Vietnamese military ranks and insignia
Vietnamese military ranks and insignia are specified by the National Assembly of Vietnam through Law on Vietnam People's Army Officer (No: 6-LCT/HĐNN7) on 30 December 1981.[1][2]
The Vietnam People's Army distinguishes three careerpaths: Officers (sĩ quan), non-commissioned officers (hạ sĩ quan), and enlisted members (chiến sĩ).
Because the shoulder insignia of all ranks are represented by an elongated pentagonal epaulette, they are, hence, either detailed or colour-coded to indicate rank, branch, as well as unit.
The shoulder epaulettes from those of enlisted soldiers to field officers are detailed with a silver crest with an encircled silver star. Those of generals and admirals have fully golden epaulettes with corresponding golden crests and encircled stars.
Ranks can show information about branches of military personnel.
Hem Colour of the ranks can show branches:
- Army (ground forces): red
- Air Force/ Air defence: azure
- Navy: dark-purple
- Border Defence: green
- Coast Guard: blue.
Army-Air Force-Navy ranks have background are yellow.
Border Defense Force's ranks have background is dark-green and hem colour is red.
Coast Guard's ranks have background is blue and hem colour is yellow.
Table of ranks
Officers
The rank insignia for commissioned officers for the army, navy, air force, border guard and marine police respectively.
| Equivalent NATO code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | OF(D) and student officer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 (Edit) |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| General of the Army (Đại tướng) |
Colonel general (Thượng tướng) |
Lieutenant General (Trung tướng) |
Major General (Thiếu tướng) |
Brigadier (Đại tá) |
Colonel (Thượng tá) |
Lieutenant Colonel (Trung tá) |
Major (Thiếu tá) |
Captain (Đại úy) |
First Lieutenant (Thượng úy) |
Lieutenant (Trung úy) |
Junior Lieutenant (Thiếu úy) |
Aspirant (Chuẩn úy) |
Officer Cadet (Học viên Sĩ quan) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 (Edit) |
No equivalent |  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Admiral (Đô đốc) |
Vice Admiral (Phó Đô đốc) |
Rear Admiral (Chuẩn Đô đốc) |
Commodore (Đại tá) |
Captain (Thượng tá) |
Commander (Trung tá) |
Lieutenant Commander (Thiếu tá) |
Lieutenant (Đại úy) |
Sub-lieutenant (Thượng úy) |
Lieutenant junior grade (Trung úy) |
Ensign (Thiếu úy) |
Aspirant (Chuẩn úy) |
Officer Cadet (Học viên Sĩ quan) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Edit) |
No equivalent |  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Colonel general (Thượng tướng) |
Lieutenant General (Trung tướng) |
Major General (Thiếu tướng) |
Brigadier (Đại tá) |
Colonel (Thượng tá) |
Lieutenant Colonel (Trung tá) |
Major (Thiếu tá) |
Captain (Đại úy) |
First Lieutenant (Thượng úy) |
Lieutenant (Trung úy) |
Junior Lieutenant (Thiếu úy) |
Aspirant (Chuẩn úy) |
Officer Cadet (Học viên Sĩ quan) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
No equivalent |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lieutenant General (Trung tướng) |
Major General (Thiếu tướng) |
Brigadier (Đại tá) |
Colonel (Thượng tá) |
Lieutenant Colonel (Trung tá) |
Major (Thiếu tá) |
Captain (Đại úy) |
First Lieutenant (Thượng úy) |
Lieutenant (Trung úy) |
Junior Lieutenant (Thiếu úy) |
Aspirant (Chuẩn úy) |
Officer Cadet (Học viên Sĩ quan) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
No equivalent |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lieutenant General (Trung tướng) |
Major General (Thiếu tướng) |
Brigadier (Đại tá) |
Colonel (Thượng tá) |
Lieutenant Colonel (Trung tá) |
Major (Thiếu tá) |
Captain (Đại úy) |
First Lieutenant (Thượng úy) |
Lieutenant (Trung úy) |
Junior Lieutenant (Thiếu úy) |
Aspirant (Chuẩn úy) |
Officer Cadet (Học viên Sĩ quan) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equivalent NATO code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | OF(D) and student officer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Enlisted
The rank insignia for enlisted for the army, navy, air force, border guard and marine police respectively.
| Equivalent NATO Code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
(Edit) |
No equivalent |  |
No equivalent |
 |
No equivalent |  |
 |
 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sergeant Major Thượng sĩ |
Sergeant Trung sĩ |
Corporal Hạ sĩ |
Private First Class Binh nhất |
Private Binh nhì | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Edit) |
No equivalent |  |
No equivalent |
 |
No equivalent |  |
 |
 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chief petty officer Thượng sĩ |
Petty officer 1st class Trung sĩ |
Petty officer 2nd class Hạ sĩ |
Leading Seaman Binh nhất |
Seaman Binh nhì | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Edit) |
No equivalent |  |
No equivalent |
 |
No equivalent |  |
 |
 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sergeant Major Thượng sĩ |
Sergeant Trung sĩ |
Corporal Hạ sĩ |
Leading Aircraftman Binh nhất |
Aircraftman Binh nhì | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
No equivalent |  |
No equivalent |
 |
No equivalent |  |
 |
 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sergeant Major Thượng sĩ |
Sergeant Trung sĩ |
Corporal Hạ sĩ |
Private First Class Binh nhất |
Private Binh nhì | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
No equivalent |  |
No equivalent |
 |
No equivalent |  |
 |
 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sergeant Major Thượng sĩ |
Sergeant Trung sĩ |
Corporal Hạ sĩ |
Leading seaman Binh nhất |
Seaman Binh nhì | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equivalent NATO Code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lapels
| Level | Ground Forces | Air Force | Navy | Border Defence | Coast Guard (Marine Police) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 | |
| General Officers |  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Field Grade Officers Company Grade Officers |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |