> General provisions

Viet Nam - General provisions - Regulation, Decree, Ordinance

Decree No. 158/2005/ND-CP of December 27, 2005 on civil status registration and management. (Nghi Dinh ve dang ky va quan ly ho tich) -

Adoption: 2005-12-27 | VNM-2005-R-94462

Viet Nam - General provisions - Regulation, Decree, Ordinance

Order No. 33/2005/L-CTN on the promulgation of law (Enterprise Law).

Adoption: 2005-12-12 | VNM-2005-R-73688

Viet Nam - General provisions - Law, Act

Law on Investment. -

Adoption: 2005-11-29 | Date of entry into force: 2006-07-01 | VNM-2005-L-74478

Viet Nam - General provisions - Law, Act

Civil Code -

Adoption: 2005-06-14 | VNM-2005-L-73757

Part 1 - General provisions
Part 2 - Property and ownership rights
Part 3 - Civil obligations and civil contracts
Part 4 - Inheritance
Part 5 - Provisions on transfer of land use rights
Part 6 - Intellectual property rights and technology transfer
Part 7 - Civil relations involving foreign elements

Viet Nam - General provisions - Law, Act

Commercial Law.

Adoption: 2005-06-14 | Date of entry into force: 2006-01-01 | VNM-2005-L-73758

Chapter I - General Provisions
Chapter II - Purchase and Sale of Goods
Chapter III - Provision of Services
Chapter VI - Commercial Enhancement
Chapter V - Intermediary Commercial Activities
Chapter VI - A Number of Other Specific Commercial Activities
Chapter VII - Remedies in Commerce and Dispute Resolution in Commerce
Chapter VIII - Dealing with Breaches of Commercial Law
Chapter IX - Implementing Provisions
Replaces the Commercial Law of 1997.

Viet Nam - General provisions - Regulation, Decree, Ordinance

Decree No. 113/2004/ND-CP of April 16, 2004 prescribing Administrative Sanctions Against Acts of Violating Labour Legislation. -

Adoption: 2004-04-16 | VNM-2004-R-78275

Stipulates administrative penalties for Vietnamese organizations and individuals, who violate labour laws but are not criminal and shall be penalized in accordance with laws within the territory, economically privileged zones and the continental shelf of Vietnam.

Viet Nam - General provisions - Law, Act

Law on Amendments of and Additions to a Number of Articles of the Labour Code (Law 35-2002-QH10).

Adoption: 2003-01-01 | VNM-2003-L-70836

Viet Nam - General provisions - Law, Act

Ordinance on the Handling of Administrative Violations (No. 44/2002/PL-UBTVQH10 of July 2, 2002).

Adoption: 2002-07-02 | Date of partial end of application: 2013-12-31 | Date of partial end of application: 2013-07-01 | VNM-2002-L-78280

Administrative sanctions apply to individuals, agencies and organizations that intentionally or unintentionally violate legal provisions on State management, which, while they do not constitute crimes, must be administratively sanctioned.

Viet Nam - General provisions - Miscellaneous (circular, directive, legal notice, instruction, etc.)

Decision approving the national target programme on hunger elimination, poverty alleviation and employment in the 2001-2005 period (No. 143/2001/QD-TTg).

Adoption: 2001-09-27 | VNM-2001-M-60457

Approves national target programme on hunger elimination, poverty alleviation and employment in the 2001-2005 period. This programme aims to create favourable and suitable conditions for supporting the poor, poor households and poor communes in production development, income generation, access to social services, and hunger elimination and poverty alleviation. It also seeks to reduce the unemployment rate in urban areas, increase the use rate of working time in rural areas, make the labour structure compatible with the economic structure, create jobs for people who need jobs, and raise the quality of people's life.

Viet Nam - General provisions - Miscellaneous (circular, directive, legal notice, instruction, etc.)

Directive on elaborating the plan for socio-economic development and drafting the state budget for 2002 (No. 16/2001/CT-TTg).

Adoption: 2001-06-21 | VNM-2001-M-60462

Sets forth the main goals for the 2002 plan on socio-economic development. These include: achievement of growth rate of at least 7.5 per cent, improvement of economic relations with foreign countries, restructuring of state budget so as to increase budget allocation to development investment, development of education and training, solution of urgent social problems such as unemployment, consolidation of national defense and security, and promotion of administrative reform.

