Government ministries
The origins of these institutions may be traced back to the creation of the Ministry of Information and Propaganda (Bộ Thông tin Tuyên truyền) on 25 August 1945. That institution subsequently underwent numerous changes of name, including Ministry of Propaganda and Mobilisation (Bộ Tuyên truyền và Cổ động, 1946), Ministry of Propaganda (Bộ Tuyên truyền, 1954), Ministry of Culture (Bộ Văn hóa, 1955), Ministry of Culture and Information (Bộ Văn hóa Thông tin, 1977), Ministry of Culture, Information, Sport and Tourism (Bộ Văn hóa, Thông tin, Thể thao và Du lịch, 1990) and Ministry of Culture and Information (Bộ Văn hóa Thông tin, 1992).
In July 2007 the Prime Minister presented a plan to the National Assembly for reorganising the structure of the government, merging ministries and increasing the number of Deputy Prime Ministers. In accordance with this plan, in December 2007 a
Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) was established, grouping together the cultural responsibilities of the former Ministry of Culture and Information with those of sports (represented by a new National Administration of Sports) and tourism (represented by the
Việt Nam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT)). Responsibility for press and publishing meanwhile was transferred to the former Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, which was now renamed as the
Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC).
Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism operates in accordance with the terms of Resolution 178/2007/NÐ-CP of 3 December 2007 on the Functions, Responsibilities, Rights and Organisational Structure of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
According to Article 1 of this Decision, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is responsible for state administration in respect of culture, the family, physical education, sport and tourism throughout the entire country and for managing services in all of these sectors.
Article 2 outlines the general responsibilities of the Ministry, which include: (i) reporting to the Government on project laws, draft decisions and resolutions of the National Assembly and the Standing Committee of the National Assembly, and on decrees of the government according to approved programmes and plans to establish new laws and other projects according to the allocation of the government; (ii) reporting to the Prime Minister each year on strategies, programmes and long-term plans, and on programme targets of the government, programmes of action and projects, important national works, and draft decisions and instructions of the Prime Minister in the field of culture, family, exercise, sport and tourism; (iii) reporting to the Prime Minister on state awards and honorary titles in the culture, family, exercise, sport and tourism sectors, and deciding on the establishment of national councils in the culture, family, exercise, sport and tourism sectors; (iv) promulgating general decisions and instructions within the state management responsibilities of the Ministry; and (v) guiding, leading, checking and taking responsibility for the implementation of written texts regarding procedural laws, strategies, programmes and plans authorised within the state management responsibilities of the Ministry, and propagating, publicizing and educating the public about the laws on each area within the state management responsibilities of the Ministry.
Article 2 goes on to outline the sectoral responsibilities of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in the following areas:
The responsibilities of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in the field of
Cultural Heritage are as follows:
(i) Submitting for approval by the Prime Minister: (a) programmes to preserve and develop the value of the cultural heritage, organising and overseeing their implementation following authorisation; (b) the setting up of national museums and special museums; (c) the classification and regulation of preservation areas surrounding special national vestiges; (d) proposals to the
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to recognise typical Vietnamese cultural and natural heritage assets as world heritage; (e) administration of projects relating to the tangible heritage, including historic and cultural vestiges, famous temples, scenic beauty spots, relics, antiques and national treasures, except in the case of laws or decrees which state otherwise; and (f) requests for approval for national treasures to be taken out of the country.
(ii) Taking decisions on (a) classification of national vestiges and class 1 museums, regulation of preservation areas surrounding national vestiges, and the entrusting of relics, antiques and national treasures to state museums according to their function and in accordance with the law; (b) giving approval for plans for projects to preserve, repair and restore national vestiges and special national vestiges according to law, and approving and agreeing works in class II preservation areas surrounding national vestiges and special national vestiges; (c) examining and approving plans for preservation projects, repairs and restoration works on national vestiges and special national vestiges, as well as reconstruction and restoration projects on threatened vestiges located outside national vestige and special national vestige preservation areas; (d) giving permission to investigate and exhume archaeological artifacts, to take artifacts and antiques overseas, to copy antiques and national treasures in the care of national museums and special museums, and to arrange permission for overseas Vietnamese and foreigners to undertake research on and collect physical cultural heritage in Việt Nam.
