring the Defense Layout

1. Military region defense

a) The Ministry of National Defense shall direct military regions to build the defense layout.

b) Localities shall prioritize ensuring land funds for military units on their territory to construct national defense and security works and implement the integration of economic and social development with national defense and vice versa in accordance with the provisions of the law.

2. Defense area

a) Based on the components of the military defense layout of the military region, local military agencies shall coordinate with relevant forces to advise local authorities at the same level to build the military defense layout within the defensive area in conjunction with the socio-economic development planning of the locality.

b) Provincial People's Committees when formulating projects, programs, plans for socio-economic development must integrate them with national defense and security; prioritize ensuring budget sources and land funds at the local level for military and police units on their territory to build the national defense and security layout within the defensive area in accordance with the provisions of the law.

Article 40. Ensuring Material, Logistics, and Technical Support

1. Military region defense

a) The Government shall ensure material, logistics, and technical support for military region defense. The Ministry of National Defense shall be responsible for compiling and reporting to the Government the requirements according to the defense tasks of each military region.

b) The Ministry of National Defense shall direct military regions to organize the creation of material, logistics, and technical resources to meet the requirements of military region defense and be ready to provide assistance and support to other military regions and units according to plans and coordination agreements.

c) Central ministries and sectors shall ensure material, logistics, and technical support for military region defense according to assigned indicators and plans; ensure for subordinate units participating in military region defense according to the requirements and tasks of each unit.

d) Military region armed forces units shall organize the creation of material, logistics, and technical resources locally, combining with resources from elsewhere to provide assistance and support, ensuring the fulfillment of unit tasks.

2. Defense area

a) The Government shall ensure material, logistics, and technical support for the defensive area. The Ministry of National Defense shall be responsible for compiling and reporting to the Government the requirements according to the military tasks of each defensive area.

b) Central ministries and sectors shall ensure material, logistics, and technical support for the defensive area according to assigned indicators and plans; ensure for subordinate units participating in building and operating the defensive area.

c) Local military agencies shall advise the same-level party committees and authorities to mobilize and utilize local resources to ensure material, logistics, and technical support for the construction and operation of the defensive area and be ready to provide assistance and support to other agencies and units according to plans and coordination agreements.

Article 41. Ensuring the Budget

1. Sources of Budget Assurance

a) State budget;

b) Enterprises shall ensure funding for the implementation of national defense tasks in accordance with the provisions of the law.

c) Financial contributions from organizations and individuals, both domestic and overseas Vietnamese, in accordance with the provisions of the law.

2. Mechanism of Assurance

a) The central budget shall ensure the implementation of tasks of directing, building, and operating military region defense and defensive areas of the Ministry of National Defense, central ministries, and agencies, and shall be allocated in the annual state budget estimate in accordance with the State Budget Law and guiding documents implementing the Law.

b) The local budget shall ensure the construction and operation, and exercises of the defensive area of local agencies and units, and shall be allocated in the annual state budget estimate in accordance with the State Budget Law and guiding documents implementing the Law. Each year, local People's Committees at all levels must allocate the budget for constructing and operating, and exercising the defensive area in their own annual budget estimates, to be submitted to the same-level People's Councils for decision.

c) Enterprises shall ensure funding for constructing and operating, and exercising the defensive area and such expenses shall be deductible when determining corporate income tax revenue.

d) Domestic organizations and individuals, foreign organizations and individuals contributing financially to the construction and operation of the defensive area shall do so voluntarily and in compliance with the provisions of the law.

