The ZBD-05 or VN-18 is equipped with a two man turret, armed with a 30 mm cannon, one single missile rail launcher is mounted to each side of the turret for the wire-guided Hong Jian-73C anti-tank guided missiles tat can fire to a range from 4 to 5 km. A 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun is mounted to the left side of the main armament. A 12.7mm machine gun can be mounted on the roof of the turret. Two lines of two smoke-grenades discharger are mounted to each side of the turret.

The layout of the ZBD-05 or VN-18 consists of three main parts with the powerpack at the front, turret in the centre of the hull and troop's compartment at the rear. It has a crew of three including driver, commander and gunner and can accommodate up to ten fully equipped soldiers. The driver is seated on the left side at the front of the hull with the engine on its right. Commander and gunner are positioned inside in the turret. The troops can enter and leave the vehicle via a single door mounted at the rear of the hull that opens to the right. The hull and the turret of the ZTD-05 are of all-welded steel armour construction, which give protection against fire of small arms and shell splinters.