Viet Nam's Law on participation in United Nations peacekeeping force

LAW

ON PARTICIPATION IN UNITED NATIONS PEACEKEEPING FORCES

Pursuant to the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam amended and supplemented in the Resolution No. 203/2025/QH15;

The National Assembly promulgates the Law on Participation in United Nations Peacekeeping Force.

CHAPTER I

GENERAL REGULATIONS

Article 1. Scope of application

This Law provides for the principles, positions, functions, subjects, methods, fields, international cooperation, formulation, deployment of peacekeeping forces, resource assurance, policies, and responsibilities of authorities, organizations, and individuals in participating in United Nations peacekeeping force.

Article 2. Applicable subjects

1. Military officers, professional servicemen and women, defense workers and employees, non-commissioned officers, soldiers and units under the Ministry of National Defense; officers, non-commissioned officers, public security workers, policemen and units under the Ministry of Public Security that are deployed to participate in the United Nations peacekeeping force.

2. Cadres, civil servants, and public employees are deployed to participate in United Nations peacekeeping force.

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

Article 3. Explanation of terms

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

1. United Nations peacekeeping force means units and individuals deployed by the member States of the United Nations to participate in United Nations peacekeeping operations to maintain and keep peace and security in a country or a region where conflict has temporarily ceased, there is a ceasefire or a peace agreement on ending the conflict and building peace. These operations shall be carried out in accordance with a resolution of the United Nations Security Council and placed under the direction, management and supervision of the United Nations.

2. United Nations peacekeeping mission (hereafter referred to as mission) is an organization established in accordance with a resolution of the United Nations Security Council, with the consent of the authorities of the host country and relevant parties. The mission shall be managed and directed by the United Nations to maintain and keep peace and security in a country or a region where a mission is deployed.

3. United Nations peacekeeping operations means activities carried out by missions under the command of the United Nations.

4. Deployment area means a country or region where the office or organization of the United Nations with the participation of Vietnamese force is located.

5. New appointment means deployment of Vietnamese force to participate in United Nations peacekeeping operations in at a new position, new area, or new field.

6. Rotational and replacement deployment mean dispatching Vietnamese force to replace Vietnamese peacekeepers who are undertaking the United Nations peacekeeping tasks in a recipient country, on a periodical or ad hoc basis.

7. Adjustment means changing the scale of forces, the nature of activities, and tasks in the area of operations.

8. Working term means the period to conduct peacekeeping tasks as stipulated by the United Nations.

9. Extension of working term means extending the time for performing duties in the area of operations.

10. Reimbursement means the funds paid by the United Nations to the Government of Viet Nam for dispatching forces to participate in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

11. Emergency situation means an abnormal and dangerous situation caused by the natural disasters, human factors, widespread pandemics in the area of operations, security instability beyond the United Nations' response capacity; or a situation of instability that threatens or causes serious damage to the life and health of individuals, weapons, technical equipment, and operational technical means of the Vietnamese peacekeeping forces, or pose a risk of affecting national and ethnic interests, position and prestige of Viet Nam.

Article 4. Principles for participating in United Nations peacekeeping forces

1. Placed under the absolute, direct and comprehensive leadership of the Communist Party of Viet Nam; decisions of the National Defense and Security Council; supreme command of the State President and state management by the Government.

2. Comply with the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam; consistent with the United Nations Charter, international law, and international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam is a signatory.

3. Ensure independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development; consistent with national interests, conditions and capabilities of Viet Nam; respect independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries; promote gender equality and protect human rights.

4. Participate only in activities supporting post-war recovery, maintaining post-conflict peace, and other humanitarian activities at the request of the United Nations.

5. Deploy peacekeeping forces to countries or regions where the United Nations has already established missions and the United Nations agencies, at the request of the United Nations.

Article 5. Positions and functions of Vietnamese forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations

1. The Vietnamese forces participating in the United Nations peacekeeping operations shall be the forces dispatched by the State of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam to participate in the United Nations peacekeeping forces with an aim to demonstrate Viet Nam's role and responsibility in the international community, contributing to enhancing Viet Nam's position and prestige.

2. Vietnamese force participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations shall have the function of maintaining, protecting regional and international peace, implementing the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development, diversification and multilateralization of international relations in accordance with the guidelines of the Party and the State.

