Deeply aware of its assigned mission, Coast Guard Region 4 has focused its leadership and direction on implementing a range of solutions synchronously to enhance the building of an all-strong, “exemplary and typical” unit, meeting the requirements of law enforcement, management, and firmly protecting national security, order, and safety in the southwestern sea region of the country.

Grasping Directive No. 79/CT-BQP dated 22 July 2022, of the Minister of National Defence, and Resolution No. 801-NQ/DU dated 27 March 2023, of the Party Committee of the Vietnam Coast Guard on leading the building of all-strong, “exemplary and typical” units within the Vietnam Coast Guard, the Party Committee and Command of Coast Guard Region 4 have actively implemented this important task with several results achieved.

Notably, its officers and soldiers have always maintained a firm and unwavering political and ideological stance, and an absolute loyalty to the Fatherland, the Party, the State, and the People. The leadership capacity and combat strength of its Party organisations and the quality of its cadres and Party members have been continuously improved. The Command of the Region has focused on adjusting its organisation and staff towards a lean, efficient, and effective structure to meet the requirements of protecting sovereignty and enforcing maritime law in an active manner. Its training work has seen many innovations, resulting in its improved quality. Many of its subordinate units have been awarded the title of “Excellent Training Unit”. Logistics and technical support for regular and sudden tasks have been ensured smoothly. For these accomplishments, the Region was bestowed with the Second-class Military Feat Order in 2024; the Emulation Flag of the Ministry of National Defence in 2022, the Emulation Flags of the Vietnam Coast Guard Command in 2020 and 2023, among others.

Hanlding a case of legal violation at sea

Currently, the East Sea in general, and the Southwest Sea in particular, harbour many factors of complication. The situation of maritime crime and violations, including IUU violations, is becoming increasingly sophisticated. The Phu Quoc Special Zone is undergoing rapid development, with potential issues in maritime security and order, placing new and higher requirements on the Region. To fulfill its assigned tasks, CR4 Party Committee and Command have determined to continue implementing all aspects of work in a coordinated manner, focusing on building all-strong, “exemplary and typical” units in a more substantive and qualitative way, with more decisive leadership and guidance measures:

Firstly, insisting on building a politically strong unit. The Party Committee of the Region will continue to thoroughly grasp and seriously implement the directives of General Secretary To Lam at the 12th Congress of the Military Party Congress (2025-2030 term) on the motto “2 steadfast, 2 strengthen, 2 prevent”; focusing on innovation and improvement of Party work and political work. First, it will deploy measures to overcome the identified limitations and shortcomings decisively and synchronously, focusing on improving the leadership capacity and combat strength of Party organisations and the quality of cadres and Party members; maintain and effectively implement political and ideological education, legal dissemination and education, so that its cadres and soldiers deeply understand the characteristics, requirements, and tasks of the Region, the schemes and tactics of different types of criminals, and the difficulties and challenges in their tasks, etc.

Implementing the principle of “taking the Party cell as the centre”, the CR4 Party Committee continues to promote the role of the Party cells as the leading nucleus, the centre of unity, and the place for education and training of cadres, Party members, and the masses; effectively implement the model of “Four-Good Party cells, exemplary Party members fulfilling five responsibilities”; and at the same time, strictly maintain the regulations of “self-reflection and self-correction” and role modelling for cadres and Party members, first and foremost the leading ones at all levels. It aims that annually 100% of subordinate Party organisations complete their tasks successfully or better (over 90% of them complete their tasks well and excellently); over 90% of its cadres and Party members complete their tasks well or better, with no Party members violating discipline. Each agency and unit is to promote the Determined to win Emulation movement and the “Four goods, four no's, four againsts” Movement, focusing on effectively implementation of main political tasks associated with the studying and following of Ho Chi Minh’s ideology, ethics, and style, and the cultivation of the qualities of “Uncle Ho's Soldiers - Vietnamese Coast Guard Soldiers”. In addition, it will maintain the systematic and effective operation of Steering Committee 35 and Force 47; keep internal political security seriously to ensure that 100% of its officers and soldiers show high awareness, responsibility, determination, and unwavering ideology, and 100% of its agencies and units are absolutely secure in politics.

