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

LAW

on Participation in United Nations Peacekeeping Forces^[1]

Pursuant to the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, which has a number of articles amended and supplemented under Resolution No. 203/2025/QH15;

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

Chapter I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of regulation

This Law prescribes the principles, positions, functions, subjects, forms, fields, international cooperation, force building and deployment, assurance of resources, regimes and policies toward and responsibilities of agencies, organizations and individuals joining United Nations peacekeeping forces.

Article 2. Subjects of application

1. Officers, professional army men, defense workers and public employees, non-commissioned officers, soldiers and units of the Ministry of National Defense; officers, professional and technical non-commissioned officers, public security workers, soldiers and units of the Ministry of Public Security, who are appointed to participate in United Nations peacekeeping forces.

2. Cadres, civil servants and public employees who are assigned to participate in United Nations peacekeeping forces.

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

Article 3. Interpretation of terms

In this Law, the terms below are construed as follows:

1. United Nations peacekeeping forces means units and individuals appointed by the United Nations member countries to participate in United Nations peacekeeping operations for the purpose of maintaining and keeping peace and security in countries and regions where conflicts have temporarily ceased under ceasefire agreements or peace agreements to terminate conflicts and build peace, which are conducted under the United Nations Security Council’s resolutions and placed under the direction, management and supervision of the United Nations.

2. United Nations Peacekeeping Mission (below referred to as Mission) means an organization set up under the United Nations Security Council's resolution, with the consent of the host country and related parties, managed and operated by the United Nations with a view to maintaining and keeping peace and security in the country or region where the Mission is deployed.

3. United Nations peacekeeping operations means operations assigned by the United Nations Security Council to Missions deployed in different geographical areas to perform tasks of conflict resolution and peacebuilding, placed under the command of the United Nations.

4. Geographical area means a country or region where United Nations agencies or organizations are based and in which Vietnamese forces participate.

5. New appointment means the appointment of Vietnamese forces to participate in United Nations peacekeeping forces in new positions, new geographical areas or new fields.

6. Rotation or replacement appointment means the assignment of Vietnamese forces to replace Vietnamese personnel performing United Nations peacekeeping tasks at a Mission for regular or irregular terms.

7. Adjustment means a change in the size of forces, the nature of operations or tasks in geographical areas.

8. Working term means the duration of performing peacekeeping tasks in accordance with the regulations of the United Nations.

9. Extension of working term means the prolongation of the duration for performing tasks in geographical areas.

10. Reimbursement means the payment made by the United Nations to the Vietnamese Government for appointing forces to participate in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

11. Urgent cases means unusual and dangerous circumstances caused by nature or human factors, widespread epidemics or security instability beyond the response capacity of the United Nations; situations threatening to cause damage or serious damage to the lives and health of individuals, weapons, technical equipment, technical and operational facilities of Vietnamese forces, or posing risks to the national interests and the position and/or prestige of Vietnam.

Article 4. Principles for participation in United Nations peacekeeping forces

1. Being placed under the absolute, direct and comprehensive leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam; the decisions of the Defense and Security Council; the supreme command of the President and the state management by the Government.

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

3. Ensuring independence, sovereignty, peace, friendship, cooperation and development; conforming to the national interests, conditions and capability of Vietnam; respecting the independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity and non-interference in the internal affairs of other nations; promoting gender equality and protecting human rights.

4. Participating only in operations supporting the remediation of war consequences, maintaining post-conflict peace, and in other humanitarian operations at the request of the United Nations.

5. Deploying forces in countries and/or regions where the United Nations sets up Missions and at United Nations offices, at the request of the United Nations.

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

1. Vietnamese forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations are the forces appointed by the State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to join United Nations peacekeeping forces, aiming to demonstrate Vietnam’s role and responsibility in the international community and contributing to heightening Vietnam’s position and prestige.