(iii) Guiding activities to preserve and develop the value of cultural heritage, including traditional festivals and beliefs connected with historical vestiges and personages.
(iv) Taking the lead and co-ordinating with other agencies and organisations in the management and use of resources to preserve and develop the cultural heritage.
(v) Acknowledging and bestowing honourable titles in each profession involved in the work of preserving, presenting and imparting knowledge on the intangible cultural heritage.
The responsibilities of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in the field of Performing Arts are as follows:
(i) Guiding and implementing regulations relating to each state performing arts organisation after approval by the Prime Minister.
(ii) Promulgating regulations on professional performing arts activity, and regulating and organising festivals, examinations and performing arts competitions.
(iii) Promulgating regulations on beauty contests, fashion shows, karaoke and ballroom dancing.
(iv) Guiding the provision of permits for performers and performances in the professional performing arts.
(v) Deciding, examining and giving approval for plays and other works by Vietnamese performing groups and individuals, and giving permission for Vietnamese performing groups and individuals to travel overseas to perform and for foreign performing groups and individuals organisation to come to Việt Nam to perform
(vi) Promulgating regulations on the production and publication of musical and theatrical recordings
The responsibilities of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in the field of Film are as follows:
(i) Guiding and implementing the regulations in relation to each state film organisation following approval by the Prime Minister.
(ii) Organising national and international film festivals, days of foreign film in Việt Nam and days of Vietnamese film overseas.
(iii) Managing the storage and archiving of documentation and stills relating to Vietnamese film both at home and abroad.
(iv) Giving approval for the publicising of films.
The responsibilities of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in the field of Fine Arts, Photography and Exhibitions are as follows:
(i) Guiding and implementing plans for national statues and paintings following approval by the Prime Minister.
(ii) Promulgating regulations relating to activities in fine art, photography, installation art, performance and video art, and organise national sculpture creativity camps in Việt Nam.
(iii) Planning and organising national and international displays and exhibitions of fine art and photography.
(iv) Setting up special councils to examine and approve art and estimate works of art according to regulations.
The responsibilities of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in the field of Literature and Art Copyright are as follows:
(i) Guiding the implementation of regulations regarding the system of author’s emoluments for copyright and related rights of authors and owners of literary and art copyright.
(ii) Guiding the implementation of regulations of law on copyright and related rights of authors and owners of literary and art copyright.
(iii) Protecting the rights and benefits of organisations and individuals according to the law of the state in area of copyright and related rights of authors and owners of literary and art copyright.
(iv) Determining provision, co-operation, conduct of business, use and guarantee of copyright in relation to works and related rights for performing arts, recorded works, recorded images and transmitted programmes.
(v) Guiding the protection of copyright in relation to literary works, art and related rights for each specialisation, area and trade, and in relation to all social organisations and citizens.
The responsibilities of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in the field of Libraries are as follows:
(i) Guiding and implementing regulations in relation to the library network following approval by the Prime Minister.
(ii) Deciding on inter-library co-operation and inter-library loan of books, newspapers, and documents both internationally and within Viet Nam.
(iii) Guiding the establishment and activities of local libraries.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is responsible for overall state administration regarding Advertising:
(i) Issuing, correcting/changing, revising and where necessary withdrawing from circulation permits to foreign advertising organisations or businesses to establish branch offices.
(ii) Inspecting, checking and dealing with actions in violation of the law by agencies, organisations and individuals involved in advertising in media other than in newspapers, on the web and in published works and implement other functions and powers according to the law.
(iii) Taking the lead and co-ordinating with the
Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) in promulgating procedures for giving approval for advertising, inspection, checking and dealing with actions in violation of the law in the area of advertising in newspapers, on the web and in published works.
The responsibilities of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in the field of Mass Culture, Ethnic Culture and Propaganda are as follows:
(i) Guiding, organising and implementing regulations regarding official state ceremonies and the greeting of foreign guests, memorial ceremonies, funeral rites and other ceremonies according to the requirements of the government.
(ii) Guiding and implementing regulations for cultural institutions following approval by the Prime Minister.
(iii) Developing and promulgating policies for the preservation and development of intangible cultural values amongst all the ethnic groups of Viet Nam.
(iv) Conducting, administering, checking and giving guidance on the implementation of cultural policy towards the ethnic groups.
