Pursuant to the Ministry of National Defense's Plan to implement Decree No. 234/2025/ND-CP of the Government regulating foreign military ships to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and military ships of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to go abroad;
The Border Guard Command shall preside over and coordinate with relevant agencies and units to study and draft a Circular regulating the procedures for granting licenses to foreign military ships to Vietnam and Vietnamese military ships to foreign countries;
Procedures for entry, exit, and port change for foreign military ships to Vietnam; content and scope of protection of enterprises hired to protect foreign military ships to Vietnam for repair.
Article 3 stipulates the procedures for granting licenses to foreign military vessels coming to Vietnam:
The competent authority of the country sending the military ship shall send an official notice to the Ministry of National Defense of Vietnam or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Vietnamese diplomatic representative office abroad about the plan to send the military ship to Vietnam 60 days in advance, from the date the ship is expected to enter Vietnam's territory.
Within 40 working days from the date of receipt of the official notice, the Ministry of National Defense shall issue a document responding to the competent authorities of countries with military ships coming to Vietnam via diplomatic route.
Before granting the license, the Ministry of National Defense would seek opinions from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Construction, relevant ministries, branches, and the People's Committees of the provinces where the ship arrived.
Within 2 working days from the date of granting the license or refusing to grant the license, the Ministry of National Defense shall issue a document notifying relevant ministries, branches, and the People's Committees of the provinces where the ship is coming about granting a license or refusing to grant a license to foreign military ships to Vietnam.
In case of amending or supplementing the licensed content, the Ministry of National Defense shall discuss and agree with the country with military vessels via diplomatic route. Agencies advising the Ministry of National Defense to grant licenses or refuse to grant licenses for foreign military vessels to Vietnam.
Ministry of National Defense Office:
Advising the Ministry of National Defense to collect opinions, notify the results of licensing, amend and supplement the licensed content for foreign military vessels to Vietnam to ministries, branches, and provincial People's Committees as prescribed in Clause 3 of this Article;
Department of Foreign Affairs/Ministry of National Defense:
Receive official notices from countries sending military ships to Vietnam; collect opinions from relevant agencies and units under the Ministry of National Defense on licensing or refusing to grant licenses to foreign military ships to Vietnam; compile, report and advise the Ministry of National Defense to grant licenses to foreign military ships to Vietnam;
Sending a notice to the competent authority of the country sending the military ship about the licensing or refusal to grant a license, amending or supplementing the licensed content for foreign military ships to Vietnam.
