Performing specific tasks, over the past 60 years, the Hydrography and Oceanography Brigade has always promoted its capability, intelligence and strived to successfully complete all assigned tasks. These are important premises for its further developments and practical contributions to the protection of the country's sea and island sovereignty, and the development of marine economy and international integration.

The Hydrography and Oceanography Brigade, under the Staff of the Navy, is the only unit of the Military and the whole country that is responsible for marine survey, charting, and research, exploring and exploiting marine resources; conducting military geographical surveying at sea and coastal areas, producing marine maps for military purposes and marine economic development. During the resistance war against the US imperialists for national salvation, despite its limited strength, inadequacy in vehicle and equipment, and special and harsh working environment, the officers and soldiers of the Brigade overcame all difficulties and challenges, successfully completing assigned tasks; coordinated with the forces of the Navy to make the miracle of Ho Chi Minh Trail at sea, contributing to liberating the seas and islands of the country, completely liberating the South and reunifying the country. In the era of national construction and defence, it measures and produces marine maps of different scales; participates in the survey, measurement, and implementation of marine projects, contributing to affirming Vietnam's sovereignty over the East Sea and the expansion of international cooperation in marine science.

Sr. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien, Deputy Minister of National Defence awards units with outstanding achievements in implementing Project KCB-TS 02 in 2023

Recently, in the face of the requirements of defence, security, and socio-economic development tasks, especially the implementation of the Strategy for sustainable development of Vietnam's marine economy until 2030, with a vision to 2045, the Brigade participates in many key national projects and schemes, such as: measuring and surveying for research, exploration and exploitation of oil and gas lots on the Vietnam’s seas and continental shelf; installing and repairing undersea fibre optic cables; installing undersurface electric cables to coastal islands; updating and supplementing the marine map system; investigating and making magnetic maps of the Spratly islands, etc. with good results.

What’s more, the Brigade also cooperates with the Institute of Marine Geology and Geophysics, the Institute of Oceanography, and the Vietnam - Russia Tropical Centre to carry out many scientific research projects of marine survey and promote international cooperation in the field of Hydrogeology in personnel training, equipment supply, and technology transfer, etc. Currently, it has produced many types of nautical maps, such as: paper charts, electronic charts, specialised military charts, digital maps, etc. with high quality and accuracy, meeting the technical standards of the International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO), which is highly appreciated by international experts. In particular, its electronic charts have been exported to the international market, contributing to ensuring world maritime safety.

With those outstanding achievements, the Brigade was honourably bestowed with the Third-class Military Exploit Order by the State; 03 Fatherland Protection Orders (02 First-class, 01 Third-class); 03 Feat of Arm Orders (02 Second-class, 01 Third-class) and many other noble awards.

In the coming years, the situation in the East Sea and related areas is forecast to have complicated developments, posing unpredictable risks. The tasks of nautical chart measuring and drawing and marine research serving socio-economic, defence and security purposes, especially the management and protection of the sovereignty of the sea, islands and continental shelf of the country are setting very high requirements. Meanwhile, the operating area of the Brigade is wide; its vehicle and technical equipment have been degraded after many years of use; the number and ability of specialised staff are somewhat limited, etc. Fully aware of this, its Party Committee and Commandant have determined to focus on leading and directing the synchronous implementation of solutions to enhance its task performance.

First, thoroughly implementing political and ideological education, arousing the honour, pride, dedication, responsibility, and strong determination of troops. The Brigade focuses on task briefing and improving the quality of political, ideological and traditional education; legal propaganda dissemination and education, and the maintenance of order and regime of political and news information for troops. To make it highly effective, it promotes the implementation of Directive No. 2423-CT/QUTW, dated 09 November 2023 of the Standing Committee of the Central Military Commission on innovating and improving the quality of political education in the new period. To overcome difficulties caused by the dispersion of forces and vehicles, the Brigade requests its cadres at all levels to actively stick to the grassroots, listen to the thoughts and aspirations of junior cadres and soldiers, and grasp the ideological situation of the soldiers. Prior to each working trip, it asks party committees and organisations at all levels to review and deploy appropriate personnels, conduct health checks to make sure they are able to work long days at sea. When the ships dock at port to refuel and get food, the leadership of the Brigade directly come to encourage, brief task, provide information, grasp the situation, and resolve arising problems.

Commandant of the Staff of the Navy visit model of marine survey and research

To meet the requirements of demanding tasks and implement the policy of developing and improving the capacity of Vietnam's Hydrographic industry in the 2025 - 2035 period, with a vision to 2045, the Brigade focuses on the development of high calibre human resources. In particular, it makes plans, holds training to improve the quality of cadres at all levels, especially the key ones with priority being given to those who have undergone basic training in the majors of maritime, marine surveying and research. Accordingly, along with actively recommending higher echelons to recruit high skill personnels, it promotes training, fostering, and development of human resources through sending its staff to military and civilian educational institutions. In addition, it also selects and sends staff to attend training in foreign countries, especially countries with a developed Hydrographic industry, such as the US, Russia, France, UK, India, Netherlands, Japan, Australia, etc.

Furthermore, the Brigade thoroughly conducts training to improve professional qualifications and skills for its staff. In the process of training, it requires its units to adhere to the motto of "basic, practical, solid", attach importance to synchronous and intensive training, and improve the quality of technical training to master means, weapons, and modern equipment, as well as new software and technology for marine surveying, charting and research". Currently, due to task requirements, its staff must regularly study documents written in foreign languages and work with foreign experts, which requires a very high level of foreign language. Therefore, to meet the requirements and tasks of working in an international integration environment, it continues to implement the thematic resolution on leadership to improve the level of foreign language proficiency; promote initiatives and inventions in task performance for the period between 2021 and 2030.

Together with human resources development, the Brigade attaches importance to investment in synchronous and modern infrastructure, facilities, and technical equipment. In the short run, it proactively researches and proposes to the Navy and the Ministry of National Defence to advise the Government to soon approve the Project on developing Vietnam's Hydrographic Industry to 2025 with a vision to 2035. Emphasis is placed on consulting the building, promulgation and completion of the system of legal documents for national management in the field of marine surveying and international cooperation in Hydrographic surveying; investment in building new surveying and marine research ships with modern equipment and facilities; upgrading infrastructure, barracks, training centres, repair workshops,... to improve task performance capacity.

The upcoming tasks of the Brigade are very demanding with many difficulties and challenges, but with its bravery and experience of 60 years of construction and development, cadres and soldiers of the Brigade continue to strive to uphold its tradition and successfully complete all tasks, contributing to management and firmly protecting the sacred sovereignty of seas, islands, and continental shelf of the country, to the development of marine economy, scientific research and international hydrographic integration.

Senior Colonel, PhD. KHUONG VAN LONG, Chief of the Brigade