List of equipment of the Vietnam People's Ground Forces

During the First Indochina War (1946–1954), Vietnam War (1955–1975), Cambodian–Vietnamese War (1977–1989), Sino-Vietnamese War (1979) and the Sino-Vietnamese conflicts 1979– 1991 (1979–1991), the Vietnam People's Ground Force relied almost entirely on Soviet-derived weapons and equipment systems. With the end of the Cold War in 1992 Soviet military equipment subsidies ended and Vietnam began the use of hard currency and barter to buy weapons and equipment. Vietnam prioritizes economic development and growth while maintaining defense spending. The government does not conduct procurement phases or major upgrades of weapons. From the end of the 1990s the Government of Vietnam has announced the acquisition of a number of strategic systems equipped with modern weapons. Accordingly, Vietnam has been slow to develop naval and air forces to control shallow waters and its exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Currently most defense procurement programs focus on remedying this priority. For example, Vietnam has purchased a number of combat aircraft and warships with the capability to operate in high seas. Vietnam also plans to develop its defense industry, with priority placed on the Navy, combined with assistance from its former communist allies; as well as India, and Japan.

Since 2015, Vietnam has begun exploring purchases of U.S. and European weapons while facing numerous political, historical, and financial barriers, as they cannot continue to rely on Soviet and Chinese weapons especially due to the increasing tensions in the South China Sea dispute.

Personal equipment

Combat helmets ImageModelTypeOriginDetailsModular Integrated Communications HelmetCombat HelmetVietnamese copy. Used by People's Army of Vietnam Special Forces, police, and infantry soldiers. Manufactured locally at Factory Z176.Half a century of branding of Z176High Cut HelmetCombat HelmetVietnamese copy. Used by People's Army of Vietnam Special Forces, police, and future infantry soldiers. Manufactured locally at Factory Z176.Vietnamese special forces catch up with the world's leading bulletproof helmet trendPASGT HelmetCombat HelmetLimited use with Special Forces, Border Guards, and the Navy. They are gradually replacing older helmets in all branches of the Army. Most helmets are a Vietnamese-made version of the PASGT Helmet. Earlier models were imported from Israel.Type A2 HelmetCombat helmetThe PAVN's standard issue bump shell is a hard plastic replica of the PASGT helmets. It is used for training exercises and combat drill.Vietnamese pith helmetHelmetTraditional standard issue hard hat, used as the army's utility and barracks cover. Commonly worn by enlisted members with their dress uniforms and during light training.SSh-68Combat HelmetLimited use.SSh-40Combat HelmetLimited use.M1 HelmetCombat HelmetLimited use.

Gas mask ImageModelTypeOriginDetailsMV-5Gas maskUsed by People's Army of Vietnam Special Forces, police, and infantry soldiers. Manufactured locally at Factory X61.

Optronic Device & Observation System Image Model Type Origin DetailsSafran Vectronix Vector 21Multifunctional optronic deviceBeing used by artillery reconnaissance units.Safran Vectronix JIM LRMultifunctional optronic deviceBeing used by artillery reconnaissance units.Leica GeosystemsTotal stationTS02 and TS06 series are being used by artillery reconnaissance units.

Night-vision devices ImageModelTypeOriginDetailsOĐ2M OĐ1MNight-vision deviceUsed by People's Army of Vietnam Special Forces.AN/PVS-14Night-vision device Used by People's Army of Vietnam Special Forces.AN/PVS-7Night-vision device Used by People's Army of Vietnam Special Forces. Produced under name KNĐ-2MAT

Communication equipment ImageModelTypeOriginDetailsVRH-911Personal radioSquads-issued personal radios operate in UHF band. Designed and produced by Viettel.

Body armor Image Model Type Origin DetailsAG K51T Body ArmourBody armorVietnamBeen introduced in International Army Game's exhibition. The vest is equipped with armor plates capable of withstanding 7.62×25mm lead-core rounds.AG K53T Body ArmourBody armorVietnamBeen introduced in International Army Game's exhibition. The vest is equipped with armor plates capable of withstanding 7,62×51mm amour-piercing round.7.62 K56 Body ArmourBody armorVietnamBeen introduced in International Army Game's exhibition. The vest is equipped with armor plates capable of withstanding 7.62×39 rounds.AG-17Body armorVietnamPlate carrier does not feature integrated pouches for carrying equipment and is typically worn with a chest rig for gear carriage. K23 load bearing vestBody armorVietnamModern battle uniform for standard Vietnamese infantry featuring the capacity to carry 3 magazines, 4 hand grenades, and 6 rounds of 40mm grenade launcher ammunition along with personal radio and bayonet. It is integrated with the MOLLE system and can accommodate 4 armor plates, up to 2 hard plates and 2 soft plates. Manufactured at the Z176 factory.Marom Dolphin Fusion SystemBody armorIsraelUsed by People's Army of Vietnam Special Forces.Flak jacketBody armorUnited StatesLimited use by some infantry and anti-riot unitsEOD suitBomb suitUnited StatesUsed by engineer unit.

