Vietnam's Strategic Relations Countering China

Vietnam's main naval bases and the major vessels in them (above). The Navy consists mainly of Russian built smaller craft. The (potentially Klub missile armed) Gepard class frigates and Klub armed Improved Kilo submarines are the most powerful units. The TT-400TPs gunboats and Molniya corvettes are locally built. The Navy is orientated toward  low-end Chinese actions (Chinese coast guard, naval militia/trawler, contentious oil rigs and verbal threats) in the South China Sea and periodic clashes with China.

Vietnam's Naval Regions - slightly out of sequence, north to south, due to numbering adhering to political importance of Regions 1 and 2. Hai Phong Region is 1 as it contains the capital Hanoi. The Nhon Trach Region is 2, containing Ho Chi Minh City (was Saigon). (Artwork on wikipedia courtesy dokientrung).

---

Nhon Trach Naval Base (Regional Command 2), just up the river network, is the home port for (2 new Molniya derivative of Tarantul) class corvettes built in Vietnam.

The two Region 2 Molniya corvettes carry the numbers HQ-377 and HQ-378 (photo above), max speed 70 km/h, range ~3000 km) and carry a heavy armament for ships that size - including Klub missiles. I am advised these modern boats could serve as back-up for Region 4 naval vessels to patrol the Spratly Island group.

---

Russia's delivery of five Improved Kilo submarines to Vietnam over the last few years has been very efficient. In early February 2016 the fiftth Kilo HQ-186 Da Nang was delivered to Vietnam's major naval base at Cam Ranh Bay. The sixth, final, submarine, HQ-187 Ba Ria - Vung Tau, is expected to be delivered later in 2016.

Here is a full list of the 6 Vietnamese Navy Kilos with Vietnamese accent markers:

-  HQ-182 Hà Nội
-  HQ-183 Hồ Chí Minh City
-  HQ-184 Hải Phòng
-  HQ-185 Khánh Hoà
-  HQ-186 Đà Nẵng
-  HQ-187 Bà Riạ-Vũng Tàu

The last sub is currently under sea trial and scheduled to be delivered mid 2016. Most likely, it will be delivered on schedule, since the delivery record for previous subs by the Russians has been impeccable.

Vietnam (having an unfortunate northern border with China) maintains relations with several regional powers to counterbalance China's power. Singapore sits just above the Strait of Malacca, a chokepoint easily mined or submarine blocked against opposing sea trade. Vietnam's long coast on South China Sea puts it in a good position to disrupt or threaten Chinese sea trade.

---

Unlike other Southeast Asian/ASEAN countries Vietnam has defended itself from large outside powers and beaten them in the last 50 years. This has contributed to a rational defence posture that has not been tainted by the regional norm of inefficiency.

The methodical, focussed nature of Vietnam's defence force is only equaled in Southeast Asia by Singapore. Singapore recognises it is dwarfed by its Indonesian and Malaysian neighbours so Singapore has bought high tech weapons from the US and Western Europe. In return Singapore has tangible support from the US military.

Vietnam's purchase of six Russian submarines is just part of Vietnam's commercial and strategic relationship with Russia. Here were tentative early days of the submarine deal. This relationship is not an alliance but Vietnam realises that when it again is threatened by China (as in 1979-1990) Russia and to some extent the US can exert political and economic pressure on China. 

On land Vietnam can inflict high casualties on encroaching Chinese forces - as Vietnam did in the 1979 Border "Sino-Vietnamese" War. That 1979 Border War was large, with more than 100,000 Chinese troops and militia killed. But Vietnam realises it cannot beat China alone. 

Vietnam's submarines can do major damage to China through putting China's sea trade (especially oil and LNG supplies) at risk. Vietnam's submarines are armed with Klub missiles that have a land attack capability. Chinese leaders and military would lose considerable face if Vietnamese missiles hit such major Chinese cities as Guangzhou and Shanghai. Militarily China's Sanya Naval Base on Hainan Island might get some missile attention in a war. Vietnam's frigates and corvettes are also being  fitted with Russia's newly proven ship launched Klub/Kalibr with land attack capability.

In addition to Russia and the US Vietnam has close relations with such regional powers as India, Japan, South Korea and Australia. 

Although there is the strategic threat from China Vietnam has close economic relations with China. 

Australia also has the conundrum of close economic relations but frosty strategic relations with China.

Vietnam also has long term nuclear energy aspirations - a complication not lost on China. Here is an earlier nuclear report on Submarine Matters.

Pete