Colonel general (Vietnam)

Colonel general
Thượng tướng
Four-star insignia of the rank of Colonel general (Ground Force)
Four-star insignia of the rank of Colonel general (Air Force)
Country Vietnam
Service branch
Rank groupGeneral officer
RankThree-star
NATO rank codeOF-9
Formation1958
Next higher rank Army general
Next lower rank Lieutenant general
Equivalent ranks Admiral
Colonel general

Colonel general (Vietnamese: Thượng tướng) is a high-ranking general, holding the second highest officer rank in the Vietnam People's Army Military Rank system with the insignia of 3 gold stars.

According to the current regulations in Article 88 of the 2013 Vietnamese Constitution, general officer ranks (including the ranks of Colonel general and Admiral) are awarded by the President and Chairman of the National Defense and Security Council.

The military rank of Colonel general (in the Navy, also known as Admiral of the Vietnam People's Navy) is only conferred on high-ranking generals holding the following positions: Deputy Minister of National Defense, Chief of the General Staff, Director of the General Political Department, Deputy Chief of the General Staff, deputy director of the General Political Department, Director of the National Defense Academy, Political Commissar of the National Defense Academy, Deputy Minister of National Defense cum Commander of the Navy, and Chairman of the National Assembly's National Defense and Security Committee.