Law on Participation in United Nations Peacekeeping Forces No. 92/2025/QH15

LAW

PARTICIPATING IN UNITED NATIONS PEACEKEEPING FORCES

Pursuant to the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam amended and supplemented by Resolution No. 203/2025/QH15;

The National Assembly enacts the Law on Participation in United Nations Peacekeeping Forces.

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Law stipulates principles, position, functions, objects, forms, fields, international cooperation, establishment, deployment of forces, resource assurance, systems, policies, and responsibilities of agencies, organizations, and individuals in participating in United Nations peacekeeping forces.

Article 2. Applicability

1. Officers, professional military personnel, defense workers, non-commissioned officers, soldiers, and units under the Ministry of National Defense; officers, non-commissioned officers, technical specialists, police workers, police soldiers, and units under the Ministry of Public Security may be selected to participate in United Nations peacekeeping forces.

2. Cadres, civil servants, and officials may be selected to participate in United Nations peacekeeping forces.

3. Agencies, units, organizations, and individuals related to participation in United Nations peacekeeping forces.

Article 3. Explanation of Terms

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

1. United Nations peacekeeping forces are units and individuals dispatched by member states of the United Nations to participate in United Nations peacekeeping operations with the aim of maintaining and preserving peace and security in countries and regions that have ceased hostilities, ceasefire agreements, or peace agreements to end conflicts and build peace, carried out according to resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and under the direction, management, and supervision of the United Nations.

2. United Nations peacekeeping mission (hereinafter referred to as the Mission) is an organization established according to a resolution of the United Nations Security Council, with the consent of the local government and relevant parties, managed and operated by the United Nations; aimed at maintaining and preserving peace and security in the country or region where the Mission is deployed.

3. United Nations peacekeeping activities are activities assigned by the United Nations Security Council to the Mission in the area to implement tasks aimed at resolving conflicts and building peace, under the command of the United Nations.

4. Area is the country or region where the headquarters of United Nations agencies and organizations with the participation of Vietnamese forces is located.

5. New dispatch is the dispatch of Vietnamese forces to participate in new positions, new areas, or new fields of United Nations peacekeeping activities.

6. Rotation dispatch, replacement dispatch is the dispatch of Vietnamese forces to replace Vietnamese forces currently performing United Nations peacekeeping missions at the Mission, according to regular or emergency terms.

7. Adjustment is the change in the scale of forces, nature of activities, and tasks in the area.

8. Term of service is the time spent performing peacekeeping duties according to United Nations regulations.

9. Extension of term of service is the prolongation of the time spent performing duties in the area.

10. Reimbursement payment is the amount of money paid by the United Nations to the Government of Vietnam for dispatching forces to participate in United Nations peacekeeping activities.

11. Emergency situation is an unusual and dangerous situation caused by natural or human factors, widespread disease outbreaks in the area, security instability exceeding the response capacity of the United Nations; a situation threatening or causing serious harm to the lives, health of individuals, weapons and technical equipment, technical operation means of Vietnamese forces, or posing a risk to national interests, the nation's welfare, and Vietnam's status and reputation.

Article 4. Principles for Participation in United Nations Peacekeeping Forces

1. Under the absolute and direct leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam in all aspects; decisions of the National Defense and Security Council; under the command of the President and state management of the Government.

2. Adhere to the Constitution and laws of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; be consistent with the United Nations Charter, international law, and international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a party.

3. Ensure independence, autonomy, peace, friendship, cooperation, and development; align with national interests, ethnic benefits, conditions, and capabilities of Vietnam; respect the independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity, and non-interference in internal affairs of other countries; promote gender equality and protect human rights.

4. Only participate in activities supporting the resolution of war consequences, maintaining post-conflict peace, and other humanitarian activities based on the request of the United Nations.

5. Deploy forces to countries and regions where the United Nations has established Missions and at United Nations agencies, based on the request of the United Nations.

Article 5. Position and Functions of the Vietnamese Force Participating in United Nations Peacekeeping Activities

1. The Vietnamese force participating in United Nations peacekeeping activities is a force dispatched by the State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to join the United Nations peacekeeping forces, aiming to demonstrate Vietnam's role and responsibility in the international community and contribute to enhancing Vietnam's status and reputation.