(v) Promulgating regulations for the organisation of festivals, examinations and mass culture competitions and the administration of cultural activities and cultural services in public places.
(vi) Promulgating regulations for leading and giving guidance to people’s movements for building a cultured life, for general basic cultural propaganda activities and for the organisation of festivals.
The responsibilities of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in respect of the Family are
(i) Taking the lead and co-ordinating with other ministries and related sectors in implementing the law to guarantee equal rights and stop violence in the family.
(ii) Taking the lead and co-ordinating with other ministries and related sectors in the task of building and developing the ‘family of culture’ concept.
(iii) Organising and guiding the gathering and archiving of information relating to the family, and giving guidance on and review practical experience in the broadening of the ‘family of culture’ concept
(iv) Propagating and educating the public about lifestyle and how to behave in the traditional Vietnamese family.
The responsibilities of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in the field of Physical Education and Sport for all are
(i) Guiding and implementing national strategies, regulations, plans and programmes for the development of physical education and sport following approval by the Prime Minister.
(ii) Organising and giving guidance in the task of building a cadre of popular physical education and sports guides and practitioners and strengthening the profession of physical education and sports guides and practitioners.
(iii) Taking the lead and collaborating with each sector and each locality in carrying out investigations amongst the citizenry, applying and developing each branch of ethnic sport and each traditional method of training both in and outside the country; guiding the organisation of mass sports competitions at national level; liaising with the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Police to lead on the implemention of physical education and sports education in schools and in the armed forces; and guiding and registering the activities of each public physical education and sports club or organisation.
The responsibilities of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in the field of Professional Sports are
(i) Submitting for approval by the Prime Minister plans to organise international, national and local physical education and sports conferences and international, national and local prizes for championships in each sports sector.
(ii) Guiding and implementing a strategy and regulations for the development of sports to a high professional standard following approval by the Prime Minister.
(iii) Guiding and implementing regulations regarding systems and policies for athletes, coaches and referees; detailed decision-making regarding ownership of prizes and awards for professional sports following approval by the Prime Minister.
(iv) Giving permission for the presentation of annual national championship competition prizes and national youth prizes in each branch of sports.
(v) Promulgating criteria and guiding the bestowal of titles on athletes, coaches and referees; acknowledging and bestowing international sports titles on Vietnamese athletes, coaches and referees according to the law.
(vi) Promulgating regulations and selecting athletes for national sports teams; determining the order and procedure for selecting national sports teams.
(vii) Guiding the development of training programmes for sports athletes, coaches and referees.
(viii) Guiding and registering the activities of professional sports training organisations.
The responsibilities of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in the field of Natural Resources for Tourism and Tourism Planning are
(i) Guiding and implementing general plans to develop the tourism sector and national tourism areas and places after approval by the Prime Minister.
(ii) Promulgating regulations for inspecting and evaluating the classification of natural resources for tourism.
(iii) Taking the lead and liaising with every ministry, sector and provincial/municipal people’s committee in inspecting and evaluating the classification of natural resources for tourism; promulgating decisions regarding the preservation, upgrading, development, exploitation and use of natural resources and the environment in tourism areas and places.
The responsibilities of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in the field of Tourism Areas and Places, Tourism Zones, Tourism Towns are
(i) Reporting to the Prime Minister on the recognition of national tourism areas and places and national tourism zones.
(ii) Organising and promulgating information about public national tourism areas, tourism zones and tourism towns after approval by the Prime Minister.
(iii) Guiding and inspecting the classification and recognition of national tourism areas and places and national tourism zones.
(iv) Liaising with the Ministry of Planning in the examination and approval of proposals by provincial or municipal people’s committees to recognise tourism towns.
(v) Promulgating regulations regarding the administration of tourism areas in cases where administrative boundaries place them under more than two different municipal/provincial people’s committees.
The responsibilities of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in the field of Tour Guiding are
Promulgating regulations for control, procedures, provision of official papers, reissue and withdrawal of tourist guide permits and certification papers; and national administration of procedures for the issue of tourist guide permits and certification papers according to the law.
The responsibilities of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in the field of Tourism Business are
(i) Promulgating written texts and guiding the implementation of regulations regarding travel, tourism accommodation, tourism business development, tourism places and other tourism services.