Article 6. Duties, responsibilities, and powers of Vietnamese forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations

1. Vietnamese forces participating in the United Nations peacekeeping operations shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

a) Absolutely loyal to the Communist Party of Viet Nam, the State of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam; consistently carry out the guidelines of the Party; policies and laws of the State, especially those on diplomacy and international integration with a goal to protect national interests; comply with the Constitution and laws of Viet Nam, consistent with the United Nations Charter, international law, and international treaties to which Viet Nam is a signatory.

b) Continuously study and train to enhance political mettle and professional capabilities; proactively and creatively overcome difficulties and complete assigned tasks;

c) Advise the competent authorities on the scale, fields, forms and areas of Viet Nam's participation in the United Nations peacekeeping operations; enhance the capacity for participating in the United Nations peacekeeping operations and other related fields;

d) Carry out tasks assigned by the United Nations' competent agencies and tasks enshrined in the agreement signed between Viet Nam and the United Nations;

dd) Enhance Viet Nam's position and prestige, promote historical and cultural values, images of the country and people of Viet Nam;

e) Strictly comply with the United Nations regulations; respect laws, authorities, people, culture, customs, and practices of the country or region where Vietnamese forces are deployed;

g) Disseminate the guidelines of the Party, policies and laws of the State of Viet Nam;

h) Report to the competent authorities of Viet Nam to make decisions on refusing tasks when there is a risk to safety.

i) Bear responsibility before Vietnamese laws and competent authorities for the decisions while performing United Nations peacekeeping operations;

k) Use weapons, technical equipment and operational technical means for their intended purposes; maintain and preserve them in accordance with prescribed regulations to prevent loss and damage; and hand them to responsible persons upon completion of working term.

2. Vietnamese forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations shall have the following rights:

a) Use weapons, technical equipment and operational technical means in accordance with the regulations of Viet Nam and the United Nations to carry out their duties;

b) Other powers as prescribed by the laws of Viet Nam and the United Nations as mutually agreed by Viet Nam and the United Nations.

Article 7. Forms and fields for participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations

1. Forms of participations shall include:

a) Individuals: Specific persons meeting the United Nations standards and norms, dispatched by the competent authorities to participate in the United Nations peacekeeping operations.

b) Units: Organizations meeting the United Nations standards and norms, dispatched by the competent authorities to participate in the United Nations peacekeeping operations.

2. Fields of participation shall include:

a) Advisory, logistics, technical support

b) Combat engineering, infantry, reconnaisance, security, transportation, military medicine, military control;

c) Military observers;

d) Information, communication, and media;

dd) Police;

e) Election observation and supervision;

g) Planning for policies, health, laws, and other civilian fields

h) Other fields as requested by the United Nations.

3. In case the United Nations requests for other fields as prescribed in Point h of 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 policies

1. Build Vietnamese forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations to meet the requirements of modernity, professionism, and compatibility with the standards of the United Nations.

2. Create favorable conditions for, mobilize organizations and individuals, encourage and give priority to women's participation in the United Nations peacekeeping operations.

3. Give priority to the development of human resources, weapons and equipment, and professional technical means meeting the requirements of the United Nations peacekeeping operations.

4. Apply preferential policies for training, using, recruiting, and selecting those who have completed tasks of the United Nations peacekeeping operations.

Article 9. State management of forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations

1. Contents of State management shall include:

a) Issuing and organizing the implementation of legal documents on participation in the United Nations peacekeeping forces;

b) Building and deploying Vietnamese forces to participate in the United Nations peacekeeping operations;

c) Disseminating and educating on laws on participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations;

d) Managing, commanding, directing, operating Vietnamese forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations;

dd) International cooperation in participation in the United Nations peacekeeping forces.

2. The Government shall exercise uniform State management of participation in United Nations peackeeping operations.

3. The Ministry of National Defense shall take the lead and be responsible to the Government for State management of the participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

4. The Government shall eleborate the responsibilities of ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and provincial-level People's Committees for participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

Article 10. Handling violations, resolving disputes and complaints

1. Vietnamese individuals or units violating laws of Viet Nam and the host country and regulations of the United Nations while participating United Nations peacekeeping forces shall be handled in accordance with Vietnamese law, and the agreement between Viet Nam and the United Nations.

2. The resolution of disputes and complaints between Vietnamese forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations and the United Nations or third parties during their participation in the United Nations peacekeeping forces shall be carried out in accordance with the agreement between Viet Nam and the United Nations.

Article 11. International cooperation regarding participation in United Nations peacekeeping force

1. Principles for international cooperation shall include:

a) Compliance with Vietnamese law, international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam is a signatory, and international agreements; respect for the fundamental principles of international laws; ensuring independence, sovereignty, sovereign rights; protecting national and ethnic interests, legitimate rights and interests of agencies, organizations, and individuals participating in United Nations peacekeeping force;

b) Promoting internal strengths, and support and assistance of the international community in implementing United Nations peacekeeping duties.

2. Contents of international cooperation shall include:

a) Training, drills, exchange of expertise, exercises, and sharing of experience sharing in United Nations peacekeeping operations;

b) Aid for investment, infrastructure construction, equipment, vehicles and other resources for Vietnamese forces participating in the United Nations peacekeeping operations;

c) Other contents of international cooperation as prescrbied by Vietnamese laws and international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam is a signatory.