Viet Nam - General provisions - Miscellaneous (circular, directive, legal notice, instruction, etc.)

Decision on the national target programs in the 2001-2001 period (No. 71/2001/QD-TTg).

Adoption: 2001-05-04 | VNM-2001-M-59381

Makes provision for national target programmes on: hunger eradication, poverty alleviation and employment; population and family planning; prevention of social diseases, dangerous epidemics and HIV/AIDS; culture; and education and training.

Viet Nam - General provisions - Regulation, Decree, Ordinance

Regulation on the management and use of foreign non-governmental aid (No. 64/2001/QD-TTg).

Adoption: 2001-04-26 | VNM-2001-R-59521

Governs activities related to provision and use of foreign non-governmental aid. Applies to aid provided through programs and projects as well as to non-project aid (including emergency relief). Chapter 2 deals with NGO aid mobilization, negotiations with NGOs, competence to ratify NGO aid, and sale of goods belonging to NGOs. Chapter 3 provides for state management over provision of non-governmental aid.

Viet Nam - General provisions - Miscellaneous (circular, directive, legal notice, instruction, etc.)

Decision on policies toward border gate economic zones (No. 53/2001/QD-TTg).

Adoption: 2001-04-19 | VNM-2001-M-59519

Sets forth types of businesses allowed in border gate economic zones. Provides for investment in building infrastructure in border gate economic zones; eligibility for preferential loans from the State; exemption from taxation; management of entry and exit, banking, animal and plant quarantine, and inspection of quality of imports. Also makes provision for organisation of implementation.

Viet Nam - General provisions - Miscellaneous (circular, directive, legal notice, instruction, etc.)

Directive No. 29/2000/CT-TTg on stepping up the implementation of the law on enterprises.

Adoption: 2000-12-31 | VNM-2000-M-58754

Makes provision for the implementation of the Law on Enterprises of 1 January 2000.

Viet Nam - General provisions - Regulation, Decree, Ordinance

Decree No. 81/2000/ND-CP detailing and guiding the implementation of the Ordinance on public-labour obligation.

Adoption: 2000-12-29 | VNM-2000-R-58753

Makes provision for annual public-labour obligation. Obligation to perform annual public labour applies to Vietnamese citizens, aged between 18 and 45 for men, and between 18 and 35 for women. Annual public-labour obligation is 10 workdays for every citizen. Also makes provision for exemption from this obligation, public-labour obligation in emergency cases, labour accidents while performing public-labour obligation, responsibilities of ministries and people's committees of different levels, and sanctions.

Viet Nam - General provisions - Law, Act

Law on Drug Prevention and Combat (No. 23/2000/QH10 of December 9, 2000).

Adoption: 2000-12-09 | VNM-2000-L-78281

Prescribes the measures to prevent, survey and combat drug abuse; the control of lawful activities related to drugs; the responsibilities of individuals, families, agencies and organizations in preventing and combating drug abuse.

Viet Nam - General provisions - Miscellaneous (circular, directive, legal notice, instruction, etc.)

Decision No. 138/2000/QD-TTg of 29 November 2000.

Adoption: 2000-11-29 | VNM-2000-M-58415

Provides for the integration of the following projects and programmes: the sedentarisation project, the project on support of ethnic minority people meeting with special difficulties, the programme on building the centers of mountainous and highland commune clusters, and the programme on socio-economic development in mountainous, deep-lying and remote communes experiencing difficulties.

Viet Nam - General provisions - Regulation, Decree, Ordinance

Decision No. 132/2000/QD-TTg on a number of policies to encourage the development of rural trades.

Adoption: 2000-11-24 | VNM-2000-R-58414

Makes provision for policies to develop rural trades. Deals with land-renting procedures, raw materials used for production, investment and credit, taxes and fees, product consumption information and markets, environmental questions, product quality, labour and training, and some related matters.

Viet Nam - General provisions - Miscellaneous (circular, directive, legal notice, instruction, etc.)