Camouflage patterns Image Model Type Origin DetailsK-07 WoodlandCamouflage patternReplaced as the standard camo for ground forces by the K-17 Woodland. There are multiple variants of this Woodland camo in terms of slight differences in colors. Commonly used on training fatigues.K-17 WoodlandCamouflage patternFormer standard-issue camouflage for ground forces. Similar coloration to the K-07, there are also multiple variants for the other branches of the military. Replaced by the K-20 and observed limited usage since 2020s.K-17 Multi-TerrainCamouflage patternUsed by Vietnamese forces deployed in arid and desert environment. Based on Multicam color schemes. Seen with Vietnamese troops undergoing peacekeeping missions in South Sudan with the United Nations.K20 PatternK21 Field UniformCamouflage patternStandard issue as of 2021, the PAVN's K20 camouflage pattern was developed with more subdued coloration. The new uniform will consist of 5 different variants for each branches of service: Ground Forces, Border Guard, Air Defence - Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard.Modified Duck Hunter PatternCamouflage patternUsed by People's Army of Vietnam Special Forces. Replaced by the Ground Forces-colored K20 camouflage.U.S. WoodlandCamouflage patternLimited use. Most commonly seen on old vests mix-matched with K07 uniform or K20Ghillie suitGhillie suitUsed by the snipers and People's Army of Vietnam Special Forces, manufactured locally. Been introduced in International Army Games's exhibition.

Infantry weapons

Weapons attachments ImageModelTypeOriginDetailsScopesITL MARSRed dot sightMounted on Uzi, AKM-1, IWI Tavor.Meprolight M21 RDS-GL02Red dot sightMounted on Uzi, AKM-1, IWI Tavor, STV Rifles and IWI ACE. Aimpoint PRORed dot sightMounted on STV Rifles.Aimpoint CompM4Red dot sightMounted on AKM-1, limited use.KBN-SNRed dot sightVietnamMounted on SN-19 and SN7N. Manufactured locally at Vietnam Defense Industry (VDI).KBN-M1Red dot sightVietnamMounted on STV-380. Manufactured locally at Vietnam Defense Industry (VDI).Advanced Combat Optical GunsightTelescopic sightMounted on Special Operations Assault Rifle, Tara TM4 rifle. Limited uses within Military Marksman Demonstration Team.BarrelCornerShotWeapon accessory VietnamUsed by the People's Army of Vietnam Special Forces and Mobile Police Force. There is a domestic copy.Under BarrelSPL-40Grenade launcherStandard issue grenade launcher accompanying the STV-380 rifles.M203Grenade launcherReplaces the trigger for a lever. Mounts on the Galil ACE 32, STL-1A, M18, M16A2 and TAR-21. Manufactured locally as T-40 at the Z111 Factory.Bayonet6Ch4BayonetMount on AK-47 and AKM.M7 bayonetBayonetMount on STV rifle.

Pistols ImageModelTypeVariantCaliberOriginDetailsIWI Jericho 941Semi-automatic pistol9×19mm ParabellumLimited use in the army and police, being manufactured to slowly replace the K54 and K14VN pistols. Manufactured locally at the Z111 Factory.GlockSemi-automatic pistolGlock 19Glock 34SN-19SN19-TSN7VN-M249×19mm Parabellum 7.62×25mm Tokarev(SN7VN M24)SN-19 and SN19-T are domestic copies. Manufactured locally by Vietnam Defense Industry (VDI) and Z111 Factory respectively.Derivative of Glock with steel frame, chambered in 7.62×25mm. Can be attached with silencer and scope. Manufactured locally at Z111 Factory.Makarov pistolSemi-automatic pistolType 59K59 (SN9)9×18mm MakarovUsed by police officers. Limited use in the army. Manufactured locally as the K59 (SN9) by Vietnam Defense Industry (VDI).CZ-82Semi-automatic pistol9×18mm MakarovUsed by police officers. Limited use in the army.TT-33Semi-automatic pistolType 54/K54K14SN7MSN7TDSN7NK54n7.62×25mm TokarevStandard issue service pistol. Manufactured locally as the K54 (Type 54 Chinese TT-33 copy).SN7M, SN7TD, and SN7N are modernized TT variants: SN7M is basic modernization, SN7TD has integrated silencer, SN7N has intrinsic sight. All manufactured locally by Vietnam Defense Industry (VDI).K54n variants issued to special reconnaissance force.Type 64Semi-automatic pistol with integrated suppressor7.65×17mm rimless ballUsed by Vietnam's Special Force.

Submachine guns ImageModelTypeVariantCaliberOriginDetailsPP-19 BizonSubmachine gunSN9PSN-7P9×19mm Parabellum7.62×25mm TokarevThe locally produced version features a Galil-style stock and is chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum. Manufactured locally as the SN9P at the Z111 Factory. The SN-7P is chambered in 7.62×25mm and produced by Vietnam Defense Industry (VDI). Not adopted.Uzi ProSubmachine gun9×19mm ParabellumUsed by People's Army of Vietnam Special Forces and Naval Special Operation Force. Manufactured locally at the Z111 Factory.Micro UziSubmachine gunTL-K129×19mm ParabellumUsed by People's Army of Vietnam Special Forces. Manufactured locally at the Z111 Factory. TL-K12 is the domestic copy with slight changes. Manufactured locally by Vietnam Defense Industry (VDI).CZ Scorpion Evo 3Submachine gun9×19mm ParabellumUsed by the Military Marksman Demonstration Team.

Assault rifles