Consolidated Document number 48/VBHN-BQP Regarding the integration of national defense with economic and social development and economic and social development with national defense

DECREE

On the integration of national defense with economic and social affairs and economic and social affairs with national defense

Decree No. 164/2018/ND-CP dated December 21, 2018 of the Government on the integration of national defense with economic and social affairs and economic and social affairs with national defense, which took effect from February 10, 2019, has been amended and supplemented by:

Decree No. 220/2025/ND-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, which took effect from August 7, 2025.

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

Pursuant to the Law on the Organization of Local Administrative Levels No. 72/2025/QH15;

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 this Decree detailing regulations on the integration of national defense with economic and social affairs and economic and social affairs with national defense[1].

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Decree specifies detailed provisions of Clause 3, Article 15 of the National Defense Law regarding principles, bases, contents, forms of implementation of the integration of national defense with economic and social affairs and economic and social affairs with national defense; responsibilities of ministries, sectors, localities related thereto.

Article 2. Applicability

1. Vietnamese citizens, ministries, sectors, localities, political organizations, socio-political organizations.

2. Economic organizations, public institutions, Vietnamese enterprises.

3. Individuals and organizations from foreign countries residing, investing, operating, and conducting activities in Vietnam.

Article 3. Explanation of Terms

1. National defense demand plan is a collection of demands for national defense tasks to meet the requirements of protecting the country.

2. The capability of integrating national defense with economic and social affairs during peacetime, emergency situations concerning national defense, and war conditions is specific content that organizations and individuals must implement in the deployment of national strategies, planning, plans, important projects, economic and social development projects of ministries, sectors, regions, and localities.

3. Dual-use investment and construction project is an investment and construction project planned and arranged by competent state agencies to be suitable with the requirements of economic and social development of the locality during peacetime and ready to switch to serving national defense needs when there are emergency situations concerning national defense or war.

4. Economic-defense zone is an area with defined boundaries including some communes of one or more districts, belonging to one or several provinces, particularly difficult communes, remote areas, border areas, strategic areas concerning national defense and security, maritime and island areas, exclusive economic zones, and continental shelves of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, consistent with the national planning system. Within that area, the Ministry of National Defense takes the lead and coordinates with ministries, sectors, and localities to implement the goal of economic and social development combined with strengthening national defense and security.

5. Economic-defense team is a military unit established by the Ministry of National Defense to implement the goals and tasks of building and developing economic-defense zones.

6. Defense service enterprise is an enterprise established or organized in accordance with the law to perform defense tasks and participate in economic and social development.

7. Military unit assigned to carry out economic tasks combined with national defense is an organization under the Ministry of National Defense engaged in labor, production, economic construction, managed and operated in accordance with the law.

Article 4. Principles of Combining National Defense with Economic-Social Development and Economic-Social Development with National Defense

1. Placed under the absolute, direct leadership of all aspects by the Party, centralized and unified management by the State, contributing to consolidating and enhancing national defense potential, improving combat strength and readiness for combat of the Military; mobilizing the strength of the entire Party, people, military, and political system in the cause of building and defending the country.

2. Ensuring the unity and synchronization of national defense activities with the strategy, planning, plans, and projects for economic-social development; clearly defining short-term and long-term goals; combined activities must be implemented throughout the entire process from the stage of formulation, review to implementation of strategies, planning, short-, medium-, and long-term plans in each project for economic-social development according to regions and territories; in all sectors and fields of the national economy of ministries, sectors, localities, organizations, and individuals involved.

3. Clearly defining the responsibilities of ministries, sectors, and localities in combined national defense and economic-social development activities.

Article 5. Basis for Combination

1. The Strategy for Defending the Homeland in the New Situation, the National Defense Strategy of Vietnam, the Military Strategy of Vietnam, the National Security Strategy, the Border Defense Strategy, the Sea Strategy of Vietnam, the Strategy for Defending the Homeland in Cyberspace, and related contents.

2. The determination to defend the Socialist Fatherland of Vietnam. The overall planning for the deployment of national defense.