Decision No. 121/2000/QD-TTg on the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Steering Committee for Enterprise Renewal and Development.

Adoption: 2000-11-01 | VNM-2000-M-58118

Makes provision for the functions, powers, and tasks of the Steering Committee for Enterprise Renewal and Development.

Viet Nam - General provisions - Miscellaneous (circular, directive, legal notice, instruction, etc.)

Decree No. 60/2000/ND-CP stipulating the execution of the non-custodial reform penalty.

Adoption: 2000-10-30 | VNM-2000-M-57936

Makes provision for non-custodial reform penalty, which aims to create conditions for convicted persons to labour and study in a community. Obligations of convicted persons include active engagement in labour and study, fulfillment of all their citizens' obligations, and compliance with the conventions of the villages were they reside. Provides for restrictions of movement of convicted persons.

Viet Nam - General provisions - Miscellaneous (circular, directive, legal notice, instruction, etc.)

Decree No. 61/2000/ND-CP stipulating the execution of suspended sentences.

Adoption: 2000-10-30 | VNM-2000-M-57937

Makes provision for execution of suspended sentences, the aim of which is to create conditions for sentence servers to work, live and show their repentence and rehabilitation in a normal social environment and under the supervision of various state agencies. Sentence servers shall strictly abide by the state's law, actively perform civic obligations, and observe the rules of the villages where they are located. Imposes restrictions of movement on sentence servers.

Viet Nam - General provisions - Regulation, Decree, Ordinance

Decree No. 55/2000/ND-CP amending decree No. 104/1998/ND-CP (detailing and guiding the implementation of the law on Vietnamese nationality).

Adoption: 2000-10-11 | VNM-2000-R-57638

Amends decree governing the implementation of the Law on Vietnamese Nationality, providing procedures and order for the management of applications for naturalization.

Viet Nam - General provisions - Regulation, Decree, Ordinance

Directive No. 16/2000/CT-TTg on elaborating the 2001-2005 five-year socio-economic development plan.

Adoption: 2000-09-19 | VNM-2000-R-57649

Specifies the aims of the 2001-2005 five-year socio-economic development plans including promotion of the process of renewal, stepping up industrialisation and modernisation of the country as well as improving its position and force within the international economy. Makes provision for bases for working out the 2001-2005 five-year plans, for elaborating projects related to the plans, for determination of the concrete objectives and tasks of the 2001-2005 five-year plans of the ministries, branches and localities, for tempo of plans elaboration, and for organisation of implementation.

Viet Nam - General provisions - Miscellaneous (circular, directive, legal notice, instruction, etc.)

Circular No. 82/2000/TT-BTC guiding financial policies for the development of agriculture.

Adoption: 2000-08-14 | VNM-2000-M-57648

Aims to modernise agricultural production in the direction of large-scale commodity production, improve workers' living conditions, and stabilise their jobs. Makes provision for exemption or reduction of land use levies for certain areas, for preferential loans, and for policies on capital mobilisation for farm economy development.

Viet Nam - General provisions - Law, Act

Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the law on foreign investment in Vietnam (No. 18/2000/QH10).

Adoption: 2000-06-09 | Date of entry into force: 2000-07-01 | VNM-2000-L-57322

Makes several amendments to the Law on Foreign Investment in Vietnam, with regard to, inter alia, the appointment of the General Director of joint-venture enterprises, the prohibition of requisition and confiscation of foreign investors' capital and other assets, maintenance of preferences provided for by investment licenses, entitlement to buy foreign currencies, income tax etc..

Viet Nam - General provisions - Law, Act

Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Criminal Procedure Code (No. 20/2000/QH10).

Adoption: 2000-06-09 | Date of entry into force: 2000-07-01 | VNM-2000-L-57323

Amends and supplements the Criminal Procedure Code with regard to, inter alia, responsiblity of agencies and persons conducting legal proceedings; arrest of persons in urgent cases; detention; detention period; institution of criminal cases at the request of the victims; time limit for investigation; limits for restoration of investigation, additional investigation and reinvestigation; execution of death penalty, and several other matters.

Viet Nam - General provisions - Regulation, Decree, Ordinance

Order amending and supplementing a number of articles of the anti-corruption ordinance (No.22/2000/PL-UBTVQH10).

