President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Protection Command

The President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Protection Command (Vietnamese: Bộ Tư lệnh bảo vệ Lăng Chủ tịch Hồ Chí Minh), also known by its military designation Unit 969 (Đoàn 969) is the specialised force of the Vietnam People's Army tasked with protecting and providing ceremonial guards for the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. As a branch of the military, the force is under the executive administration of the Vietnam Ministry of National Defence.^[1]

President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Protection Command
Bộ Tư lệnh Bảo vệ Lăng Chủ tịch Hồ Chí Minh
Insignia of the President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Defence Force
Founded	14 May 1976; 49 years ago (1976-05-14)
Country	Vietnam
Allegiance	Communist Party of Vietnam
Role	Ceremonial guard
Size	1,000 personnel
Part of	People's Army of Vietnam
Nickname	Unit 969
Anniversaries	29 August 1975
Commanders
Commander-in-Chief	General Secretary Tô Lâm
Commander	Senior colonel Phạm Hải Trung
Political Commissar	Major General Đinh Quốc Hùng
Chief of Staff	Major General Tran Kinh Chi (vi)

Due to the mausoleum's large size, high number of visitors, the technical specifications for the preservation of Ho Chi Minh's body, need for security and need for propaganda work, on 28 December 1975, the Standing Committee of the Central Military Commission issued Decision No. 279/VP-QU approving the establishment of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Protection Command. On 14 May 1976, the Ministry of National Defense issued Decision No. 109/QD-QP restructuring the command, placing it directly under the Ministry of National Defense.^[2]