3.[2] The national defense mobilization plan of ministries, agencies, organizations, military zones, provincial levels, and commune levels approved by the competent authority.

4. Planning for troop deployment and force allocation of People's Army units and Self-Defense Militia units.

5. National-level planning, regional planning, provincial planning, special administrative-economic unit planning, urban planning, rural planning; economic-social development strategies and plans for each period approved by the competent authority.

6. Plans for constructing provincial and centrally-administered city defense areas into solid defense areas.

7. Military and national defense tasks of units in each period approved by the competent authority.

8. Related legal documents.

Chapter II

COMBINING NATIONAL DEFENSE WITH ECONOMIC-SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Article 6. Content of Combination

Combining national defense with economic-social development includes combining all national defense activities with the construction and implementation of strategies, planning, plans, and projects for economic-social development by ministries, sectors, and localities; ensuring a stable environment for the economic-social development of the country.

Article 7. Combination in Building Comprehensive Planning for National Defense Deployment

The Ministry of National Defense shall take the lead and coordinate with ministries, sectors, and localities in building, reviewing, and adjusting comprehensive planning for national defense deployment combined with economic-social development across the country for approval by the Prime Minister. Based on the Prime Minister's approval, the Ministry of National Defense shall take the lead and coordinate with ministries, sectors, and localities in implementing and disseminating measures for managing and executing comprehensive planning for national defense deployment combined with economic-social development.

Article 8. Integration in the construction and development of economic-military zones

1. In the work of planning economic-military zones:

a) The Prime Minister directs the organization to establish the overall plan for economic-military zones;

b) The Ministry of National Defense is responsible for building tasks for planning to be submitted to the Prime Minister for approval; selecting consulting organizations to establish the overall plan, building the overall plan, reporting to the Prime Minister to establish a Council to review and approve the overall plan for the construction and development of economic-military zones;

c) The Ministry of National Defense directs the establishment of detailed plans for economic-military zones; directing units to establish detailed plans; assigning main units under the Ministry of National Defense to cooperate with relevant agencies and provincial People's Committees to build tasks for planning to be submitted to the Minister of National Defense for approval; selecting consulting organizations to establish detailed plans, reporting to the Minister of National Defense to establish a Review Council to review and approve detailed plans for the construction and development of economic-military zones;

d) Provincial People's Committees, centrally-administered city People's Committees; ministries and sectors have the responsibility to coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense in establishing plans for the construction and development of economic-military zones in accordance with the provisions of the law.

2. In implementing the goals and tasks of constructing and developing economic-military zones

a) The Prime Minister directs the establishment of mechanisms for priority resource allocation in national target programs and key projects to be implemented in economic-military zones;

b) The Ministry of National Defense leads coordination with ministries, sectors, and localities

Ensuring national defense and security in strategic areas, border regions, seas, and islands, contributing to the socio-economic development of project regions; building and consolidating territorial defense positions on land, sea, and islands linked with essential infrastructure investment, combining population resettlement and stabilization according to regional and territorial development plans, sectoral and field development plans, and socio-economic development plans of each locality;

Building a strong area in terms of national defense, security, and socio-economic development; promoting propaganda and mobilizing the people to grasp and implement well the Party's guidelines and policies, state laws, local political tasks, and struggle against hostile forces' propaganda, distortion, and incitement;

Participating in arranging and resettling populations according to socio-economic development plans and long-term national defense and security objectives. Based on approved economic-military zone plans and local population resettlement and stabilization plans, the Ministry of National Defense coordinates with localities to organize reception, arrangement, resettlement, and stabilization of the lives of local residents and those who migrate to live in the area; organizing population deployment for livelihoods, living, and settlement on remote islands and island groups with strategic positions; implementing the goal of ensuring national defense-security linked with local socio-economic, cultural, and social development;

Investing in building essential infrastructure in economic-military zones on land, coastal areas, and islands according to approved plans; participating in implementing national target programs, national target programs, agricultural extension programs, and industrial extension programs to create a foundation for commodity economic development, helping people escape poverty sustainably;

