Circular No. 86/2025/TT-BQP amends and supplements certain Articles of Circular No. 41/2020/TT-BQP dated March 31, 2020, issued by the Minister of National Defense regarding the implementation of certain provisions of Decree No. 21/2019/NĐ-CP dated February 22, 2019, of the Government on the defense area.

CIRCULAR

AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS TO CERTAIN ARTICLES OF CIRCULAR NO. 41/2020/TT-BQP DATED MARCH 31, 2020 ISSUED BY THE MINISTER OF NATIONAL DEFENSE REGULATING IMPLEMENTATION OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF DECREE NO. 21/2019/NĐ-CP DATED FEBRUARY 22, 2019 OF THE GOVERNMENT ON DEFENSIVE ZONES

Pursuant to the National Defense Law dated June 8, 2018; the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of 11 Laws on Military Affairs and National Defense dated June 27, 2025;

Pursuant to Decree No. 01/2022/NĐ-CP dated November 30, 2022 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of National Defense; Decree No. 03/2025/NĐ-CP dated February 28, 2025 of the Government amending and supplementing certain provisions of Decree No. 01/2022/NĐ-CP;

Pursuant to Decree No. 21/2019/NĐ-CP dated February 21, 2019 of the Government on defensive zones;

Pursuant to Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP dated August 7, 2025 of the Government amending and supplementing certain provisions of several Decrees in the field of national defense and military when organizing local governments at two levels;

At the proposal of the Chief of General Staff;

The Minister of National Defense issues this Circular amending and supplementing certain articles of Circular No. 41/2020/TT-BQP dated March 31, 2020 issued by the Minister of National Defense regulating implementation of certain provisions of Decree No. 21/2019/NĐ-CP dated February 22, 2019 of the Government on defensive zones.

Article 1. Amendments and supplements to certain articles of Circular No. 41/2020/TT-BQP dated March 31, 2020 issued by the Minister of National Defense regulating implementation of certain provisions of Decree No. 21/2019/NĐ-CP dated February 22, 2019 of the Government on defensive zones.

1. Amend and supplement Article 1 as follows:

"Article 1. Scope of Regulation

"This Circular regulates the implementation of certain provisions of Decree No. 21/2019/NĐ-CP dated February 22, 2019 of the Government on defensive zones amended and supplemented by Decree No. 220/2025/NĐ-CP dated August 7, 2025 of the Government (hereinafter referred to as Decree No. 21/2019/NĐ-CP), including: The Military Region Defense Steering Committee for the Military Region's defensive zone and the defensive zone; the Supply Council of the defensive zone; procedures for drafting, format, and content of the Military Region's defensive plan; review and approval of plans for building the military posture within the defensive zone and regional defense; planning for evacuation areas of central ministries and agencies; defensive zone exercises; contents, scale of mid-term and final reviews of the execution of the Military Region's defensive tasks and the defensive zone; responsibilities of relevant agencies and units."

2. Amend and supplement certain points and clauses of Article 3 as follows:

a) Amend and supplement Clause 2 of Article 3 as follows:

"2. Functions

Assist the Party Committee and Command of the Military Region in leading, directing, commanding, managing, guiding, inspecting, and urging the Defense Steering Committees of localities within the Military Region to coordinate with units under the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Public Security, and central ministries and agencies in the locality to implement the Military Region's defensive tasks, build and operate the defensive zone and regional defense within the Military Region."

b) Amend and supplement Point a of Clause 3 as follows:

"a) Advise the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense on mechanisms, policies, and appropriate guidance measures in accordance with the situation and characteristics of the Military Region to implement the Military Region's defensive tasks, build and operate the defensive zone and regional defense within the Military Region."

c) Amend and supplement Points b and c of Clause 4 as follows:

"b) Urge, inspect, and audit the implementation of plans, schemes, and measures for building and operating the defensive zone and regional defense within the Military Region;"

c) Direct the organization of mid-term and final reviews and commendation work in implementing the Military Region's defensive tasks, the defensive zone, and regional defense according to the laws on commendation and reward."

3. Amend and supplement the title of Article 4 and Clause 2 of Article 4 as follows:

a) Amend the title of Article 4 as follows:

"Article 4. Organization, components, functions, tasks, content of activities, relationships of the Supply Council of the Defense Region"

b) Amend and supplement Clause 2 of Article 4 as follows:

"2. Components of the Supply Council of the Defense Region

- The Chairman of the Council shall be held by a Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of the province (city) responsible for the economy;

- The Vice Chairman in charge of daily operations shall be held by a Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Military Command (Military Command of Hanoi and Military Command of Ho Chi Minh City by Deputy Commander);

- The Vice Chairman: Director of the Department of Finance;

