On March 2, according to the Ministry of National Defense's Electronic Information Portal, the Ministry of National Defense issued Circular No. 15/2026/TT-BQP regulating the order and procedures for licensing foreign military ships to come to Vietnam and Vietnamese military ships to go abroad; entry, exit, and port transfer procedures for foreign military ships to Vietnam; content and scope of protection of security enterprises hired to protect foreign military ships to come to Vietnam for repair. This Circular takes effect from February 12, 2026.
This Circular applies to foreign military ships coming to Vietnam; Vietnamese military ships going abroad and members on board; agencies, units, organizations, and individuals related to licensing foreign military ships to come to Vietnam and Vietnamese military ships going abroad; entry, exit, port transfer procedures for foreign military ships coming to Vietnam and foreign military ship protection services coming to Vietnam for repair.
Article 3 of the Circular stipulates the order and procedures for licensing foreign military ships to enter Vietnam.
According to Clause 1, Article 3, the functional agency of the country sends a military ship to send an official Diplomatic Note and Declaration according to Form No. 01 Appendix issued together with this Circular to the Ministry of National Defense of Vietnam or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Vietnamese diplomatic mission abroad requesting permission for military ships to enter Vietnam 60 days before the ship is scheduled to enter Vietnamese territorial waters.
In case the functional agency of the country sends a ship to Vietnam to send an official Diplomatic Note or Declaration to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Diplomatic Representative Office of Vietnam abroad, no later than 03 working days from the date of receipt of the Diplomatic Note or Declaration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Diplomatic Representative Office of Vietnam abroad transfers it to the Ministry of National Defense.
After receiving the Official Note specified in Clause 1 of this Article, the Ministry of National Defense shall seek opinions from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Construction, relevant ministries and sectors and the Provincial People's Committee where the ship arrives.
Within 40 days from the date of receiving the Official Diplomatic Note, the Ministry of National Defense shall issue a written response to the functional agency of the country whose military ship arrives in Vietnam through diplomatic channels.
Within 02 working days from the date of licensing or refusal of licensing, the Ministry of National Defense shall issue a written notice to relevant ministries, branches and provincial People's Committees where the ship arrives regarding the licensing or refusal of licensing for foreign military ships to enter Vietnam.
In case of amending or supplementing the content that has been licensed, the Ministry of National Defense shall exchange and agree with the functional agency of the country to send military ships to Vietnam through diplomatic channels and notify relevant ministries, branches, and provincial-level People's Committees where the ships arrive.