Building and consolidating military potential based on supporting production development, guiding and transferring dual-use technology models to the people; developing commodity economies, helping people escape poverty sustainably; forming appropriate economic models in difficult coastal and island areas; serving as a bridge between the mainland and islands, organizing maritime service activities to help people stay at sea for longer periods, contributing to strengthening civilian activities in strategic maritime and island areas;

Participating in activities aimed at improving and gradually enhancing the cultural, educational, material, spiritual life, and health care for the people in project regions, creating a whole-of-the-people national defense posture in the National Defense Strategy; contributing to environmental protection, preserving, and developing traditional culture;

c) Ministries, sectors, and localities have the responsibility to allocate resources, linking national target programs and other investment programs on the territory to ensure that the Ministry of National Defense can fulfill its tasks of constructing and developing economic-military zones.

3. In organizing the construction and development of forces for economic-military zones

a) The Ministry of National Defense leads the organization of forces for economic-military zones, establishing economic-military teams, and mobilizing other forces to participate in the construction of economic-military zones in accordance with the law;

b) Ministries, sectors, and localities have the responsibility to coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense in sourcing and allocating human resources when participating in socio-economic development activities in the locality. Creating conditions for economic-military zone construction forces to participate in the grassroots political system in the locality.

Article 9. Integration in the management of economic-defence zones

1. The Government shall uniformly manage state administration over the construction and development of economic-defence zones.

2. The Ministry of National Defence shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to assist the Government in managing state administration over the construction and development of economic-defence zones; guide, urge, and inspect the implementation of legal provisions on the construction of economic-defence zones.

3. Provincial People's Committees and municipal People's Committees directly under the central government shall be responsible for coordinating with the Ministry of National Defence and relevant ministries and sectors to manage state administration over the construction and development of economic-defence zones within their respective localities.

Article 10. Integration in the activities of enterprises serving national defence

1. The Ministry of National Defence shall coordinate with ministries, sectors, and localities to organize, manage, direct, and guide regimes and policies for enterprises serving national defence; manage business sectors according to the strategy, planning, and orientation for national defence development; build and develop enterprises serving national defence in accordance with the orientation and objectives of the strategy, planning, and socio-economic development plans. Inspect and supervise business operations; handle violations by enterprises in accordance with the law.

2. The Ministry of National Defence shall direct enterprises serving national defence to utilize potential resources including material infrastructure and labor to participate in researching and producing dual-use products serving the national economy and the requirements of the Ministry of National Defence, and establish mechanisms to facilitate the participation of national defence technical industry facilities in researching and producing export products, generating revenue for the country.

3. Civil enterprises shall have the responsibility to participate in investing in research and development of military technology and products serving national defence combined with socio-economic activities when required, creating resources to better meet military tasks and national defence requirements.

4. The Ministry of National Defence shall have the responsibility to prioritize assigning 100% state capital or enterprises with controlling shares of state capital appointed by the Ministry of National Defence to implement investment projects related to state secrets, important national defence missions, and investment projects in areas with strategic positions for national defence to ensure the requirements of the Ministry of National Defence and comply with legal regulations.

Article 11. Integration in the activities of military units assigned to perform economic tasks combined with national defence

1. Military units during their operation and combat readiness training shall be responsible for participating in production and economic construction combined with national defence and socio-economic activities; utilize resources and infrastructure to participate in production to create products contributing to improving the living standards of officers and soldiers, and contributing to socio-economic construction in the areas where they are stationed. The integration of national defence with socio-economic activities of military units must be carried out according to sectoral, regional, and territorial structures consistent with the national socio-economic development strategy and national defence strategy.

2. Central ministries and sectors shall take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of National Defence to guide mechanisms and policies, allocate resources for military units when participating in production and economic construction.

