Members of the special operations command and commonly called commandos, they are special soldiers of the Vietnam Army with exceptional skills.

Part 1: Combatants of Vietnam army exceptionally skilledPart 2: Combat skills of Vietnam’s naval special force

The can keep vigil an entire night, ‘anchor’ under water for 20 hours, lie buried in hot sand under scorching sunlight for days, run 40km with only an hour break, and swim 7km while carrying heavy weapons.

The combatants use disguise and wait for hours to ambush targets. They practice special reconnaissance, unconventional warfare, and covert demolition operations against enemies violating national sovereignty.

Other standard training includes parachuting, practicing kung fu, learning how to use various dangerous weapons, and studying multiple foreign languages.

Brutal training

In the darkness and foggy cold of early morning during the rainy season in the central highland of Vietnam, a siren sounded and immediately heavy footsteps were heard in the soldiers’ barracks.

It was 5:00am and time to get up. Soldiers start the day before dawn, tidying themselves up and having breakfast before the long day ahead.

A fake battlefield built to replicate a genuine field lies in the middle of the camp. It is comprised of a small forest of trees and bushes as well as sand dunes. Blockhouses, models of tanks, shelters, and trenches are scattered throughout the field. Spike boards and sharp barbed wires complete the menacing area.

Senior lieutenant colonel Phan Ich Dan, deputy political commissar of commando brigade 198, pointed towards the forest saying, “The training field must look like a genuine battlefield so that soldiers are not surprised when they encounter the real thing.

“No other place is more miserable or more difficult to train in,” he added. “We must always be ready for combat, so hard training is essential.”

It was only when the official suddenly ordered, “Stand up!” that the Tuoi Tre journalist realized that soldiers were surrounding him, disguised in the field. With guns in hands, they quickly appeared, their hands and faces covered with grass, mud, and sand. They wore only small underpants. They crawled swiftly past trenches and barbed wire without making a sound.

“The soldiers can lie motionless so that the battlefield is not revealed. They can also hide beneath hot sand or mud for hours to neutralize their flesh odor to deceive hunting dogs,” Dan revealed.

Dang Van Giang, a soldier of battalion 35 of brigade 198, admitted, “I got used to training. Here we lie under hot sand in sunny days and soak ourselves under water in cold days. It is an accomplishment to be recruited into the commando forces, so I don’t see it as a negative experience.”

If the temperature outside is 35 degree Celsius, it will be anywhere from 37 to an excruciating 45 degrees in the sand, he added.

A member of the unit for three years, Giang admitted that he is still a rookie compared to those with more experience, though he has been training all day long practicing kung fu, shooting, and occupation and rescuing missions.

Battle-hardened combatants

A seasoned combatant of the commando force must be both brave and clever in order to infiltrate the core of the enemy to launch sudden attacks. They also must be judicious and cunning so that when threatened by a large force, they can counterattack with equal strength even if their force is smaller.

It is the combat method of the Vietnamese commando.

Being in the commando force is certainly difficult, but once promoted to the ‘combatant’ level, much more is asked of a solider. It is a demanding job, but the dream of any young commando.

Captain Pham Danh Do from Cam Xuyen, Ha Tinh Province in the central region, who is the head of the CKB (anti terrorism) commando unit, said his team is comprised of combatants with special capabilities.

The 35-year soldier added, “We are in charge of protecting all ports from Tien Sa Port in Da Nang to the border of Ho Chi Minh City. We also protect frontier areas and key sites in the central region.

“Each combat here has own special talent. One can swim like an otter; another can shoot with a gun in each hand with unfailing accuracy. One is an expert sniper, another a kung fu master.

“We master all different kinds of guns. The target for shooting training is only 15x15cm and placed 800m – 1,000m away,” Do said.

Serving as a commando during the military conflicts in the northern border in 1979, colonel Vu The Phiet – head of brigade 198 – said, “We are always the last one to withdraw from the battlefield. Our force is small but always terrifies the enemy.”