Vietnam's total military personnel is estimated at 5.48 million.

Vietnam is ranked 23th out of 137 countries in the military strength ranking 2019 of US-based Global Firepower.

The country was down three places from last year, but still second in Southeast Asia after Indonesia, according to Global Firepower’s 2019 Military Strength Ranking.

The rating is based on 55 parameters, including military resources, diversity of weapon systems, natural resources, geographical features, finances and available manpower.

The military strength is formed by three main sectors namely airpower, land strength and naval strength. In the report, Vietnam’s total aircraft strength ranks 33rd while combat tank is ranked 10th.

In Southeast Asia, Thailand was in the 26th position, followed by Myanmar (37th), Malaysia (41st), Singapore (59th), the Philippines (64th), Cambodia (107th) and Laos (127th).

Top three of the ranking includes the US, Russia and China. The rest of top 10 comprises India, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, Turkey and Germany.

According to the report, Vietnam’s total military personnel hits 5.482 million, including 482,000 active personnel. Meanwhile, reaching military age annually is 1.65 million people.

Vietnam requires compulsory enlistment since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, and thousands of young people join the army every spring. Men aged between 18 and 27 have to serve two years, while women can volunteer to serve.

Enlistment has become stricter in recent years after legislators accused many wealthy families of paying bribes to have their children evade service, VnExpress reported. Hanoitimes

Linh Pham

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