Chapter III

ECONOMIC-SOCIAL INTEGRATION WITH NATIONAL DEFENCE

Article 12. Content of Integration

The integration of economic and social development with national defense includes the integration in the construction, participation in the review of strategies, plans, programs, and projects for economic and social development at ministries, sectors, and localities; integration in regional and territorial development; integration in key industries and fields of the economy.

Article 13. Integration in Soliciting Opinions on the Development of Strategies, Plans, and Projects for Economic and Social Development

1. The leading agency responsible for national-level planning, regional planning, provincial planning, urban transportation infrastructure planning, rural planning, and special administrative-economic unit planning must submit documents to solicit opinions from the Ministry of National Defense.

2. Ministries, sectors, and localities when developing strategies, plans, programs, and important national projects for economic and social development must submit documents to solicit opinions from the Ministry of National Defense according to the provisions of the law.

3. Ministries, sectors, and localities have the responsibility to study and adopt the opinions of the Ministry of National Defense regarding the integration of national defense with economic and social development and vice versa; in cases where there are differing opinions, they must submit a request for advice to the Ministry of National Defense or present it to the competent authority for consideration and decision.

Article 14. Integration in Reviewing Strategies, Plans, and Projects for Economic and Social Development Related to National Defense

1. The Ministry of National Defense has the responsibility to participate in the Review Committees for national-level planning, regional planning, provincial planning, territorial planning, special administrative-economic unit planning, urban planning, and rural planning related to national defense.

2. The national planning system; national strategies, plans, and important national projects, and economic and social development projects of ministries, sectors, and localities must be aligned with the overall plan for building military defense positions at various levels approved by the competent authority.

3. Detailed planning for the investment and construction of civilian works, industrial works, transportation, agriculture, rural development, technical infrastructure, and key projects must be compatible with the military defense position, dual-use, and ensure readiness to switch to serving national defense needs.

4. The分级参与审查与国防有关的经济和社会发展战略、规划、计划和项目的实施如下：

a) The Ministry of National Defense participates in reviewing national-level planning; national economic and social development strategies and plans, important national projects, and special administrative-economic units related to national defense within the approval or decision-making authority of the National Assembly, the Prime Minister, ministries, and sectors;

b) The Military Region Command participates in reviewing regional-level planning, provincial planning, urban planning, rural planning; economic and social development plans and projects; key projects related to national defense within the approval authority of the Provincial People's Committee Chairman;

c)[3] The Hanoi Capital Military Command participates in reviewing economic and social development plans and projects at the commune level in Hanoi City; economic and social development plans and projects related to national defense within the approval authority of the Hanoi City People's Committee Chairman;

d)[4] The Provincial Military Command participates in reviewing economic and social development plans and projects at the commune level related to national defense; economic and social development plans and projects related to national defense within the approval authority of the Provincial People's Committee Chairman, except for Hanoi City;

d) In special cases, upon the request of the competent authority, the Military Region Command, the Hanoi Capital Military Command, and the Provincial Military Command may participate in reviewing planning, projects, and development plans for economic and social development outside the provisions of points b, c, and d of Clause 4 of this Article.

Article 15. Integration in Major Sectors and Fields

1. Integration in Industry, Commerce, and Services

a) Investment and development of industries such as machinery, metallurgy, electricity, new energy, renewable energy, oil and gas, chemicals, industrial explosives, mining and mineral processing industry, consumer goods industry, food industry, other processing industries, domestic trade and market; import and export, border trade, shipbuilding to meet both economic and social development needs and national defense requirements when necessary;

b) Industrial facilities during peacetime, in addition to investing and producing for domestic consumption and export, are ready to produce military goods and transfer technology to serve the defense industry when required;

c) Development of diverse commercial and service systems, focusing on border areas, mountainous regions, coastal and island areas to ensure production and business activities, creating conditions for people to stabilize their lives. The service system of each locality may be converted into a part of the local logistics and technical system when transitioning to various defense states.

