The Basic Culture Department of the Ministry is responsible on behalf of the Ministry for guiding the development of basic culture throughout the country according to Communist Party guidelines and the policies and laws of the state. It draws up laws, ordinances and regulations relating to the policies and structures of basic culture and information throughout the country, develops short-term, long-term and annual plans for its development, undertakes scientific research, oversees the application of basic culture and information criteria and encourages co-operation with organisations and governments overseas in its field. Specifically, the Department seeks to improve cultural standards at community level throughout the country by means of activities in the fields of mass culture, propaganda and advertising, ‘families of culture’ (gia đình văn hóa) and ‘villages of culture’ (làng văn hóa) schemes, ‘emulation drives’ (thi đua), preservation and promotion of local traditions and the organisation of traditional festivals. It provides guidance to and oversees the activities of provincial and municipal cultural centres throughout the country and co-ordinates the design and nationwide distribution of government propaganda posters. The Department is based at the Centre for the Culture and Information Profession (Trung tâm Nghiệp vụ Văn hóa Thông tin), which it also runs. In addition it publishes the monthly Văn hóa Thông tin Cơ sở (Basic Culture and Information) Magazine.