3. Content of Assurance

a) The Ministry of National Defense shall ensure the operation of the Central Steering Committee and the Military Region Steering Committee for military region defense and defensive area operations; draft and promulgate normative legal documents on the construction and operation of military region defense and defensive areas; survey and review the planning of military defense layouts in localities' defensive areas; implement research projects and topics on the construction and operation of military region defense and defensive areas; inspect, audit, interim summary, and comprehensive summary of the defensive area at the central and military region levels; conduct command and control exercises for military region defense and defensive areas; ensure other tasks related to military region defense and defensive areas.

b) Central ministries and agencies shall ensure the operation of coordinating command and control exercises for provincial defensive areas; work on directing and guiding localities to formulate plans and implement tasks for the construction and operation of defensive areas; work on inspecting, interim summary, and comprehensive summary of the construction and operation of defensive areas; ensure other tasks assigned regarding defensive areas.

c) Localities shall ensure the operation of the Defensive Area Steering Committee; survey and plan the construction of military defense layouts, draft and adjust combat plans and various plans to ensure the operation of the defensive area; conduct defensive area exercises and activities of forces on the territory in case of national defense and security situations; inspect, interim summary, comprehensive summary, and commendation for the construction and operation of the defensive area; invest in combined national defense and economic projects, economic and national defense projects; plan and construct defensive works according to approved plans by competent authorities; ensure other tasks related to the defensive area under the responsibility of the locality.

Chapter V. RESPONSIBILITY FOR IMPLEMENTATION

Article 42. Ministry of National Defense

1. To take the lead and coordinate with central ministries, agencies, and localities in guiding the implementation of tasks related to military defense of military regions and defense areas; guiding the establishment and operation of the Defense Supply Council; planning the positions for central ministries and agencies when there is a conflict; being responsible before the Prime Minister for the effectiveness of military and national defense tasks in the defense of military regions and defense areas.

2.[20] To take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance, relevant central ministries, agencies, and provincial People's Committees in reviewing and adjusting the overall planning for combined national defense and socio-economic development throughout the country, planning economic zones for national defense, ensuring integration with the construction of military defense postures in military regions and military postures within defense areas. To take the lead and coordinate with relevant central ministries and agencies in formulating regulations on combining socio-economic development with national defense and security in the defense of military regions and defense areas.

3. To take the lead and coordinate with relevant central ministries and agencies in directing provincial People's Committees to build military postures within defense areas; organizing reviews and approvals according to Clause 3, Article 30 of this Decree.

4. To coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security in implementing tasks related to national security protection, maintaining public order and social safety, and combating crime as prescribed by law.

5.[21] To coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment in implementing the provisions of Article 45 of this Decree.

6. Annually, to take the lead and coordinate with central ministries, agencies, and localities in inspecting and auditing the implementation of tasks related to the defense of military regions and defense areas; assisting the Government in directing mid-term and final evaluations of the tasks related to the defense of military regions and defense areas as prescribed in Article 54 of this Decree.

Article 43. Ministry of Public Security

1. To direct public security units and localities to take the lead and coordinate with military forces, self-defense forces, and other agencies, organizations, and mass organizations in advising party committees and authorities on building people's security foundations and people's security postures integrated with the entire people's national defense foundation and posture within defense areas; developing plans and scenarios for coordinated operations and organizing exercises to handle complex situations regarding security, public order, and social safety. To coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense and localities in directing defense area exercises.

2. To participate in reviewing projects, programs, plans, and master plans for constructing military postures and socio-economic development plans and projects of central ministries, agencies, and localities related to national security, public order, and social safety within defense areas.

3. To direct public security units and localities to take the lead and coordinate with military forces, self-defense forces, and other forces within defense areas in advising party committees and authorities at the same level on directing the firm protection of national security, public order, and social safety, handling situations regarding security, public order, and social safety in localities as prescribed by law.

Article 44.[22] (Repealed)

Article 45.[23] Ministry of Agriculture and Environment

1. To take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense, relevant ministries, agencies, and localities in reviewing and adjusting planning within the scope of management of the Ministry, integrated with the overall planning for combined national defense and socio-economic development; advising on adjustments to population distribution suitable for military defense postures in military regions and defense areas.

1a.[24] To coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense in researching, reviewing, and adjusting land use planning and plans for national defense purposes, integrated with the construction of military defense postures in military regions and military postures within defense areas.

2.[25] Within the scope of state management of the Ministry, to direct and guide military regions and localities in formulating plans for land use for national defense purposes and constructing and operating military defense in military regions and defense areas in each phase.