2. Vietnamese forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations have the functions of maintaining and protecting regional and world peace, implementing the foreign policy of independence, sovereignty, peace, cooperation and development, multilateralization and diversification of international relations according to the guidelines of the Party and the State.

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

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

a/ To be absolutely loyal to the Communist Party of Vietnam and the State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; to consistently implement the Party’s lines and guidelines; the State’s policies and laws, especially in foreign affairs and international integration, with the objectives of safeguarding the national interests; to comply with the Constitution and  laws of Vietnam, to conform to the United Nations Charter, international law, and treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a contracting party;

b/ To regularly study and train to improve political steadfastness and professional capabilities; to proactively and creatively overcome difficulties and fulfill assigned tasks;

c/ To advise competent authorities on the scope, fields, forms and geographical areas of Vietnam’s participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations; to enhance the capacity for participation in United Nations peacekeeping forces and other relevant fields;

d/ To perform tasks assigned by competent United Nations and Vietnamese authorities under the agreement between Vietnam and the United Nations;

dd/ To heighten Vietnam’s position and prestige, promoting the historical and cultural values and images of the Vietnamese land and people;

e/ To strictly abide by United Nations regulations; to respect the laws, administrations, people and culture, customs and practices of countries and/or regions in which Vietnamese forces participate;

g/ To disseminate the Party’s lines and standpoints and the State’s policies and laws;

h/ To report to competent authorities of Vietnam for decision to refuse tasks that pose risks to safety;

i/ To take responsibility before Vietnam's law and competent authorities for their decisions in performing United Nations peacekeeping tasks;

k/ To use weapons, technical equipment, and technical and operational facilities for the proper purposes; to keep and preserve them according to prescribed regimes and processes, ensuring safety and prevent loss or damage; to hand them over to the responsible people for management after the termination of their working terms.

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

a/ To use weapons, technical equipment, technical and operational facilities in accordance with the provisions of Vietnam's law and the United Nations for the performance of tasks;

b/ Other powers prescribed by Vietnam's law and the United Nations on the basis of agreement between Vietnam and the United Nations.

Article 7. Forms and fields of participation in United Nations peacekeeping forces

1. Participation shall take the following forms:

a/ For individuals: Being specific persons with single titles who meet United Nations standards and are appointed under decisions of competent authorities;

b/ For units: Being organizations that meet United Nations standards and are appointed under decisions of competent authorities.

2. Fields of participation include:

a/ Advisory staff, logistics and engineering;

b/ Sapper, infantry, reconnaissance, guard, transport, military medicine, and military patrol;

c/ Military observers;

d/ Information, liaison and communications;

dd/ Police;

e/ Election observation and supervision;

g/ Policy planning, health care, legislation and other civil areas;

h/ Other fields at the request of the United Nations.

3. Where the United Nations requests other fields as provided at Point h, Clause 2 of this Article, the Defense and Security Council shall decide on matters related to the armed forces, and the Prime Minister shall decide on matters related to the civil forces.

Article 8. The State's policies

1. To build the Vietnamese forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations to meet the requirements of modernity and professionalism and conform with United Nations standards.

2. To create conditions for and mobilize organizations and individuals, encouraging and prioritizing women to participate in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

3. To prioritize the development of human resources, weapons and technical equipment, technical and operational facilities meeting the conditions on performance of tasks in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

4. To apply preferential regimes and policies in training, arrangement, employment, recruitment and selection for individuals who have accomplished their tasks of participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

Article 9. State management of participation in United Nations peacekeeping forces

1. State management contents include:

a/ Promulgating, and organizing the implementation of, legal documents on participation in United Nations peacekeeping forces;

b/ Building and deploying Vietnamese forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations;

c/ Disseminating and providing education on the law on participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations;

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

dd/ Implementing international cooperation on participation in United Nations peacekeeping forces.

