The decree applies to foreign warships visiting Vietnam, Vietnamese naval vessels visiting foreign countries, their crews, and all Vietnamese authorities, organizations, and individuals involved in these activities. It also covers armed official vessels of foreign nations or territories, as well as those of international military organizations visiting Vietnam for official purposes such as diplomatic exchanges, joint operations, or repairs.

According to the decree, foreign military ships may anchor and operate at seaports or military ports previously approved by Vietnamese authorities. These ships must comply with Vietnamese laws, the provisions of the decree, and guidance provided by specialized state agencies at the port of arrival.

A significant change introduced by the new decree is the increase in the annual limit of visits allowed for warships from a single country - from once to three times per year. The regulation also caps simultaneous berthing at no more than three ships per port, with a maximum stay of seven days. Any exceptions must be approved by the Prime Minister upon the recommendation of the Minister of National Defense.

This change aims to facilitate enhanced military diplomacy and operational coordination. It eliminates the frequent need for special governmental approval whenever exceptions were required beyond previous limits.

The Minister of National Defense will now oversee and regulate the application and approval process for foreign military vessels visiting Vietnam.

The decree also clearly outlines prohibited actions for foreign warships entering Vietnam, including violations of national sovereignty, intelligence gathering, filming or photographing in restricted zones, unauthorized dissemination of media, and transport of prohibited materials such as weapons of mass destruction, radioactive substances, chemical or biological toxins, or narcotics.

Furthermore, foreign ships are not allowed to deploy or receive aircraft or military hardware without official approval, nor may they use divers or submersible devices without permission. Unauthorized contact with other ships, entry into restricted zones, or conducting training, drills, or weapons displays without consent from the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense are also prohibited.

Permitted ceremonial uses of light weapons, mock firearms, or aircraft for flag-raising or saluting events must be included in official activity schedules submitted during the visit application. Such uses require approval from the Ministry of National Defense, and weapons used during ceremonies must be unloaded.

In addition, any requests to use underwater vehicles, robots, or submersibles for technical checks or scheduled maintenance must be included in the official itinerary. These activities must be supervised by port authorities and border guards during execution.

Tran Thuong