(ii) Deciding on the criteria for recognising and listing tourism accommodation; deciding on the recognition and listing of tourism accommodation from three stars upward.
(iii) Liaising with the Ministry of Transport on the transportation of tourists.
The responsibilities of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in the field of Tourism and Cultural Exchange are
(i) Guiding and implementing the establishment and activities of Vietnamese offices overseas aimed at developing Vietnamese tourism and cultural exchange and of foreign offices in Viet Nam aimed at developing foreign tourism and cultural exchange.
(ii) Taking the lead and liaising with other ministries and related sectors in building and implementing strategies, plans and programmes to speed up national tourism; taking the lead and liaising with provincial and municipal people’s committees in implementing activities to speed up the growth of domestic and international tourism; and co-ordinating activities to speed up the growth of local and regional tourism.
(iii) Building and guiding the use, exploitation and management of a national tourism database; organising and implementing the development of products to propagate and popularise tourism, plus programmes, events, fairs, conferences, exhibitions and activities relating to culture, sport and tourism at a national level, both at home and abroad.
Article 2 continues by setting out the overarching responsibilities of the Ministry:
(i) Giving approval to and implementing investment projects under its jurisdiction in the areas of culture, family, physical education, sports and tourism.
(ii) Giving approval to foreign organisations and individuals to organise cultural, physical education, sports and tourism activities in Viet Nam, and giving permission to export and import cultural products according the law.
(iii) Deciding and implementing procedures to prevent the spread of superstitious and bad practices, debauched cultural products and violations of the law in the culture, physical education, sports and tourism sectors.
(iv) Reporting to the government and the Prime Minister on the progress of negotiations and agreements to approve and join international treaties regarding culture, family, physical education, sports and tourism; implementing international treaties, participating in the activities of international organisations according to the directions of the government and the Prime Minister; participating in international exchange; implementing and assessing the effectiveness of international funding programmes and projects in the fields of culture, family, physical education, sports and tourism; and giving permission to organise international seminars on subjects relating to culture, family, physical education, sports and tourism according to the law.
(v) Organising and guiding the implementation of applied scientific research work to advance science, industry and preservation of the environment in the culture, family, physical education, sports and tourism sectors according to law.
(vi) Promulgating specialised conditions and developing standards for civil servants working in the culture, family, physical education, sports and tourism sectors, taking into account the views of the Ministry of the Interior; promulgating special standards specifically for those in charge of specialist agencies in the culture, family, physical education, sports and tourism sectors which fall under the control of provincial or municipal people’s committees; and building and promulgating special national economic and technical norms, criteria and technical standards for the culture, family, physical education, sports and tourism sectors.
(vii) In the matter of state administration, implementing public services in the culture, family, physical education, sports and tourism sectors, specifically: (a) developing and reporting to the government on structure, policies and supply of public services, and socialising the supply of public services in the culture, family, physical education, sports and tourism sectors; (b) promulgating the conditions and criteria for establishing state professional organisations in the culture, family, physical education, sports and tourism sectors; and (c) administering and giving guidance to all of the professional organisations under the Ministry.
(viii) Enforcing representative powers of ownership in accordance with the the law in respect of businesses which are part-owned by the state.
(ix) Regarding the state administration of the activities of non-governmental associations and organisations in the culture, family, physical education, sports and tourism sectors: (a) guiding and making it possible for non-governmental associations and organisations in the culture, family, physical education, sports and tourism sectors to participate in activities to build and improve state administrative regulations in the culture, family, physical education, sports and tourism sectors; and (b) solving and petitioning to solve activities in violation of the law by non-governmental associations and organisations in the culture, family, physical education, sports and tourism sectors.
(x) Inspecting, checking, solving problems, lodging complaints and making denunciations, lodging complaints from citizens, preventing and resisting corruption and negative influences, and deal with all activities in violation of the law in the culture, family, physical education, sports and tourism sectors; inspecting and checking the implementation of administrative provision within culture, family, physical education, sports and tourism sectors.