2. The Vietnamese force participating in United Nations peacekeeping activities has the function of maintaining and protecting regional and global peace, implementing an independent, autonomous, peaceful, cooperative, and developmental foreign policy, diversifying and expanding international relations according to the guidelines of the Party and the State.

Article 6. Obligations, Responsibilities, and Authorities of the Vietnamese Force Participating in United Nations Peacekeeping Activities

1. The Vietnamese force participating in United Nations peacekeeping activities shall have the following obligations and responsibilities:

a) Be absolutely loyal to the Communist Party of Vietnam and the State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; consistently implement the Party's policies and guidelines; the State's policies and laws, especially those concerning foreign affairs and international integration, with the goal of safeguarding national and ethnic interests; comply with the Constitution and laws of Vietnam, consistent with the United Nations Charter, international law, and international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a party;

b) Continuously study and train to enhance political resolve and professional competence; be proactive, innovative, overcome difficulties to complete assigned tasks;

c) Advise competent authorities on the scale, field, form, and area of Vietnam's participation in United Nations peacekeeping activities; improve capacity in participating in United Nations peacekeeping forces and related areas;

d) Fulfill tasks assigned by competent authorities of the United Nations and Vietnam according to agreements between Vietnam and the United Nations;

đ) Enhance Vietnam's status and reputation, promote historical, cultural values, and images of the country and people of Vietnam;

e) Strictly follow United Nations regulations; respect laws, governments, people, and cultural customs and traditions of the countries and regions where the Vietnamese force participates;

g) Propagate the Party's policies and viewpoints, the State's policies and laws;

h) Report to competent authorities in Vietnam to decide on refusing tasks when there is a risk of safety loss;

i) Be accountable under Vietnamese law and competent authorities for their decisions while performing United Nations peacekeeping duties;

k) Use weapons, technical equipment, and technical operational means for their intended purposes; maintain and store them according to regulations and procedures, ensuring safety, preventing loss or damage; hand over to responsible managers after the completion of the term.

2. The Vietnamese force participating in United Nations peacekeeping activities shall have the following authorities:

a) Use weapons, technical equipment, and technical operational means in accordance with Vietnamese law and United Nations regulations to perform tasks;

b) Other authorities as prescribed by Vietnamese law and the United Nations based on agreements between Vietnam and the United Nations.

Article 7. Forms and Fields of Participation in United Nations Peacekeeping Operations

1. Forms of participation include:

a) Individuals: specific persons with individual titles meeting the standards of the United Nations dispatched according to the decision of the competent authority;

b) Units: organizations meeting the standards of the United Nations dispatched according to the decision of the competent authority.

2. Fields of participation include:

a) Staffing, logistics, technical support;

b) Engineers, infantry, reconnaissance, protection, transportation, military medicine, military control;

c) Military observers;

d) Information, communication, telecommunications;

đ) Police;

e) Election observation and monitoring;

g) Policy planning, health, law, and other civilian fields;

h) Other fields proposed by the United Nations.

3. In cases where the United Nations proposes other fields as stipulated in point h, Clause 2 of this Article, the National Defense and Security Council shall decide for armed forces, and the Prime Minister shall decide for civilian forces.

Article 8. State Policy

1. Building Vietnam's forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations to meet modern, professional requirements and comply with United Nations standards.

2. Creating conditions, mobilizing organizations and individuals, encouraging and prioritizing women's participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

3. Prioritizing the development of human resources, weapons, equipment, technical means to meet the conditions for performing tasks in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

4. Having preferential policies in training, deployment, utilization, recruitment, and selection for individuals who have completed their missions in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

Article 9. State Management on Participation in United Nations Peacekeeping Operations

1. Contents of state management include:

a) Issuing and implementing legal documents on participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations;

b) Building and deploying Vietnam's forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations;

c) Propaganda, dissemination, and legal education on participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations;

d) Managing, commanding, directing, and operating Vietnam's forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations;

đ) International cooperation on participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

2. The Government uniformly manages state affairs regarding participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

3. The Ministry of National Defense takes the lead and is responsible before the Government for managing state affairs regarding participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

4. The Government specifies the responsibilities of Ministries, agencies at the ministerial level, and provincial People's Committees regarding participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

Article 10. Handling Violations, Resolving Disputes, and Complaints

1. Vietnamese individuals and units violating Vietnamese law, the laws of the host country, and United Nations regulations during participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations shall be handled according to Vietnamese law and agreements between Vietnam and the United Nations.