3. Forms of international cooperation shall include:

a) Bilateral and multilateral cooperation;

b) Conferences, seminars, training courses, exchanges, professional exchanges, drills in Viet Nam and abroad;

c) Delegation exchanges, signing of international treaties and agreements on cooperation in the field of United Nations peacekeeping;

d) Other forms of international cooperation on United Nations peacekeeping as prescribed by Vietnamese law and international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam is a signatory.

Article 12. Prohibited acts in participation in the United Nations peacekeeping force

1. Abusing or misusing participation in United Nations peacekeeping force to violate the law, infringe upon the interests of the State, rights and legitimate interests of orgnanizations and individuals.

2. Bribing, enticing, inciting or coercing individuals participating in United Nations peacekeeping force to commit illegal acts.

3. Gender discrimination, segregation, and prejudice based on ethnicity, race, nationality, belief, religion, education level, or culture in participation in United Nations peacekeeping force.

4. Disseminating or propagating distorted images or information, disclosing State's secrets or secrecy lists of the United Nations.

5. Other acts as prescribed by Vietnamese law and regulations of the United Nations during participating in the United Nations peacekeeping force.

CHAPTER II 

BUILDING, DIRECTING, COMMANDING, MANAGING, AND OPERATING VIETNAMESE FORCES PARTICIPATING IN UNITED NATIONS PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS

Article 13. Vietnamese forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations

1. Vietnamese forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations shall include:

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

b) Civilian forces, comprising: Cadres, civil servants, public employees equipped with technical equipment to implement the United Nations peacekeeping tasks.

2. The Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Public Security shall specify the organization, staffing, weapons and technical equipment, and operational technical means for their forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping force.

3. Ministries, central commissions, and provincial-level People's Committees shall specify the organization, staffing, operational technical means for their forces participating inUnited Nations peacekeeping force.

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, central commissions and agencies and provincial-level People's Committees.

2. Ministries, central commissions and agencies, and provincial-lelvel People's Committees shall specify conditions and standards for selecting forces under their management authority, meeting the requirements of the United Nations for each position and unit.

Article 15. Training Vietnamese forces to participate in United Nations peacekeeping operations

1. Vietnamese forces participating in the United Nations peacekeeping operations shall be trained for United Nations peacekeeping knowledge; professional expertise; pre-deployment training according to the United Nations programs; foreign languages; gender equality and other skills. They shall also participate in training courses both domestically and abroad.

2. Ministries, central commissions and agencies, and provincial-level People's Committees shall regulate programs and training duration for forces under their management authority to the requirements of the United Nations.

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

1. Weapons, technical equipment, professional technical means shall be provided by Viet Nam in accordance with the United Nations requirements, and reimbursed by the United Nations according to agreements between Viet Nam and the United Nations during their use.

2. Equipment provided by the United Nations.

3. Equipment and supplies provided by Viet Nam to support mission implementation.

4. Uniforms of Vietnamese forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations shall comply with the regulations of Viet Nam and the United Nations. The Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security shall specify uniforms for forces under their respective management.

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

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

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

Article 18. Directing, commanding, managing, and operating Vietnamese forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations

1. The Government shall exercise unified direction over Vietnamese forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

2. The Ministry of National Defense shall direct, command, manage, and operate the forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations under its management.

3. The Ministry of Public Security shall direct, command, manage and operate the forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations under its management.

4. Ministries, central commissions and agencies, and provincial-level People's Committee shall direct, manage and operate civilian forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations under their management.

Article 19. Commanding Vietnamese forces at the mission

1. Vietnamese forces participating in the United Nations peacekeeping operations at each mission shall have one commander-in-chief.

2. The Government shall prescribe the authority for appointment, tasks and powers of the commander-in-chief of Vietnamese forces at the mission.

CHAPTER III

AUTHORITY AND PROCEDURES FOR DISPATCH, ADJUSTMEN, EXTENSION OF WORKING TERM, AND WITHDRAWAL OF ARMED FORCES

Article 20. Authority for deciding dispatch, adjustment, extension of working term, withdrawal of armed forces

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

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

a) Withdraw their forces being deployed in the field and return them to the homeland in emergency cases

b) Extend working term for their forces currently deployed to carry out United Nations peacekeeping operations.

Article 21. Procedures for new deployment, adjustment, extension of working term, and withdrawal of forces

1. The procedures for new dispatch, adjustment, and withdrawal of armed forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations under the decision-making authority of the National Defense and Security Council shall be prescribed as follows:

a) The Ministry of National Defense shall take prime responsibility and coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security in reporting to the Government for submission to the National Defense and Security Council to decide on the policy for 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 shall take prime responsibility and coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security to report to the Government for submission to the State President, who is also the Chairperson of the National Defense and Security Council, for issuance of a decision on new appointment, adjustment, and withdrawal of armed forces;

c) Based on the decisions of the State President – Chairperson of the National Defense and Security Council, the Minister of National Defense, the Minister of Public Security shall decide on specific forces.

