Vietnamese military ranks and insignia
Encyclopedia
The Vietnam People's Army
distinguishes three careerpaths: Officer
s (sĩ quan), non-commissioned officer
s (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 ercircled silver star. Those of generals and admirals have fully golden epaulettes with corresponding golden crests and encircled stars.
Navy Forces
hạ sĩ quan (non-commissioned officers):
chiến sĩ ("combatants" or enlisted ranks):
Vietnam People's Army
The Vietnam People's Army is the armed forces of Vietnam. The VPA includes: the Vietnamese People's Ground Forces , the Vietnam People's Navy , the Vietnam People's Air Force, and the Vietnam Marine Police.During the French Indochina War , the VPA was often referred to as the Việt...
distinguishes three careerpaths: Officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
s (sĩ quan), non-commissioned officer
Non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...
s (hạ sĩ quan), and enlisted members (chiến sĩ).
Because the shoulder insignia of all ranks are represented by an elongated pentagonal epaulette
Epaulette
Epaulette is a type of ornamental shoulder piece or decoration used as insignia of rank by armed forces and other organizations.Epaulettes are fastened to the shoulder by a shoulder strap or "passant", a small strap parallel to the shoulder seam, and the button near the collar, or by laces on the...
, 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 ercircled silver star. Those of generals and admirals have fully golden epaulettes with corresponding golden crests and encircled stars.
General and Flag Officers: Golden Stars and Crests
Highest Rank (Army Forces and Police Force)- Đại tướng (full GeneralGeneralA general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
), four golden stars4 star rankFour-star rank is a term used to describe a very senior commander in many of the armed services holding a rank described by the NATO OF-9 code. The term is also used by some armed forces which are not NATO members...
- Thượng tướng (Senior Lieutenant General or Colonel GeneralColonel GeneralColonel General is a senior rank of General. North Korea and Russia are two countries which have used the rank extensively throughout their histories...
), three golden stars3 star rankAn officer of three-star rank is a very senior commander in many of the armed services holding a rank described by the NATO code of OF-8. The term is also used by some armed forces which are not NATO members... - Trung tướng (Lieutenant General), two golden stars2 star rankAn officer of two-star rank is a senior commander in many of the armed services holding a rank described by the NATO code of OF-7. The term is also used by some armed forces which are not NATO members...
- Thiếu tướng (Major General), one golden star1 star rankAn officer of one-star rank is a senior commander in many of the armed services holding a rank described by the NATO code of OF-6. The term is also used by some armed forces which are not NATO members...
Navy Forces
- Đô đốc (AdmiralAdmiralAdmiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
), three golden stars - Phó Đô đốc (Vice AdmiralVice AdmiralVice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...
), two golden stars - Chuẩn Đô đốc (Rear AdmiralRear AdmiralRear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
), one golden star
Field Grade (Middle-Level) and Company Grade (Junior-Level) Officers: Silver Stars and Crests
- Đại Tá (Colonel 1st class or BrigadierBrigadierBrigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
), four-star with two stripes - Thượng Tá (Senior Lieutenant Colonel or ColonelColonelColonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
), three-star with two stripes - Trung Tá (Lieutenant Colonel) two-star with two stripes
- Thiếu Tá (Major), one-star with two stripes
- Đại Úy (Captain), four-star with a stripe
- Thượng Úy (Senior Lieutenant), three-star with a stripe
- Trung Úy (Lieutenant), two-star with a stripe
- Thiếu Úy (Junior Lieutenant), one-star with a stripe
Navy Grade (Middle-Level) and Company Grade (Junior-Level) Officers: Silver Stars and Crests
- Đại Tá (Captain 1st class or CommodoreCommodore (rank)Commodore is a military rank used in many navies that is superior to a navy captain, but below a rear admiral. Non-English-speaking nations often use the rank of flotilla admiral or counter admiral as an equivalent .It is often regarded as a one-star rank with a NATO code of OF-6, but is not always...
), four-star with two stripes - Thượng Tá (Senior Commander or CaptainCaptain (naval)Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
), three-star with two stripes - Trung Tá (CommanderCommanderCommander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
), two-star with two stripes - Thiếu Tá (Lieutenant CommanderLieutenant CommanderLieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
), one-star with two stripes
- Đại Úy (Senior Lieutenant or Lieutenant 1st class), four-star with a stripe
- Thượng Úy (Lieutenant), three-star with a stripe
- Trung Úy (Junior Lieutenant), two-star with a stripe
- Thiếu Úy (EnsignEnsignAn ensign is a national flag when used at sea, in vexillology, or a distinguishing token, emblem, or badge, such as a symbol of office in heraldry...
), one-star with a stripe
Warrant Officers and Cadets
- Chuẩn Úy (Officer DesignateOfficer DesignateOfficer Designate OF is a term used in the NATO rank scale, and comes below OF-1.-NATO:Ranks designated as OF include:*Dokimos Efedros Axiomatikos in the Hellenic Army...
), gold epaulette with red outline and one silver stripe - Học Viên (Candidate or "Student" Officer), plain solid red epaulette with gold outline
Non-Commissioned Officers and Enlisted Members of the Vietnam People's Army
Army Forces, Air and Air Defence Force, Navy Forces, Border Defence Forces, Police Force, Public Security Forcehạ sĩ quan (non-commissioned officers):
- Thượng Sĩ (Sergeant Major), plain solid epaulette (colour corresponding to branch), and three red stripes.
- Trung Sĩ (Sergeant), plain solid epaulette (colour corresponding to branch), and two red stripes.
- Hạ Sĩ (Corporal), plain solid epaulette (colour corresponding to branch), and one red stripe.
- Học viên hạ sĩ quan (Non-Commissioned Officer Candidate)
chiến sĩ ("combatants" or enlisted ranks):
- Binh Nhất (Private 1st Class), plain solid epaulette (colour corresponding to branch), and one red chevron.
- Binh Nhì (Private), plain solid epaulette (colour corresponding to branch) and red outline.
See also
- Comparative military ranksComparative military ranksThis article is a list of various states' armed forces ranking designations. Comparisons are made between the different systems used by nations to categorize the hierarchy of an armed force compared to another. Several of these lists mention NATO reference codes. These are the NATO rank reference...
- Military rankMilitary rankMilitary rank is a system of hierarchical relationships in armed forces or civil institutions organized along military lines. Usually, uniforms denote the bearer's rank by particular insignia affixed to the uniforms...
- Vietnam People's ArmyVietnam People's ArmyThe Vietnam People's Army is the armed forces of Vietnam. The VPA includes: the Vietnamese People's Ground Forces , the Vietnam People's Navy , the Vietnam People's Air Force, and the Vietnam Marine Police.During the French Indochina War , the VPA was often referred to as the Việt...
(Military of Vietnam) - VietnamVietnamVietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...