Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has issued a plan on the implementation of the Law on Vietnam Coast Guard, which was approved by the National Assembly in November 2018 and will take effect in July 2019. 
Vietnam Coast Guard takes patrol. Illustrative photo
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The law comprises eight chapters and 41 articles, defining the role and position of the Vietnamese coast guards as the state’s specialized forces which enforce laws, protect national security, and maintain order and safety at sea.
The law prescribes powers and tasks of the Vietnamese coast guards.
Accordingly, the coast guards have the rights to (i) patrol the sea, control people and the circulation of vessels, shipment within Vietnamese waters, (ii) stop and search ships, chase and seize ships suspected of violating laws at sea, (iii) fine and conduct investigations if necessary, (iv) use weapons and explosives when needed, (v) mobilize civil forces in emergency cases.
Remarkably, the Vietnamese coast guards have the rights to shoot at ships at sea in specific cases, excepting those belong to diplomatic agencies, international organizations, ships with people or hostages aboard.
