The General Department of Defence Intelligence (GDDI; Vietnamese: Tổng cục Tình báo quốc phòng - TBQP, lit. 'General Department of Intelligence for national defence', sometimes Tổng cục Tình báo, lit.'General Department of Intelligence'),[1] also recognized by its internal designation General Department II (Tổng cục II or less formally Tổng cục 2 - TC2),[2] is a general department (tổng cục)-level agency under the Vietnam Ministry of Defence and the strategic militaryintelligence service of the Vietnam People’s Army, which practically being the biggest existing intelligence body under the Vietnamese government. GDDI is intended to directly carry out intelligence activities at the strategic level, meanwhile serving as the advisory organ for the Minister of National Defence and the General Chief of Staff to consult on the force organization and intelligence operations. It is the lead department directly responsible for instructing and guiding the army’s military intelligence and reconnaissance network in terms of professional intelligence in Vietnam.[3]
Combat formations
GDDI commissions at least three formal combatant brigades, being field reconnaisance formations.[4] Designated as the special reconnaissance forces (trinh sát đặc nhiệm), they are capable of conducting dedicated frontline military offensive operations as well as infiltration campaigns serving the Vietnamese interests. A majority of GDDI's characteristics and organization is not formally publicized.