2. The Government shall perform the unified state management of participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

3. The Ministry of National Defense shall take responsibility before the Government for performing the state management of participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

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

Article 10. Handling of violations, settlement of disputes and complaints

1. Vietnamese individuals and units violating Vietnam's law, laws of host countries or United Nations regulations while participating in United Nations peacekeeping forces shall be handled under Vietnam's law and the agreement between Vietnam and the United Nations.

2. The settlement of disputes and/or complaints between Vietnamese forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations and the United Nations or third parties during their participation in United Nations peacekeeping forces must comply with the agreement between Vietnam and the United Nations.

Article 11. International cooperation on participation in United Nations peacekeeping forces

1. International cooperation principles:

a/ To comply with Vietnam's law, treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a contracting party and international agreements according to competence, to respect the fundamental principles of international law, ensuring independence, sovereignty and sovereign jurisdiction, protecting the national interests, and lawful rights and interests of agencies, organizations and individuals participating in United Nations peacekeeping forces;

b/ To bring into play internal resources and international support and assistance in performing United Nations peacekeeping tasks.

2. International cooperation contents include:

a/ Training, coaching, further training, practicing, professional exchanges, exercises, and experience sharing in United Nations peacekeeping operations;

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

c/ Other international cooperation contents as prescribed by Vietnam's law and treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a contracting party.

3. International cooperation shall take the following forms:

a/ Bilateral and multilateral cooperation;

b/ Organizing conferences, seminars, training courses, professional exchanges, exercises at home and abroad;

c/ Exchange of delegations, conclusion of treaties and international agreements on cooperation in the field of United Nations peacekeeping;

d/ Other forms of international cooperation on United Nations peacekeeping as prescribed by Vietnam's law and treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a contracting party.

Article 12. Prohibited acts in participation in United Nations peacekeeping forces

1. Taking advantage of, abusing participation in United Nations peacekeeping forces to violate the law, infringe upon the interests of the State, or infringe upon the lawful rights and interests of organizations and individuals.

2. Bribing, inducing, dragging or forcing others to participate in United Nations peacekeeping forces for the purpose of committing illegal acts.

3. Engaging in gender discrimination, sowing division or bias based on ethnicity, race, nationality, belief, religion, educational level or culture in participation in United Nations peacekeeping forces.

4. Spreading and propagating false images or information, disclosing state secret information or confidential lists of the United Nations.

5. Other acts as prescribed by Vietnam's law and United Nations regulations during participation in United Nations peacekeeping forces.

Chapter II

BUILDING AND DIRECTION, COMMAND, MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF VIETNAMESE FORCES PARTICIPATING IN United Nations PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS

Section I

FORCE BUILDING

Article 13. Vietnamese forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations

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

a/ Armed forces, including officers, professional army men, defense workers and public employees, non-commissioned officers, soldiers and units attached to the Ministry of National Defense; officers, professional and technical non-commissioned officers, public security workers, soldiers and units of the Ministry of Public Security, equipped with weapons, technical equipment, technical and operational facilities to perform United Nations peacekeeping tasks;

b/ Civil forces, including cadres, civil servants and public employees equipped with technical operation means to perform United Nations peacekeeping tasks.

2. The Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security shall prescribe the organization, personnel, weapons, technical equipment, and technical and operational facilities of their respective forces for participation in United Nations peacekeeping forces.

3. Ministries, committees, sectors and provincial-level People’s Committees shall prescribe the organization, personnel, and technical and operational facilities for their respective forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping forces.

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

1. Forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations shall be recruited from agencies and units of the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Public Security and other ministries, committees, sectors, and provincial-level People’s Committees.

2. Ministries, committees, sectors and provincial-level People’s Committees shall prescribe recruitment conditions and standards for forces under their respective management, in conformity with United Nations requirements for each recruiting unit and each position.

Article 15.  Training, coaching and further training of Vietnamese forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations

1. Vietnamese forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations shall be trained, coached and further trained in United Nations peacekeeping knowledge; professional operations; coached in pre-deployment under the United Nations programs; foreign languages; gender equality and other skills; and shall participate in United Nations peacekeeping refresher courses at home and abroad.