2. The resolution of disputes and complaints between Vietnam's forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations and the United Nations or third parties during participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations shall be carried out according to agreements between Vietnam and the United Nations.

Article 11. International Cooperation on Participation in United Nations Peacekeeping Forces

1. Principles of international cooperation include:

a) Adhering to Vietnamese law, international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a party, and international agreements within its jurisdiction; respecting fundamental principles of international law; ensuring independence, sovereignty, and national rights; protecting national interests, ethnic interests, and legitimate rights and interests of agencies, organizations, and individuals participating in United Nations peacekeeping forces;

b) Leveraging internal strength and support and assistance from the international community in implementing United Nations peacekeeping missions.

2. Contents of international cooperation include:

a) Training, education, professional development, drills, technical exchanges, exercises, and sharing experiences in United Nations peacekeeping activities;

b) Providing investment aid, infrastructure construction, equipment, means of transportation, and other resources for Vietnamese forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping activities;

c) Other contents of international cooperation as prescribed by Vietnamese law and international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a party.

3. Forms of international cooperation include:

a) Bilateral and multilateral;

b) Organizing conferences, seminars, training sessions, exchanges, and exercises both domestically and internationally;

c) Exchanging delegations, concluding international treaties, and agreements on cooperation in the field of United Nations peacekeeping;

d) Other forms of international cooperation in United Nations peacekeeping as prescribed by Vietnamese law and international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a party.

Article 12. Prohibited Acts in Participation in United Nations Peacekeeping Forces

1. Exploiting or misusing participation in United Nations peacekeeping forces to violate laws, infringe upon state interests, or infringe upon the legitimate rights and interests of organizations and individuals.

2. Bribery, solicitation, enticement, coercion, or forcing participants in United Nations peacekeeping forces to commit unlawful acts.

3. Discrimination based on gender, division, racial, ethnic, national, religious, educational, or cultural grounds in participation in United Nations peacekeeping forces.

4. Disseminating false images, information, leaking state secrets, or classified lists of the United Nations.

5. Other acts prohibited by Vietnamese law and United Nations regulations during participation in United Nations peacekeeping forces.

Chapter II

CONSTRUCTION AND COMMAND, MANAGEMENT, CONTROL OF VIETNAMESE FORCES PARTICIPATING IN UNITED NATIONS PEACEKEEPING ACTIVITIES

Section 1

CONSTRUCTION OF FORCES

Article 13. Vietnamese Forces Participating in United Nations Peacekeeping Activities

1. Vietnamese forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping activities include:

a) Armed forces, comprising: officers, professional soldiers, defense workers, non-commissioned officers, soldiers, and units under the Ministry of National Defense; officers, non-commissioned officers, technical specialists, police workers, police officers, and units under the Ministry of Public Security equipped with weapons, technical equipment, and technical means to perform United Nations peacekeeping tasks;

b) Civilian forces, comprising: officials, civil servants, and technical staff equipped with technical means to perform United Nations peacekeeping tasks.

2. The Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security shall stipulate the organization, staffing, weapons, technical equipment, and technical means of their respective ministries participating in United Nations peacekeeping forces.

3. Ministries, Departments, Provincial People's Committees shall stipulate the organization, staffing, and technical means of their respective entities participating in United Nations peacekeeping forces.

Article 14. Selection of forces to participate in United Nations peacekeeping operations

1. Forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations shall be selected from agencies and units under the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Public Security, and Ministries, Committees, and People's Committees of provinces.

2. Ministries, Committees, and People's Committees of provinces shall stipulate conditions and criteria for selecting forces within their management scope, meeting the requirements of the United Nations for each unit and position.

Article 15. Training, instruction, and enhancement of Vietnamese forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations

1. Vietnamese forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations shall be trained, instructed, and enhanced in knowledge about United Nations peacekeeping; professional skills; pre-deployment training according to the United Nations program; foreign languages; gender equality, and other skills; and shall participate in United Nations peacekeeping training courses both domestically and internationally.

