~ Le Viêt Nam, aujourd'hui. ~
The Vietnam News

[Year 1997]
[Year 1998]
[Year 1999]
[Year 2000]
[Year 2001]

Vietnam women get call-up

The Vietnamese army is to conscript women for the first time since the Vietnam War. A government official in charge of military affairs, Le Duy Toan, told the BBC the army was seeking women aged from 18 to 40 with qualifications in computing, secretarial work or librarianship. He denied the move had been made in response to a shortage of qualified recruits.

During the Vietnam War, which ended in 1975, millions of women took part in road building, as well as combat. These new recruits would have the rank of second-class reservist and, like men, would have to do one year of military service.

Growing problem

Mr Le said a decree about female recruitment had been issued and would come into force in 10 days time. Army recruitment officers told AFP news agency that government departments and state-owned companies would be expected to provide the army with details of the professional qualifications of their female staff.

The People's Army is facing a growing problem of calling up enough conscripts, an Asian diplomat told the agency. The diplomat said: "Economic growth coupled with widespread corruption has allowed more and more young Vietnamese with an education to avoid doing their military service."

BBC News - November 14, 2001.