2. Procedure for withdrawal of forces in emergency cases, and for extension of working term shall be prescribed out as follows:

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

b) In case of withdrawing all Vietnamese forces at a Mission, the lead minister, who appoints the commander-in-chief of Vietnamese forces at the Mission, shall reach an agreement with heads of related ministries, central commissions, agencies and provincial People's Committees to decide on the withdrawal of forces and report to the competent authorities as prescribed by law;

c) The Minister of National Defense, the Minister of Public Security shall decide on the extenstion of working term for forces under their respective management and report to the National Defense and Security Council.

3. The Government shall elaborate this Article.

Article 22. Procedures for rotational deployment and replacement

1. On annual basis, the Ministry of National Defense shall take prime responsibility and coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security to report to the Government for submission to the National Defense and Security Council on the plan for rotational and replacement deployment of forces.

2. Based on the decision of the National Defense and Security Council, the Ministry of National Defense shall take prime responsibility and coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security to report to the Government for submission to the State President – Chairperson of the National Defense and Security Council to issue a decision on rotational and replacement deployment of forces.

3. Based on the decision of the State President – Chairperson of the National Defense and Security Council, the Minister of National Defense, and the Minister of Public Security shall decide on specific forces for each rotation and replacement phase.

4. The Government shall elaborate Point 1 and Point 2 of this Law.

Article 23. Authority for deciding new deployment, rotational deployment, replacement, adjustment, extension of working term, and withdrawal of civilian forces

1. The Prime Minister shall decide on new deployment, rotational deployment, replacement, adjustment, and withdrawal of civilian forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

2. Heads of ministries, central commissions and agencies, and provincial-level People's Committees shall decide on the extension of working term, and withdrawal of civilian forces under their respective management in emergency cases.

Article 24. Procedures for new deployment, rotational deployment, replacement, adjustment, extension of working term, and withdrawal of civilian forces

1. Ministries, central commissions and agencies and provincial-level People's Committees shall coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense in preparing dossiers and reporting to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision for new deployment, rotational deployment, replacement, adjustment and withdrawal of civilian forces.

2. Based on the Prime Minister's decisions, heads of ministries, central commissions or agencies, or provincial-level People's Committees shall decide on specific forces under their respective management.

3. Heads of ministries, central commissions or agencies, and provincial-level People's Committees shall decide on the extension of the working term for forces under their respective management and report to the Prime Minister.

4. Procedure for withdrawal of forces in emergency cases shall be carried out as follows:

a) Heads of ministries, central commissions and agencies and provincial-level People's Committees shall decide to withdraw forces under their management and report to the Prime Minister.

b) In case of witdrawing all Vietnamese forces from a Mission, Point b, Clause 2 of Article 21 shall apply.

5. The Government shall elaborate this Article.

CHAPTER IV

FUNDING ASSURANCE

Article 25. Funding

1. State budget and other lawful funding resources shall be used to ensure the participation in United Nations peacekeeping force, compensation for damage to the United Nations or third parties caused by Vietnamese forces participating in the United Nations peacekeeping operations.

The Government shall decide on the use of State budget and other lawful funding resources to compensate for damages specified in this Clause.

2. Compensation by the United Nations shall be included in the State budget, managed and used in accordance with legal regulations, giving priority to building forces to participate in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

Article 26. Preferential policies

1. Vietnamese peacekeepers participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations abroad shall receive salary and allowances, and other incentives as prescribed by Viet Nam's law and the United Nations regulations; during the time of training and after completing peacekeeping tasks and returning to homeland, they shall be entitled to preferential regimes and policies as regulated by the Government.

2. Individuals and units with achievements while performing United Nations peacekeeping duties shall be rewarded in accordance with Vietnamese law and the regulations of the United Nations.

3. If an individual is sick, injured, or suffers accident, or passes away while performing United Nations peacekeeping duties, he and his shall be entitled to preferential policies in accordance with Viet Nam's law and the regulations of the United Nations.

4. Regimes and policies on social insurance and healthcare insurance shall be implemented in accordance with Viet Nam's law.

5. The Government shall elaborate this Article.

CHAPTER V

TERMS OF IMPLEMENTATION

Article 27. Enforcement

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 the United Nations peacekeeping forces shall expire since the effective date of this Law.

This Law was adopted by the 15^th National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, on June 26, 2025 at its 9^th working session./.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

CHAIRMAN

Tran Thanh Man