Article 46. Ministry of Health

1. Take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense to establish a network of medical facilities for disease prevention and treatment, military-civilian medical cooperation; guide localities in establishing regulations for military-civilian medical cooperation to ensure health care in defense areas.

2. Coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense to direct the construction of reserve forces and mobilized health forces in accordance with the laws on reserves.

3. Within its scope of state management, guide localities in implementing tasks to ensure health care for military regions and defense areas.

Article 47. Ministry of Finance

1.[26] Take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense and central ministries, sectors, and localities to review and adjust mechanisms for using items in the national strategic reserve system; issue or submit to competent authorities for issuance of legal documents stipulating financial mechanisms and policies to ensure the tasks of military region defense and defense area defense. Review and adjust economic and social development plans of each locality in conjunction with the overall planning for national defense deployment across the country, submit to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision, serving as a basis for each military region and locality to build military region defense posture and military posture in defense areas.

2.[27] (Repealed)

3. Coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense and central ministries, sectors, and localities to prepare and implement budget estimates to ensure military region defense and defense area defense in accordance with the State Budget Law and guiding documents; advise the Government to support the central budget for localities facing budget difficulties to construct national defense works in accordance with the laws on state budget.

4.[28] Coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security to direct military regions and localities to develop plans to build military region defense postures and military postures in defense areas.

5.[29] Guide localities to cooperate with military regions in developing plans to build and mobilize reserve forces; plans to meet defense needs in the first year of war; plans to mobilize the national economy to meet defense needs and social activities; plans to transition localities into various states of defense and other local plans.

Article 48.[30] Ministry of Interior

1. Take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense to direct issues related to labor and employment concerning the construction of armed forces in military region defense and defense area defense.

2. Take the lead in guiding and inspecting the implementation of policies related to military region defense and defense area defense as prescribed by law.

3. Coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense and relevant central ministries and sectors to guide localities in managing, training, and mobilizing human resources to serve the tasks of military region defense and defense area defense.

Article 49. Ministry of Industry and Trade

1. Take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense to develop and adjust strategies and plans for the development of industries under its management in conjunction with military region defense and defense area defense plans.

2. Take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense and provincial People's Committees to develop and implement plans for the relocation of industrial production facilities when localities transition into various states of defense.

3. Coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense to invest in equipment and production lines for industrial enterprises tasked with producing and repairing equipment for armed forces in defense areas.

Article 50. Ministry of Construction

1. To take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Public Security, and relevant central ministries and sectors to issue construction standards and technical regulations for projects serving civilian needs during peacetime and ready to serve defense and security needs during wartime; to stipulate management regulations for investment in construction of special defense and security projects, and submit them to the Government for approval.

1a.[31] Based on the national transportation infrastructure planning approved by the Prime Minister, to coordinate with localities to develop plans for traffic development to meet the requirements of building military defense zones and military operations within defense areas.

2.[32] To coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Public Security, and relevant central ministries and sectors to adjust regional planning and urban planning to ensure consistency and synchronization with the planning for military defense zones and military operations within defense areas; to guide provincial People's Committees in implementing registration and management systems for infrastructure and transportation means that can be mobilized for defense areas according to the legal provisions on the list and management system, procedures for registering and managing technical equipment that can be mobilized to supplement the Army.

3. To coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Public Security, provincial People's Committees, and relevant central ministries and sectors to manage investment in constructing key defense and security projects according to the construction laws.

Article 51.[33] (Repealed)

Article 52.[34] (Repealed)

Article 53.[35] the Ministry of Science and Technology

1. Based on the national defense mobilization plan approved by the Prime Minister, to direct localities and telecommunications enterprises to implement the mobilization plan to ensure communication support for leadership, command, and control activities in defense areas.

2. To take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense and related ministries and sectors to review and adjust planning, and develop plans for developing postal, telecommunications, information technology, and cybersecurity systems to meet national defense needs across the country and at each locality, including contingency communication plans and technical facilities and communication means.

