General Department of Defence Intelligence


The General Department of Defence Intelligence, also recognized by its internal designation General Department II, is a general department -level agency under the Vietnam Ministry of Defence and the strategic military intelligence service of the Vietnam People’s Army, which practically being the biggest existing intelligence body under the Vietnamese government. GDDI is intended to directly carry out intelligence activities at the strategic level, meanwhile serving as the advisory organ for the Minister of National Defence and the Chief of the [General Staff (Vietnam)|General Chief of Staff] to consult on the force organization and intelligence operations. It is the lead department directly responsible for instructing and guiding the army’s military intelligence and reconnaissance network in terms of professional intelligence in Vietnam.

Combat formations

GDDI commissions at least three formal combatant brigades, being field reconnaissance formations. Designated as the special reconnaissance forces, they are capable of conducting dedicated frontline military offensive operations as well as infiltration campaigns serving the Vietnamese interests. A majority of GDDI's characteristics and organization is not formally publicized.