General Staff (Vietnam People's Army)
Encyclopedia
General Staff is the commanding and managing organization of the Vietnam People's Army
, the paramilitary
forces, militia
and other activities relating to defence of Vietnam
. The General Staff was established on September 7, 1945, right after the foundation of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, the first Chief of the General Staff was Major General Hoàng Văn Thái
. During the Second Indochina War, Vietnam War
, Cambodian-Vietnamese War
, Sino-Vietnamese War
and other skirmishes, the General Staff always had an essential role in organizing, commanding the armed forces and planning, operating military campaigns for the Ministry of Defence
and the Government of Vietnam. The current Chief of the General Staff is Lieutenant General
Đỗ Bá Tỵ who also holds the position of Vice Minister of Defence.
and the foundation of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam on September 2, 1945, the General Staff was established on September 7, 1945. The first Chief of the General Staff was Major General Hoàng Văn Thái
who held the position from 1945 to 1953. During the existence of the General Headquarters of the Vietnam People's Army (Bộ Tổng tư lệnh Quân đội Nhân dân Việt Nam), which had been the supreme commanding organ of the armed forces from 1946 to 1975, the General Staff was directly under the General Headquarters and acted as staff of the General Headquarters according to the decree No. 47/SL which was issued on May 1, 1947.
After the Vietnam War
, the General Headquarters was dissolved and the General Staff began to operate under the Ministry of Defence
in the position of commanding and managing organization of the Vietnam People's Army
, the paramilitary
forces, militia
and other activities relating to defence of Vietnam. From 1978, the Chief of Staff was also Deputy Minister of Defence and would take the position of acting minister during the absence of the Mnister of Defence. Following the demise of Senior Lieutenant General Nguyễn Khắc Nghiên, the current Chief of Staff is Lieutenant General Đỗ Bá Tỵ. In 1998, several senior officers of the General Staff, including the Chief of General Staff Đào Trọng Lịch, were killed in an aircraft crash during their visit in Laos
.
Besides, the General Staff also directly manages the operation of the 144th Brigade, which undertakes the military control, two Colleges (Cao đẳng) No. 3 and No. 8, and several other units.
Vietnam People's Army
The Vietnam People's Army is the armed forces of Vietnam. The VPA includes: the Vietnamese People's Ground Forces , the Vietnam People's Navy , the Vietnam People's Air Force, and the Vietnam Marine Police.During the French Indochina War , the VPA was often referred to as the Việt...
, the paramilitary
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
forces, militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
and other activities relating to defence of Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. The General Staff was established on September 7, 1945, right after the foundation of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, the first Chief of the General Staff was Major General Hoàng Văn Thái
Hoàng Văn Thái
Hoàng Văn Thái , born Hoàng Văn Xiêm, was a Vietnamese communist military and political figure. His hometown was Tây An, Tiền Hải District, Thái Bình Province. During the Tết Offensive, he was the most senior North Vietnamese Officer in South Vietnam...
. During the Second Indochina War, Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, Cambodian-Vietnamese War
Cambodian-Vietnamese War
The Cambodian–Vietnamese War was an armed conflict between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and Democratic Kampuchea. The war began with isolated clashes along the land and maritime boundaries of Vietnam and Kampuchea between 1975 and 1977, occasionally involving division-sized military formations...
, Sino-Vietnamese War
Sino-Vietnamese War
The Sino–Vietnamese War , also known as the Third Indochina War, known in the PRC as and in Vietnam as Chiến tranh chống bành trướng Trung Hoa , was a brief but bloody border war fought in 1979 between the People's Republic of China and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam...
and other skirmishes, the General Staff always had an essential role in organizing, commanding the armed forces and planning, operating military campaigns for the Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (Vietnam)
Ministry of Defence is the governmental ministry of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam that manages, coordinates and supervises military affairs, including all military units, paramilitary units, and similar agencies in the country. The major office of the Ministry of Defence is located within the...
and the Government of Vietnam. The current Chief of the General Staff is Lieutenant General
Colonel General
Colonel General is a senior rank of General. North Korea and Russia are two countries which have used the rank extensively throughout their histories...
Đỗ Bá Tỵ who also holds the position of Vice Minister of Defence.
History and roles
Right after the August RevolutionAugust Revolution
On August 19, 1945, the Việt Minh under Hồ Chí Minh began the August General Uprising Tổng Khởi Nghĩa, which was soon renamed the August Revolution . Whether or not this series of events should be called a "revolution" is disputable; what is clear is that, from August 19 onwards, demonstrations and...
and the foundation of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam on September 2, 1945, the General Staff was established on September 7, 1945. The first Chief of the General Staff was Major General Hoàng Văn Thái
Hoàng Văn Thái
Hoàng Văn Thái , born Hoàng Văn Xiêm, was a Vietnamese communist military and political figure. His hometown was Tây An, Tiền Hải District, Thái Bình Province. During the Tết Offensive, he was the most senior North Vietnamese Officer in South Vietnam...
who held the position from 1945 to 1953. During the existence of the General Headquarters of the Vietnam People's Army (Bộ Tổng tư lệnh Quân đội Nhân dân Việt Nam), which had been the supreme commanding organ of the armed forces from 1946 to 1975, the General Staff was directly under the General Headquarters and acted as staff of the General Headquarters according to the decree No. 47/SL which was issued on May 1, 1947.
