ABSTRACT
The People’s Army of Vietnam Navy (PAVN) is a relatively small force, still largely reliant on Russia for its equipment and, until very recently, hamstrung by competing national economic priorities. While the Vietnamese Government has repeatedly committed publicly to modernization of the Navy, plans have not always borne fruit, despite the growing economic importance of its maritime zones and the potential for conflict over maritime boundaries in the South China Sea. To meet Vietnam’s maritime security needs, the Navy must expand and improve its operational capacity in all aspects of maritime warfare.