3.[36] To take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense and related ministries and sectors to guide the implementation of scientific and technological tasks and innovation; to promote the development and application of new technologies, high technologies, digital technologies, and strategic technologies in the construction and operation of military defense zones and defense areas.

4.[37] (Repealed)

Article 53a. Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism[38]

1. To take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense and related ministries and sectors to guide localities in propaganda on defense and security tasks; to preserve and promote ethnic cultural identity, prevent harmful cultural infiltration, and combat social evils and law violations; to build healthy cultural and spiritual life and improve public awareness in defense areas.

2. To direct strict management of information activities and prevent activities that exploit and distort the policies of the Party and State.

Article 54. Other Ministries and Sectors

1. To coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense to issue and submit to competent authorities for issuance normative legal documents on military defense zones and defense areas.

2. To guide localities in building specialized sectoral plans.

3. Within the scope of their state management functions, to issue normative legal documents to guide localities in implementing military defense zones and defense areas.

4. To coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense to inspect, audit, and evaluate the implementation of construction and operation of military defense zones and defense areas.

Article 55.[39] Provincial People's Committees

1. To be responsible before the Government for the effectiveness of construction and operation of defense areas; to build local state apparatus and civil servants with the capacity to manage and operate economic and social development, national defense, and security within defense areas.

2. To implement ethnic and religious policies, State policies on promoting democracy, policies towards families of martyrs and revolutionary contributors, and rear services for the Army to contribute to building political and spiritual potential in defense areas.

3. Localities sharing borders with neighboring countries to mobilize people to cooperate with people from neighboring countries, participate in protecting and building friendly, peaceful, and stable borderlines.

4. To direct the review and adjustment of local socio-economic development plans linked to the construction of military operations within defense areas; to establish a Supply Council to assist the People's Committee in ensuring work for the construction and operation of defense areas.

5. To direct functional agencies under their authority to develop plans to meet defense needs in the first year of war, plans to transition local activities into various defense states, and other defense mobilization plans according to the legal provisions on defense mobilization.

6. To direct inspections and audits of the implementation of tasks for the construction and operation of defense areas according to the law.

7. To coordinate with the Vietnam Fatherland Front and its member organizations to organize propaganda and mobilize the people to participate in building defense areas, to mobilize and unite forces to handle situations concerning national defense and security within defense areas.

Article 56. Defense Area Drills

1. The Ministry of National Defense shall take the lead and coordinate with central ministries and sectors to direct and guide agencies and departments at local levels under their respective management areas to implement defense area drill tasks.

2. Central ministries and sectors shall direct and guide localities to organize defense area drills within their functions and responsibilities.

3.[40] During their term, provincial People's Committees shall organize defense area drills once to twice.

Article 57. Summary and Conclusion

1. The results of military region defense construction and operation and defense area activities each year shall be compiled into the annual national defense work summary of central ministries and sectors and localities.

2. Mid-term, military regions, central ministries and sectors, and localities shall organize mid-term summaries; at the end of the term, they shall conduct final conclusions on leadership and guidance implementation according to their functions and responsibilities.

3. The Government shall organize periodic five-year mid-term summaries and ten-year final conclusions or earlier as decided by the Prime Minister.

4. The content and scale of mid-term and final conclusion organization at various levels and sectors shall be advised and proposed by the Minister of National Defense to the Government and uniformly guided nationwide.

Chapter VI. IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS [41]

Article 58. Effective Date

1. This Decree shall take effect from April 10, 2019.

2. Decree No. 152/2007/NĐ-CP dated October 10, 2007 of the Government on defense areas; Decree No. 02/2016/NĐ-CP dated January 5, 2016 of the Government amending and supplementing certain articles of Decree No. 152/2007/NĐ-CP dated October 10, 2007 of the Government on defense areas shall cease to be effective from the date this Decree takes effect.

Article 59. Responsibility for Implementation

1. Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government agencies, and heads of related agencies, Chairpersons of all levels of People's Committees shall be responsible for implementing this Decree.

2. The Minister of National Defense within the scope of his functions, duties, and powers shall be responsible for guiding, inspecting, supervising, and urging the implementation of this Decree./.

