History of Vietnamese military ranks

System name of Vietnamese military ranks are a relatively complete set on March 22, 1946 by President Ho Chi Minh, originally based on the military ranks system of Japanese military. Reference designs to the military ranks system of the French military. In 1958, the Vietnam People's Army military ranks system to be changed and used almost constantly since then.

Now, basically, the Vietnamese ranks has no Marshal, General of the Army as some countries. Brigadier General rank did not exist in this system. In contrast, the Colonel General, Senior Colonel or Senior Lieutenant in Vietnam at present do not exist in many countries the military. Therefore, to compare similar levels between Vietnam and other countries, people often use the comparative military ranks equivalent table.

Origins
According to the decree No-33 on March 22, 1946 signed by President Ho Chi Minh, the ranks of the Vietnam People's Army was as follows:

1. General level (3 steps):
 * General: 3 gold stars on red background
 * Lt.General: 2 gold stars on red background
 * Major General: 1 gold stars on red background

2. Field Grade level (3 steps):
 * Colonel: 3 yellow chevrons and 1 gold star on red background
 * Lieutenant Colonel: 2 yellow chevrons and 1 gold star on red background
 * Major: 1 yellow chevrons and 1 gold star on red background

3. Company Grade level (4 steps):
 * Captain: 3 yellow chevrons on red background
 * Lieutenant: 2 yellow chevrons on red background
 * Sun-lieutenant: 1 yellow chevrons on red background
 * Warrant-officer: yellow on red background

4. Non-Commissioned level (3 steps):
 * Sergeant major: (symbol) red on yellow background
 * Sergeant: (symbol) red on yellow background
 * Corporal: (symbol) red on yellow background

5. Soldiers level (2 steps):
 * Private 1st class: (symbol) red on light-yellow background
 * Private 2nd class: no rank

However, due to war conditions, the ranks system has not been applied, except for few exceptions. In 1958, the new military ranks official function is applied on large and stable since then, except a few small changes.

The system ranks in 1958 and some changes
System rank officers Vietnam People's Army has three levels: General, Field Grade, Company Grade, each level has four steps are classified by number of stars: 4 stars, 3 stars, 2 stars and 1 star; specially, Company Grade have one more step is Warrant-officer (professional officer).
 * 1958

Below the Commissioned Officers level are the Non-Commissioned Officers level and Soldiers, Students level. Non-Commissioned level have 3 steps: Sergeant major, Sergeant and Corporal. Soldiers have 2 steps: Private 1st class and Private 2nd class.

Senior Colonel rank has abandoned.
 * 1982

The naval ranks of General level defined specific names: Admiral (equivalent to Colonel General), Vice Admiral (equivalent to Lieutenant General), Rear Admiral (equivalent to Major General).

Regulations on professional officer ranks is Warrant-officer (lowest) to Colonel (highest).

Senior Colonel rank has restored.
 * 1992

Ranks of Border Defense Force be defined the same with Army's rank, with dark-green background and red hem.
 * 1996

Regulation that professional office rank are V-shaped metal chevron.

Ranks of Marine Police were defined with dark-purple and yellow hem.
 * 1998

New regulations on military ranks symbol with some improvements
 * 2008

Professional officer rank also use the straight metal chevron but have a pink stripe running between the shoulder rank to differentiate.

General ranks are woven with floating Dong Son drums and flamingos. Field Grade ranks are woven lines just like the old General ranks.

Current official ranks
Ranks can show information about branches of military personnel.

Hem Color of the ranks can show branches:


 * Army: red


 * Air Force: azure


 * Navy: dark-purple

Army-Air Force-Navy ranks have background are yellow.

Border Defense Force's ranks have background is dark-green and hem color is red.

Marine Police's ranks have background is blue and hem color is yellow.


 * The Highest ranks - General Officers: