The Viet Nam People’s Police Force (PPF) is part of the People’s Public Security Forces (PPSF) of Viet Nam.  During the past 70 years, the PPF has been trained and cared for by the Communist Party, late President Ho Chi Minh and the Ministry of Public Security (MPS). Consequently, the PPF have developed and matured in all aspects of policing. They have successfully fulfilled their duty of maintaining public safety and order and contributed to the process of building and defending the Fatherland.

On 3rd February 1930, the Communist Party of Viet Nam was born, marking the turning point of the revolutionary history of Viet Nam. At this time, the Party led the people to conduct the NgheTinh Soviet Movement in 1930 - 1931, which signaled the collapse of the colonial - feudalist government. During this time, the ‘Red Safeguard’ teams - the forerunner of thePPF, were established. They led the way in the fight against terrorists and in suppressing revolutionary traitors in order to maintain security and peace. On the 15th May 1945, the BacKy Party Committee established ‘The Team Against Evils’ later renamed to ‘Viet Minh Team’.

On the 19th August 1945, the first organization of the PPF was formed after the success of the revolution. A number of key departments were established including the Secret Service, the Police Service in the North, the Surveillance Service in the Center, the ‘National Safeguard’ unit in the South as well as police departments in almost every province. The intelligence services and the police forces made considerable contributions towards the protection of the leaders of the Communist Party, the State and President Ho Chi Minh himself as they moved from the safe base in the Northern area to Ha Noi. They then cooperated with other forces to provide security and protection for the historic Independence Day of the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam on the 2nd September 1945.

In order to unify the nationwide forces, on the 21st February 1946, President Ho Chi Minh signed Decree 23 which merged all Police Departments and Secret Services into the Viet Nam Public Security Service (VNPSS). This was an important historical milestone marking the growth of the PPSF in general and the PPF, in particular. Although newly formed and lacking staff, capacity and facilities, the PPF demonstrated absolute loyalty to the Party, to the motherland and to the people. They overcame hardships and difficulties to fulfill all their duties and won many outstanding victories. The most prominent of which belonged to the VNPSS (including surveillance force and volunteer police) when they attacked the headquarters of ‘the Viet Nam Nationalist Party’ at No 7 On NhuHau street (now called Nguyen GiaThieu Street, Ha Noi) and dismantled a conspiracy to cause rioting in the streets with the intention of overthrowing the government.

In February 1953 President Ho Chi Minh signed Decree 141/SL to upgrade the VNPSS to the Sub-Ministry of Public Security (an organization headed by a Vice Minister). This was in response to new requirements to protect national security as well as maintaining public order and safety. This order identified its organizational structure and included seven departments and divisions. One of these was the Department of Security and Public Order Administration which was the predecessor of the PPF.

At the session of the Government Council presided over by President Ho Chi Minh from the 27th to 29th August 1953, the Sub-Ministry was upgraded to the ‘Ministry of Public Security’. As a result of the wars, the PPF suffered many hardships and difficulties but gained many outstanding achievements which played an important part in the protection of the young revolutionary government. In June 1956, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Viet Nam issued Directive 30/CT-TW on the establishment of the PPF. Immediately afterwards, the Prime Minister signed Decision 982/TT to establish the People's Police Department under the MPS. This directive was signed to assist in the fight against criminals and revolution traitors, to maintain public order and to support the Southern battlefields. Recognizing the growth of the PPF, on the 20th July 1962, President Ho Chi Minh signed Decree 34/LCT to announce the Ordinance that stipulated the functions and responsibilities of the PPF and defined the ranks of commissioned and non-commissioned officers in the PPF. This is an important event marking an historical moment in the history of the PPF and demonstrates the trust and esteem in which the PPF was held by the Communist Party, the Government and the People.

On the 12th June 1981, after considering the new requirements of the country after unification, the Prime Minister issued Decree 250/CP which defined the authority and responsibilities of the Ministry of Interior (now the Ministry of Public Security), including the General Department of Police (GDP). Right after that, the Minister of Interior signed Decision 12-QD/BNV that prescribed the duties, powers and structure of the GDP with 12 subordinate units. To meet the requirements in different regions of the country, the GDP changed its organizational structure  four times to enhance its  effectiveness in  preventing crime, combatting  hostile enemies,  maintaining political stability, as well as ensuring public order and safety. In particular, the system employed by investigation agencies at all levels is defined under the Ordinance of Criminal Investigation Organization in 2004. Many functional units were established, including: The Department of Police Politics, the Departmentof Logistics, the Department of Police Archives (1987), the Viet Nam Interpol Office (1995), the Department of Drug Crime Investigation (1997), the Standing Office on Drug Control (1998), the Department of Environmental Police (2007), the Department of High-Tech Crime Investigation (2010), the Department of Fugitive Pursuit (2010), the Department of National Population Data Management (2012) and the  Department of Anti-Smuggling (2015). 

Implementing the Party's new policies, the PPF actively drafted and recommended many legal documents to the MPS leaders to improve and reform aspects of policing to maintain public safety and order and to fight against crimes (especially organized crime). In particular, in 2003 the PPF successfully explored the case Truong Van Cam and his accomplices. This was a criminal organization operating likes ’gangsters’ in Ho Chi Minh City. The Police force also investigated and discovered many economic crime cases.

As the PPF has developed and grown, its achievements have been recognized by the Party and the State of Viet Nam which has honored it with many remarkable awards. These have included a Gold Star Order in 2003, Hero of People's Armed Force in 2007, Ho Chi Minh Orders and thousands of prizes for both individuals and groups of the PPF. On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the PPF, the State Council presented it with a commendation flag bearing the words ‘Viet Nam Police: smart, brave, sacrifice for sake of the country, of the people’. This was not only a great honor but also provided positive encouragement for the PPF of Viet Nam.