Conducting practice of incident handling at sea in 2025

Secondly, adhering to regulations on restructuring and training seriously, creating a foundation for building a professional and modern region. The Party Committee and the Command of the Region will continue to effectively implement Resolution No. 594-NQ/DU, dated 20 July 2022, of the Party Committee of the Vietnam Coast Guard, and Plan No. 7118/KH-BTL, dated 25 July 2022, of the Vietnam Coast Guard Command on the organisation of the Vietnam Coast Guard for the period 2021-2030 and beyond. Actively review and adjust organisational structure of agencies and units to suit the specific tasks. Strengthen training on legal matters, experience and skill sharing in handling incidents and situations at sea; build a team of officers, non-comissioned officers and soldiers who are highly skilled in their profession, possess scientific and professional working methods and styles. The Regional Command requires agencies and units to creatively apply viewpoints, principles, and combinations in training; conduct training according to the “basic - practical – solid”, synchronised, in-depth, and relevant direction; focus on weapon training to master new and modern weapons and equipment, especially modern ships; promote the application of information technology in training and exercises.

Furthermore, it will implement the Project of “Strengthening foreign language capability for the Vietnam Coast Guard force in the period of 2022 – 2030” to improve foreign language proficiency, especially professional languages, for officers and technical staff to meet the requirements of law enforcement and international integration. It strives that 100% of the annual training contents are satisfactory, in which 80% or more achieving good or excellent results.

Thirdly, maintaining strict combat readiness. In the face of complex and unstable situations at sea, the Party Committee and Command of the Region direct units to strictly maintain combat readiness; strengthen patrols and check, and coordinate with other forces to closely control the situation. Direct forces at the port to make thorough preparations and maintain highly ready for task. Continue to make breakthroughs in improving the effectiveness of control, implementation capacity, management, and the ability to advise on policies and solutions to protect national interests and maritime sovereignty. Regularly review, adjust, and supplement operational plans and actively conduct training to improve the level of command, coordination, and combat capabilities of the forces. The squadrons and detachments in the field should strengthen observation, management, patrol, inspection, and control; intensify propaganda and resolutely handle violations, especially IUU violations.

In maritime security work, the Regional Command shall closely monitor weather and hydrometeorological data, and seriously maintains the duty regimes at all levels. It will closely coordinates with friendly forces, local authorities, businesses, and ministries and agencies in developing plans, reviewing, managing, and accurately assessing human resources, vessels, and civilian means for protecting national sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction at sea, in accordance with Government Decree No. 04/2024/ND-CP dated 16 September 2024. It will proactively coordinate with functional forces and local authorities to effectively carry out tasks related to maritime security; promptly report and propose handling measures within its authority; coordinate closely with forces in maintaining political security, order, and social safety in the area; mobilise forces and resources according to plans, contributing to enhancing potential and building a solid national defence and people's security posture.

Conducting training

Fourth, ensuring adequate and timely logistical, technical, and financial support for all tasks. The Regional Command continues to thoroughly study and effectively implement resolutions and directives of senior levels regarding logistics and technical work, in conjunction with promoting the Emulation movement of “Military Logistics Sector following Uncle Ho’s teachings” and Campaign 50, with a focus on support for training, combat readiness, patrol and control, crime prevention, IUU prevention, etc. Agencies and units should strengthen efforts to create and maintain combat readiness reserves on shore and on ships according to regulations; foster agricultural production to improve the living standards and health of soldiers. Strengthen training on building military kitchens, management and exploitation of weapons and equipment, and ensure traffic safety. During the course of implementation, the Regional Command shall invest in and upgrade equipment for the maintenance and repair of vehicles, weapons, and technical equipment; maintain “Technical Day” and preservation regimes orderly; strictly implement regulations on disaster prevention and control, fire prevention, and ensuring the safety of warehouses and stations, ensuring that the maintenance coefficient of weapons, equipment, and vehicles always meets and exceeds regulations, and the preservation, maintenance, upgradation and extension of the service life of all types of weapons and technical equipment are conducted according to procedures with absolute safety.

The synchronised and effective implementation of the above solutions provides a solid foundation for Coast Guard Region 4 to successfully fulfill its mission of building an all-strong, “exemplary and typical” unit, fulfilling all tasks in managing and enforcing the law, and maintaining security, order, and safety in the southwestern seas and islands of the Fatherland.

Major General DAO BA VIET, Regional Commander