2. Ministries, Committees, and People's Committees of provinces shall stipulate programs and timeframes for training, instructing, and enhancing forces within their management scope to meet the requirements of the United Nations.

Article 16. Weapons, technical equipment, technical professional means, and uniforms of Vietnamese forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations

1. Weapons and technical equipment, technical professional means provided by Vietnam according to the requirements of the United Nations shall be reimbursed by the United Nations according to the agreement between Vietnam and the United Nations during the usage period.

2. Equipment provided by the United Nations.

3. Equipment and materials self-assured by Vietnam to support mission implementation.

4. The uniform of Vietnamese forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations must comply with Vietnam’s regulations and those of the United Nations. The Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security shall stipulate uniforms for forces within their management scope.

5. The Government shall stipulate identification marks for weapons, technical equipment, and technical professional means of Vietnamese forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations at the deployment site.

Article 17. Traditional Day of Vietnamese forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations

May 27th of each year is the traditional day of Vietnamese forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

Section 2

COMMAND, CONTROL, MANAGEMENT, AND OPERATIONS

Article 18. Command, control, management, and operations of Vietnamese forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations

1. The Government shall uniformly command Vietnamese forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

2. The Ministry of National Defense shall directly command, control, manage, and operate forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations within its management scope.

3. The Ministry of Public Security shall directly command, control, manage, and operate forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations within its management scope.

4. Ministries, Committees, and People's Committees of provinces shall command, manage, and operate civilian forces within their management scope participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

Article 19. Command of Vietnamese forces at the Mission

1. Each Vietnamese force participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations at each Mission shall have a Commander-in-Chief.

2. The Government shall stipulate the authority to appoint, duties, and powers of the Commander-in-Chief of Vietnamese forces at the Mission.

Chapter III

AUTHORITY, PROCEDURES FOR APPOINTMENT, ADJUSTMENT, EXTENSION OF THE TERM OF SERVICE, WITHDRAWAL OF FORCES

Section 1

AUTHORITY, PROCEDURES FOR APPOINTMENT, ADJUSTMENT, EXTENSION OF THE TERM OF SERVICE, WITHDRAWAL OF MILITARY FORCES

Article 20. Authority to decide on the dispatch, adjustment, extension of term of service, withdrawal of armed forces

1. The National Defense and Security Council decides on the dispatch, adjustment, extension of term of service, and withdrawal of armed forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

2. The National Defense and Security Council assigns the Minister of National Defense and the Minister of Public Security to decide in the following cases:

a) Withdrawal of forces under their management deployed in the field back to the country in emergency situations;

b) Extension of term of service for forces under their management deployed to carry out United Nations peacekeeping missions.

Article 21. Procedures for new dispatch, adjustment, extension of term of service, withdrawal of forces

1. The procedures for new dispatch, adjustment, and withdrawal of armed forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations within the authority of the National Defense and Security Council's decision are stipulated as follows:

a) The Ministry of National Defense takes the lead and coordinates with the Ministry of Public Security to report to the Government for submission to the National Defense and Security Council to decide on the policy of new dispatch, adjustment, and withdrawal of armed forces;

b) Based on the decision of the National Defense and Security Council, the Ministry of National Defense takes the lead and coordinates with the Ministry of Public Security to report to the Government for submission to the President - Chairman of the National Defense and Security Council to issue a decision on new dispatch, adjustment, and withdrawal of armed forces;

c) Based on the decision of the President - Chairman of the National Defense and Security Council, the Minister of National Defense and the Minister of Public Security, within their respective authorities, decide on specific forces.

2. The procedures for withdrawal in emergency situations and extension of term of service are stipulated as follows:

a) The Minister of National Defense and the Minister of Public Security decide on the withdrawal of forces under their management and report to the National Defense and Security Council;

b) In the case of withdrawing all Vietnamese forces from a Mission, the head of the Ministry in charge of the Commander of Vietnamese forces at the Mission will coordinate with the heads of relevant Ministries, Agencies, Departments, and Provincial People's Committees to decide on the withdrawal of forces and report to the competent authority as prescribed;

c) The Minister of National Defense and the Minister of Public Security decide on the extension of term of service for forces under their management and report to the National Defense and Security Council.