(xi) Deciding and offering guidance on the implementation of programmes to reform the administration of the Ministry in accordance with programmes to reform state administration already approved by the Prime Minister; building and improving the system of regulations and laws of state administration regarding culture, family, physical education, sports and tourism; assigning duties to each organisation and team under the Ministry; reporting to the Prime Minister on decisions to give state administration responsibilities within the culture, family, physical education, sports and tourism sectors to local authorities; giving guidance in the implementation of regulations relating to the regime of independence; taking responsibility in the allocation of duties and organisation of the apparatus, staff establishment and finances relating to state organisations in the culture, family, physical education, sports and tourism sectors; undertaking reform of administrative procedures; applying the system to administer quality in accordance with criteria TCVN ISO 9001:2000; and applying information technology in the service activities of the Ministry.
(xii) Organising, offering guidance and leading the implementation of ‘emulation drives’, praise and rewards in culture, family, physical education, sports and tourism activities.
(xiii) Managing the Ministry apparatus and staffing; giving guidance in implementing the system of wages and medical treatment, training and strengthening of professional knowledge, praise and rewards, and disciplinary procedures for cadres, government officers and civil servants under the administrative control of the Ministry.
(xiv) Administering finances, transfers of assets and the apportionment of budgets according to law.
(xv) Implementing other tasks as required by the government or the Prime Minister.
The International Co-operation Department is the first point of contact within the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for foreign governments and agencies involved in bilateral and multilateral cultural exchange activities involving Việt Nam and incorporates various desks dealing with different regions of the world.
Ministry of Information and Communications
The
Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) operates in accordance with the terms of Resolution 178/2007/NĐ-CP of 3 December 2007 on the Functions, Responsibilities, Rights and Organisational Structure of the Ministry of Information and Communications.
This Ministry is in charge of policy-making and regulatory matters in relation to newspapers, publishing, postal and delivery services, telecommunications and Internet, transmission connectivity, radio frequencies, information technology, broadcasting and television and national information and communications infrastructure, and state administration of public services in each of the sectors under the control of the Ministry.
A detailed overview of the Ministry of Information and Communication's responsibilities - including those relating to broadcasting and the Internet - will follow later. In the meantime it should be noted that the Ministry has been given responsibility for both press and publishing, two areas which previously fell under the responsibility of the Ministry of Culture and Information.
In the field of Press the Ministry is responsible for
(i) Submitting for decision by the Prime Minister a master plan for the press network nationwide and representative offices of Vietnamese press organisations in foreign countries.
(ii) Exercising state management over press activities nationwide, including printed newspapers, radio and television, electronic newspapers and news agencies.
(iii) Providing information for the press and manage the information provided by the press according to the Press Law.
(iv) Promulgating a statute on the organisation of press competitions.
(v) Monitoring the statutory deposit of newspapers and manage the storage of archived newspapers.
(vi) Granting and withdrawing press operational licences, permits for publishing special publications, sub issues, supplements, special programmes, sub programmes and press cards and to grant permits for foreign published press to be distributed in Việt Nam.
(vii) Managing the operation of the press and journalists nationwide, co-ordinating with the relevant Vietnamese agencies responsible for managing journalistic activities in respect of foreign elements and the journalistic activities of foreigners and foreign organisations in Việt Nam.
(viii) Giving consent to the appointment and dismissal of editors in chief, deputy editors in chief, directors general, deputy directors general, directors and deputy directors of press agencies.
In the field of publishing the Ministry is responsible for
(i) Submitting for decision by the Prime Minister a master plan for the book publishing, printing and distribution network and to organise, guide and implement this after its approval.
(ii) Stipulating conditions for the establishment and conduct of business in book publishing, printing and distribution in accordance with the provisions of the law.
(iii) Granting and withdrawing operational licences for publishing and printing in accordance with the provisions of the law.
(iv) Granting publishing licences for non-profit publications by Vietnamese organisations and foreign organisations located in Việt Nam in accordance with the provisions of the law and managing the publication and dissemination of works overseas within the limits of its authority.
(v) Regulating the registration and monitor the implementation of the publishing plans of respective publishing houses.
(vi) Managing the statutory deposit of and appraise publications when necessary.
(vii) Issuing decisions on suspending, withdrawing, confiscating, prohibiting from circulation and destroying publications which violate the law.
(viii) Giving consent to the appointment and dismissal of directors, deputy directors, editors in chief and deputy editors in chief of publishing houses.
The key national executive arms for cultural policy in the Socialist Republic of Việt Nam are currently the