Self-imposed and strict discipline is a fine tradition and one of the fundamental factors that create the fighting strength and bring victories to the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA). However, hostile and reactionary forces deliberately distort the nature and role of our military discipline in an attempt to carry out their scheme of “depoliticising” our VPA. Therefore, raising vigilance and resolutely combating such schemes represent an urgent task for every officer and soldier today.

Discipline in the VPA concretises the Party’s lines and policies as well as the Constitution and the State’s laws into regulations, rules, and codes that ensure unity in all activities of the Military. It entails the absolute obedience to orders and directives from superiors; at the same time, it serves as a measure of the political will, morality, culture, and loyalty of each service member to the Fatherland, Party, State, and People. Bearing the character of a socialist state, our military discipline is strict and rigorous, yet also voluntary and humane, constituting a particularly important factor in building the VPA’s strength and combat readiness capacity.

Gen. Phan Van Giang, Minister of National Defence encourages troops during a live-fire exercise (photo: qdnd.vn)

Affirming the vital role of discipline, President Ho Chi Minh pointed out: “Discipline is the might of our Military”. In reality, discipline in our VPA is built on profound awareness of revolutionary goals and ideals, on faith, duty, rights, and responsibilities of every service member; it is also grounded in respect for human dignity and the equality of rights and obligations of each soldier towards the Fatherland. It plays an especially important role in educating and training troops, preventing violations, guiding objectives, willpower, and determination for every service member to strive to accomplish their tasks.

Yet, with malicious intent, hostile and reactionary forces have thoroughly exploited modern means of communication, particularly the Internet and social networks, to continuously distort and deny the essence and role of discipline in our VPA through completely false and absurd arguments.

First, they deliberately distort and misrepresent the revolutionary essence and humanistic nature of discipline in the Military. Using sophisticated tricks, such as doctoring images, fabricating fake videos, and then attributing such incidents to military agencies and units, they slander our VPA’s discipline as “violating human rights”, “disrespecting freedom”, and “insulting personal dignity”, etc. These are reactionary, biased, and groundless claims.

Ideologically, from the outset, President Ho Chi Minh and our Party recognised the particularly important role of discipline and always paid close attention to educating and training every soldier in self-discipline and strict observance. President Ho Chi Minh affirmed: “The Army attributes its strength to decent education, effective policies, and strict discipline. Hence, discipline must be rigorous”. He also stated: “If troops lack discipline, they will surely be defeated”. His thoughts have become the theoretical foundation for the VPA to build a tradition of self-discipline and strict observance - one of the key factors in the VPA’s fighting strength and victories for more than 80 years.

Practically, human rights within the VPA have always been given special attention, guaranteed, and fully implemented by the Party, State, Central Military Commission, and Ministry of National Defence, in accordance with international conventions on human rights and the laws of Vietnam. The political, civil, economic, and social rights of service members are clearly stipulated in numerous legal documents, such as the Law on Officers of the VPA, the Law on Professional Service Members, Defence Workers, and Employees, the Law on Military Service, the Law on Militia and Self-Defence Force, etc. In addition, the Government and Ministry of National Defence have promulgated many specific mechanisms and policies, including salary and allowance regimes, health insurance, leave entitlements, housing policies, employment support for military family members, support policies for service members’ relatives, preferential treatment for units performing special tasks, and so on. The legitimate rights and interests of service members are safeguarded through the military legal system and institutions, including military courts, military procuracies, and military criminal investigation bodies at all levels. Violations of human rights in the VPA, depending on their nature and severity, are strictly handled through disciplinary measures, administrative penalties, or criminal prosecution in a fair, transparent, and public manner.

Therefore, all distortions claiming that discipline in the Military “violates human rights”, “disrespects freedom”, or “insults personal dignity” are completely baseless, lacking legal foundation, and clearly reveal the intent to undermine the VPA’s prestige, sow internal division, and incite subversion.

Illustrative photo (VNA)

Second, it is utterly mistaken and simplistic to claim that discipline in the Military is “as suffocating as prison” or “undemocratic”. It must be affirmed that, in any army in the world, discipline is always the “pillar” that maintains stability, coordination, and unified cooperation in task execution. V.I. Lenin once stated that in war, “the side that possesses superior technique, higher levels of organisation and discipline... will be the side that wins”. For the VPA, “iron discipline” is not rigid imposition, but rather a fine tradition built upon self-awareness and strict observance, deeply embedded in the consciousness, behaviour, and lifestyle of every officer and soldier.