Adoption: 2000-04-28 | Date of entry into force: 2000-07-01 | VNM-2000-R-57287

Amends the Anti-Corruption Ordinance 1998 by defining the act of corruption, and by listing a number of illicit acts concerning persons in responsible positions.

Viet Nam - General provisions - Regulation, Decree, Ordinance

Decree No. 05/2000/ND-CP on exit and entry of Vietnamese citizens.

Adoption: 2000-03-03 | VNM-2000-R-56213

Governs the granting of passports and diplomatic passports and the procedures for passport applications, determines which citizens are not yet permitted to leave the country, and establishes competence and responsibilities of the agencies concerned with the granting of passports.

Viet Nam - General provisions - Regulation, Decree, Ordinance

Directive No. 04/2000/CT-TTg on the organization of the enforcement of the Penal Code.

Adoption: 2000-02-17 | VNM-2000-R-56215

Provides guidelines for the dissemination and propagation of criminal legislation so as to make the fundamental contents of the Penal Code known.

Viet Nam - General provisions - Regulation, Decree, Ordinance

Decree No. 03/2000/ND-CP guiding the implementation of a number of Articles of the Law on Enterprises.

Adoption: 2000-02-03 | VNM-2000-R-56200

Provides for the implementation of several articles of the Law on Enterprises. Applies to limited liability companies, joint-stock companies, and partnerships and private enterprises established under the Law on Enterprises.

Viet Nam - General provisions - Law, Act

Penal Code (Order No. 01/L-CTN). (Bo luat Hinh su (Lenh so 01/L-CTN)) -

Adoption: 1999-12-21 | Date of entry into force: 2000-07-01 | VNM-1999-L-56207

Penal Code of Vietnam. Sections 114 and 115 deal with sexual abuse of children, section 119 with trafficking in women, and section 128 with illegal forcing of labourers and public employees to leave their jobs. Section 129 prohibits infringement upon citizens' right to assembly and association. Chapter XVIII concerns narcotics-related crimes, and sections 254-256 deal with prostitution.

Viet Nam - General provisions - Regulation, Decree, Ordinance

Ordinance on public labour obligations (No.15/1999/PL-UBTVQH).

Adoption: 1999-09-03 | Date of entry into force: 2000-01-01 | VNM-1999-R-56204

Provides for citizens' public labour obligations. Establishes that each citizen must contribute 10 workdays of annual public labour. Annual public labour shall be used for the construction and renovation of traffic roads, irrigation works, health stations, veterans' graveyards, and other public-utility projects. Section 10 provides for exemptions from this obligation, and Chapter III for public labour obligations in emergency situations.

Viet Nam - General provisions - Law, Act

Law on Enterprises (No. 13/1999/QH10).

Adoption: 1999-06-12 | Date of entry into force: 2000-01-01 | VNM-1999-L-54106

Prescribes the establishment, management, organization, and operation of limited-liability companies, joint-stock companies, partnerships and private enterprises. The State shall recognize ownership over assets and shall not nationalize or expropriate enterprises (s. 4). S. 8 requires businesses to ensure rights of workers as prescribed by labour legislation.

Viet Nam - General provisions - Law, Act

Law on the Vietnam Fatherland Front (No. 14/1999/QH10).

Adoption: 1999-06-12 | VNM-1999-L-54107

Establishes the Vietnam Fatherland Front which shall be a voluntary organization dedicated to furthering the development and defence of Viet Nam.

Viet Nam - General provisions - Regulation, Decree, Ordinance

Decree No. 104/1998/ND-CP detailing and guiding the implementation of the Law on Vietnamese Nationality.

Adoption: 1998-12-31 | VNM-1998-R-56199

Details and guides the implementation of a number of articles of the Law on Vietnamese Nationality. Prescribes the procedures of applications for naturalisation in Vietnam, restoration or relinquishment of nationality, granting of certificates of Vietnamese nationality, and for the annulment of decisions on granting or deprivation of Vietnamese nationality.

Viet Nam - General provisions - Miscellaneous (circular, directive, legal notice, instruction, etc.)