- Members of the Council include: Deputy Head of the Office of the People's Council, People's Committee; Deputy Directors of the Departments of Health, Industry and Trade, Construction, Agriculture and Environment; Chief of Logistics and Technical Services, Military Command, Military Command of Hanoi, Military Command of Ho Chi Minh City; Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Border Guard Command at the provincial level responsible for logistics and technical work (if any); Deputy Director of Public Security at the provincial level responsible for logistics and technical work;

- The permanent office of the Supply Council includes some department-level cadres of the Military Command, Military Command of Ho Chi Minh City, bureau-level for the Military Command of Hanoi, Department of Finance, Office of the People's Committee. The head of the permanent office is the Vice Chairman in charge of daily operations of the Supply Council; Secretary of the Supply Council is the Chief of Logistics and Technical Services of the Military Command, Military Command of Hanoi, Military Command of Ho Chi Minh City."

4. Amend the name of Article 6 and some points of Article 6 as follows:

a) Amend the name of Article 6 as follows:

"Article 6. Examination and approval of plans to build military posture in the defense region.

b) Amend and supplement Point c Clause 1 of Article 6 as follows:

"c) The Planning Office of the Military Command at the provincial level shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant agencies to examine plans to build military posture."

c) Amend and supplement Point a Clause 2 of Article 6 as follows:

"a) The examination dossier includes: A proposal requesting approval of the plan to build military posture in the defense region; an explanatory note attached with maps and diagrams; a summary report on the plan and related legal documents signed by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, the Commander-in-Chief of the Regional Defense Command;"

d) Amend and supplement Point a Clause 4 of Article 6 as follows:

"a) Within a period not exceeding 15 days for the Regional Defense Command and 25 days for the provincial level, from the date the leading examination agency receives complete valid files as stipulated in Point a Clause 2 of this Article."

đ) Amend and supplement Point a Clause 5 of Article 6 as follows:

"a) The Minister of National Defense shall approve the plan to build military posture in the defense region of key provinces; the Commander of the Military Zone shall approve the plan to build military posture in the remaining provinces; the Commander of the Military Command at the provincial level, city, Commander of the Military Command of Hanoi, Commander of the Military Command of Ho Chi Minh City shall approve the plan to build military posture in the defense region under their jurisdiction."

5. Amend the name of Article 8 and some points, clauses of Article 8 as follows:

a) Amend the name of Article 8 as follows:

"Article 8. Military defense exercises, defense region exercises, regional defense exercises".

b) Amend and supplement Point c Clause 1 of Article 8 as follows:

"c) The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee shall decide to establish the Steering Committee, the exercise organization body, and serve as the Chairman to direct regional defense exercises within the province."

c) Amend and supplement Clause 2 of Article 8 as follows:

"2. The Commander of the Military Zone, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, the Commander of the Regional Defense Command assigned the task of conducting military zone defense exercises, defense region exercises, regional defense exercises shall decide to establish the Organizing Committee, the exercise organizing body, and serve as the Chairman to implement the exercises."

d) Amend and supplement Point b Clause 3 of Article 8 as follows:

"b) The Military Command at the provincial level shall take the lead and coordinate with departments, sectors, mass organizations at the same level to advise the Chairman of the Steering Committee for regional defense exercises to form a working group consisting of department-level cadres to guide, inspect, and urge the Regional Defense Command to perform exercise tasks according to specialized fields."

6. Amend and supplement some points of Article 9 as follows:

a) Amend and supplement Point a Clause 1 of Article 9 as follows:

"a) Evaluate the operation of leadership, guidance, command mechanisms; coordination relationships; results of building potential and military posture; defense work of central ministries, sectors, agencies, organizations, Military Zones' Commands, Provincial People's Committees, Regional Defense Commands. Draw out causes and lessons learned during the implementation of defense tasks; propose policies and solutions for the next steps."

b) Amend and supplement Point a Clause 2 of Article 9 as follows:

"a) Summarize and conclude military zone defense, defense region, and regional defense organized from the provincial level to the central level;"

7. Amend and supplement some clauses of Article 11 as follows:

"1. Advise the Central Military Commission to issue guiding documents to lead and direct the implementation of military zone defense tasks, defense region, and regional defense; coordinate and advise on the operation mechanism: Party committees directing, administrative management and operation by governments, departments, mass organizations at the grassroots level, with the core being military and public security organs, planning and implementing in building and operating defense regions.

2. Take the lead and coordinate to propose the Minister of National Defense to advise the Chairman of the Central Steering Committee to direct and guide the construction of political and spiritual potential in military zone defense; building and operating defense regions, and regional defense.

3. Direct and guide the Political Departments of Military Zones, Border Guard Command, Military Command of Hanoi to coordinate and advise on party and political work in military zone defense; building and operating defense regions, and regional defense."