After the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, the General Headquarters was dissolved and the General Staff began to operate under the Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (Vietnam)
Ministry of Defence is the governmental ministry of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam that manages, coordinates and supervises military affairs, including all military units, paramilitary units, and similar agencies in the country. The major office of the Ministry of Defence is located within the...
in the position of commanding and managing organization of the Vietnam People's Army
Vietnam People's Army
The Vietnam People's Army is the armed forces of Vietnam. The VPA includes: the Vietnamese People's Ground Forces , the Vietnam People's Navy , the Vietnam People's Air Force, and the Vietnam Marine Police.During the French Indochina War , the VPA was often referred to as the Việt...
, the paramilitary
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
forces, militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
and other activities relating to defence of Vietnam. From 1978, the Chief of Staff was also Deputy Minister of Defence and would take the position of acting minister during the absence of the Mnister of Defence. Following the demise of Senior Lieutenant General Nguyễn Khắc Nghiên, the current Chief of Staff is Lieutenant General Đỗ Bá Tỵ. In 1998, several senior officers of the General Staff, including the Chief of General Staff Đào Trọng Lịch, were killed in an aircraft crash during their visit in Laos
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
.
Structure
The organization of the General Staff consists of:- Bureau of the General Staff (Văn phòng Bộ Tổng tham mưu)
- Department of Politics (Cục Chính trị)
- Department of Operation (Cục Tác chiến)
- Department of Military Forces (Cục Quân lực)
- Department of Electronic Warfare (Cục Tác chiến điện tử)
- Department of Politico-Military Training (Cục Quân huấn). This is also the office responsible for the sport activities of the Army including the operation of the Thể Công football club.
- Department of Cartography (Cục Bản đồ)
- Department of Essential Affairs (Cục Cơ yếu)
- Department of Administrative Management (Cục Quản lý hành chính). This department is equivalent to a logistics body of the General Staff.
- Department of Schools (Cục Nhà trường)
- Department of Civil Defence (Cục Dân quân tự vệ)
Besides, the General Staff also directly manages the operation of the 144th Brigade, which undertakes the military control, two Colleges (Cao đẳng) No. 3 and No. 8, and several other units.
List of Chiefs of Staff
| Time | Chief of Staff | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1945–1953, 1954 | Maj. Gen. Hoàng Văn Thái Hoàng Văn Thái Hoàng Văn Thái , born Hoàng Văn Xiêm, was a Vietnamese communist military and political figure. His hometown was Tây An, Tiền Hải District, Thái Bình Province. During the Tết Offensive, he was the most senior North Vietnamese Officer in South Vietnam... |
Later promoted to General, Deputy Minister of Defence, Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam The Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam established 1930, is the highest authority within the Communist Party of Vietnam elected by the Party National Congresses... . |
| 1953–1954, 1954–1978 | Maj. Gen. Văn Tiến Dũng | Later promoted to full General, Minister of Defence, Member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam The Politburo of the Central Committee Communist Party of Vietnam , formerly the Standing Committee of the Central Committee, includes the top leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam... . |
| 1978–1986 | Lt. Gen. Lê Trọng Tấn Lê Trọng Tấn General Lê Trọng Tấn was an officer of the Vietnam People's Army who held several senior positions of the Army during his military career from 1945 to 1986... |
Later promoted to full General, Deputy Minister of Defence, Member of the Central Committee. |
| 1986–1987 | Gen. Lê Đức Anh | Later elected to President of Vietnam President of Vietnam The President of Vietnam is the head of state of Vietnam, although the functions of the President are often ceremonial... , Member of the Politburo. |
| 1987–1991 | Snr. Lt. Gen. Đoàn Khuê | Later promoted to full General, Minister of Defence, Member of the Politburo. |
| 1991–1995 | Snr. Lt. Gen. Đào Đình Luyện | Held at the same time the position of Deputy Minister of Defence, Member of the Central Committee. |
| 1995–1997 | Lt. Gen. Phạm Văn Trà Pham Van Tra Phạm Văn Trà was Minister of Defense of Vietnam. He was previously Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnamese Army and Vice-Minister of Defense , and a four-star General. He replaced Doan Khue as minister of defense in September 1997.-References:... |
Later promoted to full General, Minister of Defence, Member of the Politburo. |
| 1997–1998 | Lt. Gen. Đào Trọng Lịch | Died in an aircraft crash in 1998. |
| 1998–2001 | Lt. Gen. Lê Văn Dũng | Later promoted to full General, Director of the General Department of Politics, Secretary of the Central Committee. |
| 2001–2006 | Snr. Gen. Phùng Quang Thanh Phùng Quang Thanh Phùng Quang Thanh is currently Vietnam's minister of defense and is ranked as the No. 2 leader in the country's Communist Party."", BaoOnline.vn, January 20, 2011. Includes pictures of the entire leadership. He is an officer of the Vietnam People's Army and a member of the Politburo of the... |
Later promoted to full General, Minister of Defence, Member of the Politburo. |
| 2006–2010 | Snr. Gen. Nguyễn Khắc Nghiên | Member of the Central Committee. |
| 2010–present | Lt. Gen. Đỗ Bá Tỵ | Vice Minister of Defence, Member of the Central Committee |