Lieutenant General Truong Manh Dung joined the military in 1987. During nearly four decades of service, he held a number of positions within Army Corps 1, including Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff, before later becoming Commander of the corps.

In 2023, when Army Corps 12 was established through the merger of Army Corps 1 and Army Corps 2, he was appointed Commander of Army Corps 12. In April 2025, he became Commander of Military Region 1.

The General Staff serves as the command and operational authority of the Vietnam People’s Army and the Militia and Self-Defence Force. It is responsible for directing the development of both forces and commanding military operations.

The General Staff is led by the Chief of the General Staff and supported by Deputy Chiefs of the General Staff, along with specialised departments responsible for combat operations, military training, personnel management and other functions.

The Chief of the General Staff, who also serves as Deputy Minister of National Defence, assumes responsibility for overseeing ministry operations when the Minister of National Defence is absent.

The position is responsible for directing subordinate agencies and units in formulating military strategies, national defence planning and defence readiness plans. The office also coordinates with ministries, government agencies and local authorities in implementing defence-related legislation and oversees compliance with military discipline, state laws and directives issued by the Minister of National Defence.

The current Chief of the General Staff is General Nguyen Tan Cuong, Deputy Minister of National Defence.

Tran Thuong