2. Ministries, committees, sectors, and provincial-level People’s Committees shall prescribe training, coaching and further training programs and their duration for forces under their respective management, in conformity with United Nations requirements.

Article 16. Weapons, technical equipment, technical and operational facilities, uniforms for Vietnamese forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations

1. Weapons, technical equipment and technical and operation facilities supplied by Vietnam at the request of the United Nations and reimbursed by the United Nations under the agreement between Vietnam and the United Nations during their use.

2. Equipment supplied by the United Nations.

3. Equipment and supplies ensured by Vietnam to support task performance.

4. Uniforms of Vietnamese forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations must conform to Vietnam’s regulations and comply with the United Nations regulations. The Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security shall prescribe uniforms for the forces under their respective management.

5. The Government shall prescribe identification markings for weapons, technical equipment and technical and operational facilities of Vietnamese forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations in designated geographical areas.

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

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

Section 2

DIRECTION, COMMAND, MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION

Article 18. Direction, command, management and operation of Vietnamese forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations

1. The Government shall perform the unified direction of Vietnamese forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

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

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

4. Ministries, committees, sectors, and provincial-level People’s Committees shall direct, manage and operate their respective civil forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

Article 19. Command of Vietnamese forces at Missions

1. Vietnamese forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations at each Mission shall be placed under a chief commander.

2. The Government shall prescribe the competence for appointing chief commanders of Vietnamese forces at Missions, as well as their tasks and powers.

Chapter III

COMPETENCE FOR AND PROCESS OF APPOINTMENT, ADJUSTMENT, EXTENSION OF WORKING TERMS, AND WITHDRAWAL OF FORCES

Section 1

COMPETENCE FOR AND PROCESS OF APPOINTMENT, ADJUSTMENT, EXTENSION OF WORKING TERMS, AND WITHDRAWAL OF ARMED FORCES

Article 20. Competence to decide on the appointment, adjustment, extension of working terms, and withdrawal of armed forces

1. The Defense and Security Council shall decide on the appointment, adjustment, extension of working terms, and with drawal of armed forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

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

a/ Withdrawing forces under their respective management that are being deployed in specific geographical areas back to Vietnam in urgent cases;

b/ Extending the working terms of forces under their respective management that are deployed to perform United Nations peacekeeping tasks.

Article 21. Process of new appointment, adjustment, extension of working terms, and force withdrawal

1. The process of new appointment, adjustment, and withdrawal of armed forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations falling under the competence of the Defense and Security Council is prescribed as follows:

a/ The Ministry of National Defense shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security in, reporting to the Government for submission to the Defense and Security Council for decision the policy on the new appointment, adjustment, and withdrawal of armed forces;

b/ Based on decisions of the Defense and Security Council, the Ministry of National Defense shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security in, reporting to the Government for proposing the President-Chairperson of the Defense and Security Council to issue decisions on new appointment, adjustment, or withdrawal of armed forces;

c/ Based on decisions of the President-Chairperson of the Defense and Security Council, the Minister of National Defense and the Minister of Public Security shall decide on specific forces within their respective competence.

2. The process of force withdrawal in urgent cases, extension of working terms is prescribed as follows:

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

b/ In case of withdrawal of all Vietnamese forces at a Mission, the Minister of the ministry managing the chief commander of Vietnamese forces at that Mission shall reach agreement with heads of the relevant ministries, committees, sectors or provincial-level People’s Committees on the decision on force withdrawal, and report thereon to competent authorities according to regulations;

c/ The Minister of National Defense and the Minister of Public Security shall decide on the extension of working terms of their respective forces and report thereon to the Defense and Security Council.

3. The Government shall detail this Article.

Article 22. Process of rotation and replacement appointments

1. Annually, the Ministry of National Defense shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security in, reporting to the Government for submission to the Defense and Security Council plans on rotation and replacement appointments.