2. Integration in Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries

a) In agriculture: Exploit land potential and labor force effectively to ensure food security; develop diverse occupations contributing to building economic and social strength during peacetime; be ready to ensure national defense when situations arise;

b) In forestry: Develop forest planting, enclosure and protection, rotational settlement, and construction and deployment of defense forces, contributing to building defensive zones, border areas, coastal and island areas;

c) In fisheries: Develop various forms of services on sea and islands, providing conditions for fishermen to settle, produce, and live while building armed forces and defensive positions on sea and islands, contributing to protecting sovereignty, sovereign rights, and national security over Vietnam's maritime and island territories.

3. Integration in Transportation

a) Develop road, railway, inland waterway, maritime, air transportation systems, ensuring connectivity between regions, economic centers, and strategic transport routes within defensive areas, ensuring continuity and smoothness. Construct modern infrastructure with focus and priority to meet economic and social development needs during peacetime and serve national defense during wartime;

b) In regional development planning, ensure upgrading existing ports, canals, rivers, channels, dikes into a regional water and road transportation network, serving as a basis for combining modern and rudimentary transportation means, ready to serve national defense when required, preventing disconnection in all situations.

4. Integration in Information and Communication

a) Build a civil communication system closely integrated with the communication system of armed forces units, defense enterprises, and security agencies; combine modern and rudimentary communication means to ensure timely, accurate, secret, safe, and stable information support for leadership, command, and control of forces in all situations; implement cybersecurity and information security measures for the system and counter electronic warfare and cyber warfare measures;

b) Ministries, sectors, and localities must strengthen propaganda and dissemination of contents and forms of integration between national defense and economic-social development, and vice versa, through mass media, grassroots information systems, and foreign information systems. Struggle against hostile forces on the cultural, information, and propaganda fronts.

5. Integration in Construction

a) Closely integrate with national defense in the construction and manufacturing of dual-use building materials, housing, office buildings, architecture, urban planning, rural planning, urban technical infrastructure, ensuring both economic and social development and national defense service when required;

b) When constructing civilian projects, ensure dual-use characteristics, especially in key defense areas; integration must be implemented from surveying, planning, project plans, consultations, reviews, and approvals; do not construct projects that infringe upon airspace, military-valuable terrain, or hinder combat plans;

c) In construction, prioritize research and development of dual-use materials meeting defense requirements to serve defense works and field fortifications of armed forces; build and renovate natural caves for civilian use while serving national defense when situations arise.

6. Integration in Investment and Economic Management

Establishing general economic management mechanisms and policies, specific sector policies, domestic investment policies, foreign investment in Vietnam, and Vietnamese investment abroad; developing economic zones, industrial parks, border economic zones, high-tech zones, and other types of economic zones; managing official development assistance (ODA) and non-governmental foreign aid; tendering; establishing and developing enterprises and collective economic sectors, cooperatives must meet national defense requirements.

7. Integration in Education and Social Welfare for War Veterans

a) Training and capacity building of human resources to meet local economic, cultural, and social development needs and be ready to serve national defense, focusing on skilled professionals in various fields ready to serve national defense;

b) Management and development of the workforce, employment, labor safety and hygiene, vocational training must be linked with policies for war invalids, martyrs, those who have made contributions, and social assistance.

8. Integration in Science and Technology

a) Scientific and technological activities; development of scientific and technological potential; intellectual property; standards, measurements, and quality control; atomic energy, radiation safety, nuclear safety, artificial intelligence, serving civilian life must be integrated with defense-related science and technology sectors;

b) Application of military scientific and technological achievements and national defense industry outcomes to serve the national economy, and vice versa, enhancing economic strength through joint ventures and collaborations with domestic and foreign organizations, promoting economic development, and learning international experiences in this field.

9. Integration in healthcare: Close cooperation between civilian and military healthcare in research, application, human resource training, medical treatment; establishing combined military-civilian healthcare models in various regions, especially in remote, border, and island areas. At provincial and district levels, mobile medical teams must be organized according to combat plans to meet the health care needs of civilians during peacetime and be ready to support defense missions when necessary.

