On the morning of November 28, Vietnam’s National Assembly passed amendments to the Law on Officers of the Vietnam People's Army, with 458 out of 459 deputies voting in favor. The revised law, effective December 1, 2024, increases the retirement age for military officers and caps the number of army generals at 415.

The new law raises the maximum service age for military officers by 1–5 years depending on rank:

Lieutenant: 50 years
Major: 52 years
Lieutenant Colonel: 54 years
Colonel: 56 years
General: 60 years

Officers meeting political, ethical, professional, and health standards may voluntarily extend their service by up to five years if required by the military. In special cases, extensions beyond five years may be approved by the Minister of National Defense.

Before the law’s passage, the National Assembly Standing Committee noted that aligning military officers’ retirement ages with those of police officers or workers under the Labor Code might affect operational readiness, especially for officers in combat-ready units.

The military must recruit and train new officers annually to maintain a young and capable force. Extending service ages excessively could lead to overstaffing and inefficiencies.

The approved age increases aim to retain well-trained, experienced officers capable of fulfilling modern military demands while ensuring officers accumulate enough years of social insurance contributions to qualify for maximum retirement benefits.

The law sets clear limits on the highest ranks in the army:

General: Maximum of 3 positions, including Minister of National Defense, Chief of the General Staff, and Director of the General Political Department.

Senior Lieutenant General / Admiral: Maximum of 14 positions, including 6 Deputy Ministers of Defense and 3 Deputy Chiefs of Staff.

Lieutenant General / Vice Admiral and Major General / Rear Admiral: A combined total of 398 positions.
Thus, the total number of army generals is capped at 415.

For military officers seconded to civilian positions:

Officers serving as Chair of the National Assembly’s Defense and Security Committee may hold a rank of Senior Lieutenant General.

Officers approved as Vice Chair or equivalent positions may hold a rank of Lieutenant General.

Officers approved for permanent committee roles or equivalent positions may hold a rank of Major General.

The Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense are reviewing decrees and circulars to ensure consistent rank allocation across all units. This includes specific regulations for positions such as Lieutenant Generals, Vice Admirals, Major Generals, and Rear Admirals.

The revisions aim to ensure transparency and compliance with the Politburo's guidelines while maintaining balance across the military’s organizational structure.

Tran Thuong