The chief of the General Staff (alternatively the general chief of staff; ) is the chief of staff of the General Staff of the People's Army of Vietnam. The chief of the General Staff performs the task of advising the minister of defense in terms of state management and military command, by that practically being the second highest-ranking professional leader of the Vietnam PeopleâÂÂs Army alongside the Chief of the General Department of Political Affairs. The chief of the General Staff also serves ex officio as standing deputy minister of defense. He is appointed by the president of Vietnam, who is the commander-in-chief. The current chief of the General Staff is Army General Nguyá» n Tân Cðáng
The Vietnamese general chief of staff is externally equivalent to the chiefs of defence or heads of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of other countries.