10. Integration in natural resource management and environmental protection: Management and use of land; exploitation of minerals, water resources, forest resources; management of natural resources and environment, protection of maritime and island sovereignty and continental shelf; meteorological and hydrological activities, response to climate change, rising sea levels, desertification; surveying, mapping, remote sensing, boundary demarcation; remediation and handling of Agent Orange/dioxin, unexploded ordnance, and explosive remnants of war must ensure defense requirements.

11. Other sectors and fields: When developing and implementing planning, programs, strategies, and projects for socio-economic development, readiness to serve defense purposes when required; simultaneously having evacuation and dispersion plans to safe locations to ensure production during defense and security situations; products from these sectors and fields must meet civilian needs during peacetime and be ready to meet defense requirements when necessary.

Chapter IV

PLAN ON DEFENSE NEEDS AND THE CAPABILITY OF INTEGRATING DEFENSE WITH ECONOMY-SOCIETY AND ECONOMY-SOCIETY WITH DEFENSE DURING PEACETIME, EMERGENCY DEFENSE SITUATIONS, AND WAR SITUATIONS

Article 16. System of Plans, Planning Periods, and Plan Adjustments

1. System of Plans

a) Comprehensive plan on defense needs and capability of integrating defense with economy-society, including: Peace-time assurance plan established in accordance with the State Budget Law, Public Investment Law, and defense mission requirements; Plan for emergency defense situations and war situations;

b) Detailed plan on defense needs and capability of integrating defense with economy-society during peacetime, emergency defense situations, and war situations of Military Regions, Provincial Military Command, and Hanoi Capital Military Command.

2. Planning Period

Plans are developed for a five-year period with a vision of ten to fifteen years. Plans are continuously reviewed, adjusted, and supplemented to align with national strategies, planning systems; important national plans, projects; socio-economic development projects of ministries, sectors, and localities.

3. Plan Adjustment

The review and adjustment of plans are conducted annually. Reviews, adjustments, and supplements must ensure continuity, only adjusting contents that are no longer suitable for actual capabilities and needs.

Article 17. Responsibilities for drafting, adjusting, and submitting plans

1. The Ministry of National Defense shall draft, adjust, and submit to the Prime Minister for approval a comprehensive plan that aligns with national-level master plans, strategies, socio-economic development plans, and national defense strategies for each period.

2.[5] The Commandant of Military Region Commands shall draft, adjust, and submit to the Minister of National Defense for approval detailed plans that align with regional, provincial, special administrative-economic zones, urban, and rural master plans; they must also align with provincial and commune-level key socio-economic development plans concerning national defense, as well as sectoral and field development plans and projects of provinces and communes focusing on national defense.

3.[6] The Commandant of Hanoi Capital City shall draft, adjust, and submit to the Minister of National Defense for approval detailed plans that align with commune-level socio-economic development plans and city-level sectoral and field development plans and projects of Hanoi City.

4.[7] The Provincial Military Command shall draft, adjust, and submit to the Commandant of the Military Region for approval detailed plans that align with commune-level socio-economic development plans within the province; sectoral and field development plans and projects of the province under the approval authority of the Chairman of the People's Committee at the provincial level, except for key defense communes.

Article 18. Basis for Drafting, Adjusting Plans and Content of Plans

1. Basis for Drafting, Adjusting Plans

a) National strategies, national planning systems, important national plans and projects, socio-economic development projects of ministries, sectors, and localities;

b) Military and national defense tasks nationwide, in regions, territories, sectors, and fields of ministries, sectors, and localities;

c) Results of investigations and surveys regarding the integration of national defense with socio-economic activities during peacetime, in emergency situations related to national defense, and in wartime.