2. Based on decisions of the Defense and Security Council, the Ministry of National Defense shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security in, reporting to the Government for submission to the President-Chairperson of the Defense and Security Council to issue decisions on rotation and replacement appointments.

3. Based on decisions of the President-Chairperson of the Defense and Security Council, the Minister of National Defense and the Minister of Public Security shall decide according to their respective competence on specific forces for each rotation and replacement.

4. The Government shall detail Clauses 1 and 2 of this Article.

Section 2

COMPETENCE FOR AND PROCESS OF NEW APPOINTMENT, ROTATION AND REPLACEMENT APPOINTMENT, ADJUSTMENT, EXTENSION OF WORKING TERMS, AND WITHDRAWAL OF CIVIL FORCES

Article 23. Competence to decide on new appointment, rotation and replacement appointment, adjustment, extension of working terms, withdrawal of civil forces

1. The Prime Minister shall decide on the new appointment, rotation and replacement appointment, adjustment, and withdrawal of civil forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

2. Heads of ministries, committees, sectors, and provincial-level People’s Committees shall decide on the extension of working terms and withdrawal of civil forces under their respective management back home in urgent cases.

Article 24. Process of new appointment, rotation and replacement appointment, adjustment, extension of working terms, and withdrawal of civil forces

1. Ministries, committees, sectors 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 on new appointment, rotation and replacement appointment, adjustment, and withdrawal of civil forces.

2. Based on decisions of the Prime Minister, heads of ministries, committees, sectors, and provincial-level People’s Committees shall decide on specific forces under their respective management.

3. Heads of ministries, committees, sectors, and provincial-level People’s Committees shall decide on the extension of working terms of their respective forces and report thereon to the Prime Minister.

4. The process of force withdrawal in urgent cases is prescribed as follows:

a/ Heads of ministries, committees, sectors or provincial-level People’s Committees shall decide on the withdrawal of their respective forces and report thereon to the Prime Minister;

b/ In case of withdrawal of all Vietnamese forces at a Mission, the provisions at Point b, Clause 2, Article 21 shall apply.

5. The Government shall detail this Article.

Chapter IV

FUNDS FOR IMPLEMENTATION AND REGIMES AND POLICIES

Article 25. Funds for implementation

1. The state budget and other lawful funding sources shall ensure the participation in United Nations peacekeeping forces, cover compensation for damage caused to the United Nations or third parties due to faults of Vietnamese forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

The Government shall decide on the use of the state budget and other lawful funding sources for compensation specified in this Clause.

2. Reimbursements from the United Nations shall be remitted into the state budget and managed and used in accordance with law, with priority given to building the forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

Article 26. Regimes and policies

1. Vietnamese forces participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations are entitled to salary and allowance regimes and other preferential regimes and policies as prescribed by Vietnam's law and provided by the United Nations during the period of task performance overseas; during the period of coaching, training and further training, and upon their return home after completing their tasks, they are entitled to preferential regimes and policies as prescribed by the Government.

2. While participating in United Nations peacekeeping forces, individuals and units with achievements in task performance shall be commended in accordance with Vietnam's law and the United Nations regulations.

3. Individuals who fall sick, are wounded, have accidents, make sacrifices or die while performing tasks of participating in United Nations peacekeeping forces shall themselves or their relatives enjoy regimes and policies as prescribed by Vietnam's law and provided by the United Nations.

4. The regimes and policies on social insurance and health insurance must comply with Vietnam's law.

5. The Government shall detail this Article.

Chapter V

IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS

Article 27. Effect

1. This Law takes effect on January 1, 2026.

2. The National Assembly’s Resolution No. 130/2020/QH14 of November 13, 2020, on participation in United Nations peacekeeping forces, ceases to be effective on the date this Law takes effect.-

This Law was passed on June 26, 2025, by the 15^th National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam at its 9^th session.

Chairman of the National Assembly
TRAN THANH MAN