Who can defer military service in Vietnam in 2027?

Vietnam’s existing military service law continues to govern deferments for the 2027 recruitment period, according to lawyer Nguyen Hong Linh of the Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association.

The law recognizes eight categories for temporary deferment. They include citizens found medically unfit by a health examination council, sole workers directly supporting dependants who cannot work or are under working age, and people whose families have suffered serious human or property losses from accidents, natural disasters or dangerous epidemics, with confirmation from local authorities.

A deferment may also apply to one child of a war invalid or a person exposed to toxic chemicals whose working capacity has fallen by 61% to 80%. It covers people with a sibling serving as a non-commissioned officer or soldier, or performing compulsory service in the People’s Public Security force.

The other categories include people resettled in specially disadvantaged communes during the first three years of a state development project; officials, civil servants, public employees and youth volunteers assigned to work in areas with especially difficult socioeconomic conditions; full-time students in general education, university or college programs during one training course; and standing militia members.

The article stresses that deferment does not equal exemption. Once the reason for deferment ends, a citizen may still be called up if they remain within the age limit and meet the legal conditions. Citizens can be called from age 18 through 25, while those whose university or college service was deferred may be called through the end of age 27.

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The cases for temporary deferment from enlistment continue to be implemented under the 2015 Law on Military Service.