^{____________________________________}

[1] Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain provisions of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military when organizing two-level local administration has been issued based on the following grounds:

Pursuant to Decree No. 78/2025/NĐ-CP dated April 1, 2025 of the Government detailing some articles and measures to organize and guide the implementation of the Law on Issuing Regulatory Legal Documents;

Pursuant to the Law on Local Administration Organization No. 72/2025/QH15;

Pursuant to the Law on National Defense No. 22/2018/QH15;

Pursuant to the Law on Militia and Self-Defense Forces No. 48/2019/QH14;

Pursuant to the Law on National Defense and Security Education No. 30/2013/QH13;

Pursuant to the Law on Compulsory Military Service No. 78/2015/QH13;

Pursuant to the Law on Reserve Mobilization Forces No. 53/2019/QH14;

Pursuant to the Law on Professional Soldiers, Defense Workers, and Defense Officials No. 98/2015/QH13;

Pursuant to the Law on Vietnam Coast Guard No. 33/2018/QH14;

Pursuant to the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Articles of 11 Laws in the Field of National Defense No. 98/2025/QH15;

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

The Government promulgates the Decree amending and supplementing certain articles of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military affairs when organizing two-level local administrative bodies.

[2] This Clause has been amended in accordance with point a, Clause 1, Article 2 of Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain provisions of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military when organizing two-level local administration, which took effect from August 7, 2025.

[3] This Clause has been amended in accordance with point b, Clause 1, Article 2 of Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain provisions of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military when organizing two-level local administration, which took effect from August 7, 2025.

[4] This Title has been amended in accordance with point a, Clause 2, Article 2 of Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain provisions of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military when organizing two-level local administration, which took effect from August 7, 2025.

[5] This Point has been amended in accordance with point b, Clause 2, Article 2 of Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain provisions of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military when organizing two-level local administration, which took effect from August 7, 2025.

[6] This Point has been amended in accordance with Clause 3, Article 2 of Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain provisions of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military when organizing two-level local administration, which took effect from August 7, 2025.

[7] This Clause has been amended and supplemented in accordance with Clause 4, Article 2 of Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain provisions of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military when organizing two-level local administration, which took effect from August 7, 2025.

[8] This Chapter Title has been amended in accordance with Clause 5, Article 2 of Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain provisions of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military when organizing two-level local administration, which took effect from August 7, 2025.

[9] This Clause has been amended in accordance with point a, Clause 6, Article 2 of Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain provisions of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military when organizing two-level local administration, which took effect from August 7, 2025.

[10] This Clause has been amended in accordance with point b, Clause 6, Article 2 of Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain provisions of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military when organizing two-level local administration, which took effect from August 7, 2025.

[11] This provision is amended and supplemented pursuant to Clause 7, Article 2 of Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain provisions of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military when organizing a two-level local administration, which takes effect from August 7, 2025.

[12] This clause is amended and supplemented pursuant to Clause 8, Article 2 of Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain provisions of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military when organizing a two-level local administration, which takes effect from August 7, 2025.

[13] This clause is amended and supplemented pursuant to Clause 9, Article 2 of Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain provisions of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military when organizing a two-level local administration, which takes effect from August 7, 2025.

[14] This clause is amended and supplemented pursuant to Clause 9, Article 2 of Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain provisions of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military when organizing a two-level local administration, which takes effect from August 7, 2025.

[15] This point is amended pursuant to Point a, Clause 10, Article 2 of Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain provisions of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military when organizing a two-level local administration, which takes effect from August 7, 2025.

[16] This clause is amended and supplemented pursuant to Point b, Clause 10, Article 2 of Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain provisions of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military when organizing a two-level local administration, which takes effect from August 7, 2025.

[17] This point is amended and supplemented pursuant to Clause 11, Article 2 of Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain provisions of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military when organizing a two-level local administration, which takes effect from August 7, 2025.

[18] This clause is amended and supplemented pursuant to Clause 12, Article 2 of Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain provisions of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military when organizing a two-level local administration, which takes effect from August 7, 2025.