8. Amend and supplement Article 12 as follows:

"Article 12. General Department of Logistics and Technical Services

1. Take the lead and coordinate with relevant agencies under the Ministry of National Defense to guide the Military Region Logistics and Technical Service Bureau, the Hanoi Capital Command, and the Provincial Military Command Logistics and Technical Departments in advising on the establishment and issuance of regulations for the operation of the Provincial Defense Supply Council in accordance with Article 4 of this Circular. Lead the inspection and supervision of the establishment and maintenance of the operation of the Provincial Defense Supply Council.

2. Guide the content of logistics and technical planning in military region defense exercises, defense area exercises, and regional defense exercises.

3. Coordinate with relevant agencies under the Ministry of National Defense to review programs, plans, projects, and development plans related to logistics and technical services that are linked to economic and social development at the central and local levels; direct the Military Region Logistics and Technical Service Bureau and the Hanoi Capital Command to coordinate with relevant agencies at the same level to participate in reviewing programs, plans, projects, and development plans related to economic and social development linked to national defense within their respective areas.

4. Coordinate with relevant agencies under the Ministry of National Defense to inspect and supervise the Military Region Logistics and Technical Service Bureau, the Hanoi Capital Command, and the Provincial Military Command Logistics and Technical Departments in summarizing and concluding the implementation of logistics and technical construction and activities in military region defense, defense area, and regional defense.

9. Amend and supplement some clauses of Article 13 as follows:

a) Amend and supplement Clause 2 of Article 13 as follows:

"2. Direct the Military Region Operations Directorate to take the lead and coordinate with other military region agencies to build plans and implement military region defense tasks, guide provincial military agencies under its jurisdiction to build and implement defense area and regional defense plans; be responsible before the Ministry of National Defense for the effectiveness of the implementation of military region defense, defense area, and regional defense tasks within the military region."

b) Amend and supplement Clause 5 and Clause 6 of Article 13 as follows:

"5. Coordinate with the People's Committee of the province within its area and central ministries and sectors to unify the evacuation locations of central ministries and sectors within the area; annually, direct the military region agencies to coordinate with the agencies of central ministries and sectors to guide and conduct defense area provincial-level exercises and coordinate with provincial-level ministries and departments to guide and conduct regional defense exercises within the military region.

6. Coordinate with the Border Guard Command to direct the Provincial Military Commands to perform border defense tasks (if applicable) according to the plan of the same-level defense area; coordinate with corps, services, arms, academies, schools, and hospitals under the Ministry of National Defense stationed within the area to perform defense tasks during a state of emergency and war."

10. Amend and supplement Clause 3 of Article 14 as follows:

"3. Review and approve the defense plans of the Regional Defense Command under its jurisdiction and the combat plans of the Border Guard Command and Border Guard Posts (if applicable) within the defense area's strategic posture; guide the Regional Defense Command to build and implement regional defense tasks."

11. Amend and supplement Clause 3 of Article 15 as follows:

"3. Guide, review, and approve the defense plans of the Regional Defense Command under its jurisdiction within the strategic posture of the defense area of Hanoi City."

12. Amend and supplement Clause 1 of Article 16 as follows:

"1. The Department of National Defense Industry coordinates with relevant agencies under the Ministry of National Defense to direct and guide localities in developing dual-use national defense industry combining civilian use, weapons, equipment, and means to ensure military region and defense area defense."

Article 2. Replacing and deleting some words and phrases in Circular No. 41/2020/TT-BQP dated March 31, 2020, issued by the Minister of National Defense to implement certain provisions of Decree No. 21/2019/NĐ-CP dated February 22, 2019, of the Government on the defense area.

1. Replace the phrase "logistics, technical" with the phrase "logistics - technical" at Point c Clause 1 Article 3; replace the phrase "Military Command at district level" with the phrase "Defense Area Command" at Clause 2 Article 5.

2. Delete the phrase "at district level" and the phrase "at its own level" at Point a Clause 1 Article 4; delete the phrase "and key districts for national defense" at Point b Clause 1 Article 6; delete the phrase "Ministry of Planning and Investment" at Clause 6 Article 7; delete the phrase "at district level" at Clause 8 Article 7; delete the word "room" at Point b and Point c Clause 4 Article 8; delete the phrase "at district level" at Point b Clause 2 Article 9.

Article 3. Effectiveness

1. This Circular shall take effect from August 7, 2025.

2. The Minister, Heads of Ministries equivalent to Ministries, agencies under the Government, Chairpersons of People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities, and related agencies are responsible for directing and guiding subordinate units to implement this Circular.

3. The Chief of General Staff, Director of the Political General Department, Directors of General Departments, Commanders of Military Regions, Commander of the Capital Military Command, and Heads of agencies and units under the Ministry of National Defense are responsible for implementing this Circular.

4. During implementation, if any issues arise, agencies and units shall compile the content and send it to the General Staff Department (through the Operations Directorate)./