The President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Defence Force (also known as the Vietnamese: Đoàn 969, lit. '969 Corps') under the Ministry of National Defense of Vietnam, is the specialised force of the People's Army of Vietnam tasked with protecting and providing ceremonial guards for the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.[1]
| President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Defence Force | |
|---|---|
 Insignia of the President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Defence Force | |
| Founded | 14 May 1976 |
| Country |  Vietnam |
| Allegiance | Communist Party of Vietnam |
| Role | Ceremonial guard |
| Size | 1,000 personnel |
| Part of |  People's Army of Vietnam |
| Anniversaries | 29 August 1975 |
| Commanders | |
| Commander-in-Chief | President Võ Văn Thưởng |
| Commander | Senior colonel Phạm Hải Trung |
| Political Commissar | Major General Đinh Quốc Hùng |
| Chief of Staff | Major General Tran Kinh Chi |
Due to the mausoleum's large size, high number of visitors, the technical specifications for the preservation of Ho Chi Minh's body, need for security and need for propaganda work, on 28 December 1975, the Standing Committee of the Central Military Commission issued Decision No. 279/VP-QU approving the establishment of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Protection Command. On 14 May 1976, the Ministry of National Defense issued Decision No. 109/QD-QP restructuring the command as the President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Defence Force, directly under the Ministry of National Defense.[2]
References edit
- ^ "Ban quản lý lăng chủ tᴉch Hồ Chí Minh" [Management Board of Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum] (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 26 May 2021.
- ^ "Bộ Tư lệnh Bảo vệ Lăng Chủ tịch Hồ Chí Minh được thành lập, vừa xây dựng, vừa trưởng thành, hoàn thành xuất sắc nhiệm vụ chính trị đặc biệt (1975–1991)" [The High Command to Protect Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum was established, both built and matured, successfully completed a special political task (1975–1991)] (in Vietnamese).