Even during the arduous resistance wars, our Party attached particular importance to training cadres, rectifying organisations, and enhancing discipline and organisational awareness. The campaigns of “Training cadres, rectifying the Military” in 1949 and “Training Party members, rectifying organisation” within the Military awakened a spirit of self-awareness, self-training, and self-correction across the ranks. Courses, such as “Introductory Communism”, “Party Statutes”, “Cell Work”, “Reforming Working Methods”, etc., not only raised political understanding, but also provided profound education in ethics, style, and methods of discipline and organisation. As a result, a disciplined and orderly way of life became a matter of self-consciousness, forming the foundation for combating all manifestations of disorder and indiscipline, contributing to the unique character of Vietnamese military culture: order, self-discipline, solidarity, cohesion, and the will to fight for noble goals and ideals.

The practice of VPA building today affirms this even more clearly: from the border and island areas to training grounds and drill fields, wherever soldiers are present, there is a spirit of organisation and discipline; officers and troops voluntarily and consciously comply with regulations and stand ready to fight and sacrifice for the Fatherland and People. In particular, democracy within the Military is neither denied nor neglected, contrary to the claims propagated by hostile forces. On the contrary, the political, professional - military, and socio-economic democratic rights of officers and soldiers are always respected and fully implemented in accordance with the law and military regulations. In the military environment, democracy is inseparable from discipline; rights are accompanied by duties, and responsibilities go hand in hand with self-awareness. This is the foundation for service members to develop their abilities and creativity and undergo self-training, self-cultivation, and self-maturity. Hence, distorted arguments, such as “discipline in the Military is as suffocating as prison” or “undemocratic” are entirely unfounded, fabricated, and reactionary.

Third, hostile forces deliberately exploit isolated incidents within the VPA or use doctored images and staged videos from foreign militaries to slander our officers as “using violence” against soldiers, thereby labelling our discipline as “militaristic”. In essence, these are nothing more than the same old sabotaging arguments “dressed up in new clothes”, designed to confuse appearances with substance, distort the truth, and spread misinformation. In particular, they exploit the sensitive psychology of young people and families ahead of each conscription season, sowing fear, eroding trust, inciting extreme notions of “individual freedom” as well as resistance to the fulfilment of military service obligations among the population.

However, such claims are entirely baseless and refuted by current legal provisions. Clause 5, Article 4 of Circular 143/2023/TT-BQP, dated 27 December 2023, issued by the Ministry of National Defence on disciplinary action in the VPA, stipulates clearly: “All acts infringing upon the body, honour, or reputation of the violator during the process of disciplinary review and handling are strictly prohibited; no disciplinary measures other than those prescribed in this Circular may be applied”. Thus, discipline in the VPA is not only educational and preventive in nature, but also humane and grounded in the rule of law, with absolutely no element of “imposition” or “militarism” as falsely claimed.

In practice, in the past 80 years of building, fighting, and maturing, thanks to self-discipline and strict observance, our officers and soldiers have always remained united, bonded, and resilient in overcoming hardships and challenges, winning resounding victories - from the historic Dien Bien Phu triumph, to the Great Spring Victory of 1975, and to major achievements in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland. In all circumstances, our VPA has consistently fulfilled its functions as “an army ready for combat, for work, and for production”. Within military life, “unit is home, and officers and soldiers are brothers”, bound by lofty camaraderie and comradeship. Officers at all levels stay close to troops, caring for, guiding, and supporting troops in study, work, training, and daily life, even in the smallest matters. They serve not only as commanders, but also as elder brothers, friends, and trusted comrades, always ready to help soldiers accomplish their tasks. It is precisely these humane and fraternal relationships that make clear that our military discipline is not “imposed” or “militaristic”, but profoundly educational, humane, responsible, and caring for people.

As President Ho Chi Minh emphasised that our VPA is strong thanks to decent education, effective policies, and strict discipline. Discipline is the might of the Military. Discipline of our VPA is self-imposed and strict, educational and deeply humane. Therefore, every officer and soldier must always actively, voluntarily cultivate and train themselves, preserve revolutionary moral qualities, strictly observe State law and military discipline, maintain revolutionary vigilance, proactively identify and resolutely reject all distorted and malicious narratives by hostile forces on this issue.

Col., DO NGOC HANH, PhD