2. Main Content of Plans

a) Analysis and assessment of current conditions, forecasting national defense needs during peacetime, in emergency situations related to national defense, and in wartime;

b) Analysis and forecasting trends in socio-economic development, scientific and technological progress directly impacting the integration of national defense with socio-economic activities during peacetime, in emergency situations related to national defense, and in wartime;

c) Guiding viewpoints, objectives, and requirements for integrating national defense with socio-economic activities during peacetime, in emergency situations related to national defense, and in wartime;

d) Proposing overall solutions to ensure the integration of national defense with socio-economic activities during peacetime, in emergency situations related to national defense, and in wartime;

đ) Determining specific tasks, priority tasks, and the sequence of steps to ensure the integration of national defense with socio-economic activities during peacetime, in emergency situations related to national defense, and in wartime;

e) Determining policies and resources to achieve the plan's objectives; programs and projects requiring priority development to effectively implement the plan.

3.[8] Detailed plan content aims to concretize policies, orientations, contents, tasks, measures, and resources already determined in the comprehensive plan; it must align with regional, provincial, urban, and rural master plans; and be consistent with provincial and commune-level socio-economic development plans, special administrative-economic zones, border areas, maritime islands, and strategic areas.

Article 19. Procedures and formalities for planning

1. The planning agency shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries, sectors, and localities to develop tasks for planning, report to the competent authority for approval; the leading agency shall propose guiding viewpoints, objectives, orientations, priority order, solutions, and resources for plan development, and send them to relevant ministries, sectors, and localities.

2. Ministries, sectors, and localities shall cooperate to propose related contents to be included in the plan and submit it to the leading planning agency; the leading agency shall compile and perfect the plan, send it to seek opinions from relevant ministries, sectors, and localities; adopt, explain, and perfect the plan for submission to the competent authority for examination and decision.

3. The dossier for the plan to be submitted to the competent authority for approval includes: A proposal requesting approval of the plan; draft plan; draft decision or approval document for the plan; consolidated report on the opinions of participation from ministries, sectors, localities, and related documents.

Article 20. Approval Authority for Plans

1. The Prime Minister shall approve the overall plan regarding national defense needs and the ability to combine national defense with economic and social development during peacetime, emergency situations concerning national defense, and wartime.

2. The Minister of National Defense shall approve detailed plans regarding national defense needs and the ability to combine national defense with economic and social development during peacetime, emergency situations concerning national defense, and wartime, which are developed by Military Regions and the Command of the Capital City of Hanoi, consistent with the overall plan approved by the Prime Minister.

3. The Commander of Military Region shall approve detailed plans regarding national defense needs and the ability to combine national defense with economic and social development during peacetime, emergency situations concerning national defense, and wartime, which are developed by the Provincial Military Commands, consistent with the detailed plan approved by the Minister of National Defense.

Chapter V

RESPONSIBILITIES AND LIMITATIONS OF ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COMBINATION OF NATIONAL DEFENSE WITH ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT COMBINED WITH NATIONAL DEFENSE

Article 21. Responsibilities of the Ministry of National Defense

1. Take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to organize research and develop legal normative documents on implementing the combination of national defense with economic and social development across the country, submit to the competent authority for issuance or issue within its authority.

2. Take the lead and coordinate with ministries, sectors, and People's Committees of border provinces, and provinces in developing economic-national defense zones linked to the resettlement of residents along the border line. Prioritize the development of economic-national defense zones in strategic areas and sparsely populated or uninhabited regions. Propose support measures and investment capital to the Government. Coordinate with the Ministry of Finance to establish financial mechanisms and policies for economic-national defense zones to be submitted to the Government for approval.

3. Participate in providing opinions to ministries, sectors, and localities when developing strategies, master plans, plans, and projects for economic and social development in defense areas related to national defense as stipulated in this Decree.

4. Coordinate with ministries, sectors, and localities in establishing, reviewing, and implementing national planning systems related to national defense; programs and projects for investment, construction of civilian, industrial, transportation, agricultural, rural development, technical infrastructure, and other works to ensure dual-use capability and readiness to switch to serving national defense needs in key defense areas as stipulated in this Decree.

Article 22. Responsibilities of Ministries and Ministerial-Level Agencies

1. Take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense in establishing plans, programs, and projects for economic and social development to ensure the integration of national defense with economic and social activities and vice versa.

2. Coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense in proposing contents related to planning national defense needs and the ability to integrate national defense with economic and social activities during peacetime, emergency situations concerning national defense, and wartime.

3. Coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense in organizing and building economic-national defense zones; organizing and managing the operations of enterprises serving national defense and military units assigned to participate in economic and social construction combined with national defense.

Article 23.[9] Responsibilities of Provincial People's Committees, Commune People's Committees, and Special Administrative-Economic Units

1. Bear responsibility before the Government and higher-level People's Committees for the results of implementing the Party's policies and State laws on integrating national defense with economic and social activities and vice versa within their jurisdiction.

2. When developing local economic and social development plans, programs, and projects related to national defense, they must have the participation of the Ministry of National Defense in reviewing according to the provisions of Clause 4, Article 14 before submitting to the competent authority for approval.

3. Coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense and Military Region Command to review and adjust local economic and social development plans, programs, and projects in conjunction with national defense needs plans and the ability to integrate national defense with economic and social activities and vice versa during peacetime, emergency situations concerning national defense, and wartime.

4. Coordinate with central ministries, agencies, organizations related to propose mechanisms, policies, and measures to effectively implement the integration of national defense with economic and social activities and vice versa within their jurisdiction.

5. Implement supervision, inspection, and audit of investment and development activities in economic and social fields within their jurisdiction; promptly identify, correct, and handle activities violating plans and programs that affect the integration of national defense with economic and social activities and vice versa.

6. Coordinate with the Vietnam Fatherland Front and its member organizations to promote propaganda and mobilize the people to comply with the Party's and State's policies on integrating national defense with economic and social activities and vice versa.

Article 24. Effective Date[10]

1. This Decree takes effect from February 10, 2019.

2. This Decree replaces Decision No. 13/2012/QĐ-TTg dated February 23, 2012, of the Prime Minister promulgating the Regulations on Integrating Economic and Social Activities with National Defense in the Defense Area.

Article 25. Implementation organization

1. The Ministry of National Defense shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to be responsible for guiding, monitoring, and inspecting the implementation of this Decree.

2. Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of government agencies, Chairmen of provincial and centrally-administered city People's Committees, and related agencies, organizations, and individuals are responsible for implementing this Decree./.

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[1] Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain articles of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military affairs when organizing two-level local administration was 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 issues this Decree amending and supplementing certain articles of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military affairs when organizing two-level local administration.

[2] This Clause is amended and supplemented according to the provisions of Clause 1, Article 3 of Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain articles of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military affairs when organizing two-level local administration, which takes effect from August 7, 2025.

[3] This Clause is amended and supplemented according to the provisions of Clause 2, Article 3 of Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain articles of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military affairs when organizing two-level local administration, which takes effect from August 7, 2025.

[4] This Clause is amended and supplemented according to the provisions of Clause 2, Article 3 of Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain articles of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military affairs when organizing two-level local administration, which takes effect from August 7, 2025.

[5] This Clause is amended and supplemented according to the provisions of Clause 3, Article 3 of Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain articles of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military affairs when organizing two-level local administration, which takes effect from August 7, 2025.

[6] This Clause is amended and supplemented according to the provisions of Clause 3, Article 3 of Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain articles of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military affairs when organizing two-level local administration, which takes effect from August 7, 2025.

[7] This Clause is amended and supplemented according to the provisions of Clause 3, Article 3 of Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain articles of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military affairs when organizing two-level local administration, which takes effect from August 7, 2025.

[8] This Clause is amended and supplemented according to the provisions of Clause 4, Article 3 of Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain articles of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military affairs when organizing two-level local administration, which takes effect from August 7, 2025.

[9] The name of this Article is amended according to the provisions of Clause 5, Article 3 of Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing certain articles of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military affairs when organizing two-level local administration, which takes effect from August 7, 2025.

[10] Article 10 and Article 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 local administrative authorities at two levels shall take effect from August 7, 2025, and are stipulated as follows:

"Article 10. Effective Date

This Decree takes effect from August 7, 2025.

Article 11. Responsibility for Implementation

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