3. The Government shall provide detailed regulations on this Article.

Article 22. Procedures for rotational dispatch and replacement

1. Annually, the Ministry of National Defense takes the lead and coordinates with the Ministry of Public Security to report to the Government for submission to the National Defense and Security Council the plan for rotational dispatch and replacement of forces.

2. Based on the decision of the National Defense and Security Council, the Ministry of National Defense takes the lead and coordinates with the Ministry of Public Security to report to the Government for submission to the President - Chairman of the National Defense and Security Council to issue a decision on the dispatch of forces for rotational deployment and replacement.

3. Based on the decision of the President - Chairman of the National Defense and Security Council, the Minister of National Defense and the Minister of Public Security, within their respective authorities, decide on specific forces for each rotational deployment and replacement period.

Clause 4. The Government shall provide detailed regulations on Clauses 1 and 2 of this Article.

Section 2

AUTHORITY AND PROCEDURES FOR NEW DISPATCH, ROTATIONAL DISPATCH, REPLACEMENT, ADJUSTMENT, EXTENSION OF TERM OF SERVICE, WITHDRAWAL OF CIVILIAN PERSONNEL

Article 23. Authority to decide on new dispatch, rotational dispatch, replacement, adjustment, extension of term of service, and withdrawal of civilian personnel

1. The Prime Minister decides on the new dispatch, rotational dispatch, replacement, adjustment, and withdrawal of civilian personnel participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

2. The heads of Ministries, Agencies, Departments, and Provincial People's Committees decide on the extension of term of service and withdrawal of civilian personnel under their management back to the country in emergency situations.

Article 24. Procedures for new appointments, rotation, replacement, adjustment, extension of term of service, and withdrawal of civilian forces

1. Ministries, Agencies, Sectors, People's Committees of provinces shall cooperate with the Ministry of National Defense to prepare files and report to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision on new appointments, rotation, replacement, adjustment, and withdrawal of civilian forces.

2. Based on the Prime Minister’s decision, the heads of Ministries, Agencies, Sectors, and People's Committees of provinces shall decide on specific forces within their management scope.

3. The heads of Ministries, Agencies, Sectors, and People's Committees of provinces shall decide on the extension of the term of service for forces under their management and report to the Prime Minister.

4. The procedures for withdrawing forces in emergency situations are as follows:

a) The heads of Ministries, Agencies, Sectors, and People's Committees of provinces shall decide on the withdrawal of forces under their management and report to the Prime Minister;

b) In cases where all Vietnamese forces at a Mission are withdrawn, it shall be carried out according to the provisions of point b, Clause 2, Article 21.

5. The Government shall provide detailed regulations on this matter.

Chapter IV

FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND REGULATIONS, POLICIES

Article 25. Financial Support

1. The state budget and other legitimate sources of funding ensure participation in United Nations peacekeeping forces, compensation for damages to the United Nations or third parties due to the fault of Vietnamese forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

The Government decides on the use of the state budget and other legitimate sources of funding for compensation as provided in this clause.

2. Reimbursement funds from the United Nations shall be deposited into the state budget and managed and used in accordance with the law, prioritizing the development of forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

Article 26. Regulations and Policies

1. Vietnamese forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations during their time serving abroad shall enjoy salary, allowances, and other preferential regulations and policies as stipulated by Vietnamese law and the United Nations; during training, education, and enhancement, upon completion of their mission and return home, they shall enjoy preferential regulations and policies as stipulated by the Government.

2. During their participation in United Nations peacekeeping forces, individuals and units with outstanding achievements in performing their tasks shall be rewarded according to Vietnamese law and the United Nations' regulations.

3. Individuals who fall ill, get injured, suffer accidents, or die while performing their duties in United Nations peacekeeping forces shall themselves or their relatives enjoy regulations and policies as stipulated by Vietnamese law and the United Nations.

4. Social insurance and health insurance regulations shall be implemented in accordance with Vietnamese law.

5. The Government shall provide detailed regulations on this matter.

Chapter V

IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 27. Effective Date

1. This Law shall take effect from January 1, 2026.

2. Resolution No. 130/2020/QH14 dated November 13, 2020 of the National Assembly on participation in United Nations peacekeeping forces shall cease to be effective from the date this Law comes into effect.

This Law was adopted by the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the 15th term, the 9th session, on June 26, 2025.