[19] This clause is amended and supplemented pursuant to Clause 12, Article 2 of Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain provisions of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military when organizing a two-level local administration, which takes effect from August 7, 2025.

[20] This clause is amended and supplemented pursuant to Point a, Clause 13, Article 2 of Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain provisions of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military when organizing a two-level local administration, which takes effect from August 7, 2025.

[21] This clause is amended and supplemented pursuant to Point b, Clause 13, Article 2 of Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain provisions of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military when organizing a two-level local administration, which takes effect from August 7, 2025.

[22] This provision is repealed pursuant to Clause 22, Article 2 of Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain provisions of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military when organizing a two-level local administration, which takes effect from August 7, 2025.

[23] The name of this provision is amended pursuant to Point a, Clause 14, Article 2 of Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain provisions of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military when organizing a two-level local administration, which takes effect from August 7, 2025.

[24] This clause is added pursuant to Point b, Clause 14, Article 2 of Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain provisions of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military when organizing a two-level local administration, which takes effect from August 7, 2025.

[25] This clause is amended and supplemented pursuant to Point c, Clause 14, Article 2 of Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain provisions of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military when organizing a two-level local administration, which takes effect from August 7, 2025.

[26] This clause is amended and supplemented pursuant to Point a, Clause 15, Article 2 of Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain provisions of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military when organizing a two-level local administration, which takes effect from August 7, 2025.

[27] This clause is repealed pursuant to Clause 22, Article 2 of Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain provisions of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military when organizing a two-level local administration, which takes effect from August 7, 2025.

[28] This clause is added pursuant to Point b, Clause 15, Article 2 of Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain provisions of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military when organizing a two-level local administration, which takes effect from August 7, 2025.

[29] This clause is added pursuant to Point b, Clause 15, Article 2 of Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain provisions of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military when organizing a two-level local administration, which takes effect from August 7, 2025.

[30] The name of this provision is amended pursuant to Clause 16, Article 2 of Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain provisions of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military when organizing a two-level local administration, which takes effect from August 7, 2025.

[31] This clause is added pursuant to Point a, Clause 17, Article 2 of Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain provisions of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military when organizing a two-level local administration, which takes effect from August 7, 2025.

[32] This clause is amended and supplemented pursuant to Point b, Clause 17, Article 2 of Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain provisions of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military when organizing a two-level local administration, which takes effect from August 7, 2025.

[33] This provision is repealed pursuant to Clause 22, Article 2 of Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain provisions of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military when organizing a two-level local administration, which takes effect from August 7, 2025.

[34] This provision is repealed pursuant to Clause 22, Article 2 of Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain provisions of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military when organizing a two-level local administration, which takes effect from August 7, 2025.

[35] The name of this provision is amended pursuant to Point a, Clause 18, Article 2 of Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain provisions of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military when organizing a two-level local administration, which takes effect from August 7, 2025.

[36] This clause is amended and supplemented pursuant to Point b, Clause 18, Article 2 of Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain provisions of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military when organizing a two-level local administration, which takes effect from August 7, 2025.

[37] This clause is repealed pursuant to Clause 22, Article 2 of Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain provisions of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military when organizing a two-level local administration, which takes effect from August 7, 2025.

[38] This provision is added pursuant to Clause 19 of Article 2 of Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain articles of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military when organizing a two-level local administration, which takes effect from August 7, 2025.

[39] The name of this provision is amended pursuant to Clause 20 of Article 2 of Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain articles of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military when organizing a two-level local administration, which takes effect from August 7, 2025.

[40] This clause is amended pursuant to Clause 21 of Article 2 of Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain articles of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military when organizing a two-level local administration, which takes effect from August 7, 2025.

[41] Articles 10 and 11 of Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain articles of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military when organizing a two-level local administration, which take effect from August 7, 2025, are stipulated as follows:

"Article 10. Effective Date

This Decree takes effect from August 7, 2025.

Article 11. Responsibility for Implementation

Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of government agencies, Chairmen of provincial People's Committees under central cities, relevant agencies, organizations, and individuals are responsible for implementing this Decree.”