Joint Circular No. 17/1998/TTLT-BLDTBXH-BTC guiding the classification of state enterprises.

Adoption: 1998-12-31 | VNM-1998-M-56201

Provides for norms and criteria for the classification of state enterprises. Classification of enterprises is done according to two groups of norms: extent of complexity of management, and efficiency of production and business. Section VI determines wage rating for managing public employees of enterprises.

Viet Nam - General provisions - Law, Act

Decree No. 44/1998/ND-CP on the transformation of state enterprises into joint-stock companies.

Adoption: 1998-06-29 | Date of entry into force: 1998-07-14 | VNM-1998-L-50748

Provides for the buying of shares in state enterprises by Vietnamese citizens, overseas Vietnamese, and foreigners residing in Vietnam. The types of enterprises for which such shares shall be available are listed in the Appendix. Enterprises shall be entitled to maintain welfare funds or distribute any funds to workers before becoming joint stock companies. Furthermore, workers shall receive preferences for buying shares in enterprises, with the option of delayed payments for destitute workers.

Viet Nam - General provisions - Regulation, Decree, Ordinance

Decree No.38/1998/ND-CP detailing the implementation of the Ordinance on thrift practice and wastefulness combat.

Adoption: 1998-06-09 | Date of entry into force: 1998-06-09 | VNM-1998-R-50749

Provides for thrift and transparency in the management of state enterprises, public bodies, and the construction industry. S. 6 provides for transparency in recruitment and promotion of employees.

Viet Nam - General provisions - Law, Act

Law on Vietnamese Nationality (No. 7/1998/QH10).

Adoption: 1998-05-20 | Date of entry into force: 1999-01-01 | VNM-1998-L-50163

Governs Vietnamese nationality, loss of nationality, nationality of minors and adopted children, and related matters.

Viet Nam - General provisions - Miscellaneous (circular, directive, legal notice, instruction, etc.)

Directive No. 20/1998/CT-TTg of 21 April 1998 on stepping up the reorganization and renewal of state enterprises.

Adoption: 1998-04-21 | VNM-1998-M-50727

Viet Nam - General provisions - Miscellaneous (circular, directive, legal notice, instruction, etc.)

Decision No. 68/1998/QD-TTg allowing the experimental establishment of state enterprises in training as well as research institutions.

Adoption: 1998-03-27 | Date of entry into force: 1997-04-11 | VNM-1998-M-49717

Allows the creation of state enterprises in selected university and training institutions which may sell products developed at such organizations.

Viet Nam - General provisions - Regulation, Decree, Ordinance

Decree promulgating the working regulations of the government (No. 11/1998/ND-CP).

Adoption: 1998-01-24 | Date of entry into force: 1998-02 | VNM-1998-R-49388

Sets forth the scope of responsibilities of the Office of the Prime Minister.

Viet Nam - General provisions - Regulation, Decree, Ordinance

Decree on Measures for Encouragement and Guarantee of Foreign Direct Investment in Vietnam (No. 10-1998-ND-CP).

Adoption: 1998-01-23 | VNM-1998-R-49376

Implements Law on Foreign Investments in Viet Nam (12 November 1996). Provides for formation of investment projects, investment incentives and guarantees, and state management of foreign investment.

Viet Nam - General provisions - Regulation, Decree, Ordinance

Decree on Promotion of Investment (No. 07-1998-ND-CP).

Adoption: 1998-01-15 | VNM-1998-R-49375

Implements the Law on Promotion of Domestic Investment and provides for investment guarantees and assistance. S. 19 provides for the right to hire foreign employees.

Viet Nam - General provisions - Regulation, Decree, Ordinance

Decision No. 1018/1997/QD-TTg approving the master plan for socio-economic development of Central Vietnam's key economic region up to the year 2010.

Adoption: 1997-11-29 | Date of entry into force: 1997-12-14 | VNM-1997-R-48582

Sets forth major development objectives, which include a specified rate of growth, rate of average annual import-export value, and rate of GDP accumulation, as well as a reduction in the birth rate and an increase in the percentage of trained workers. Also sets forth objectives regarding the development of infrastructure, agriculture, forestry, fishery, industry, trade and services, and education.

Viet Nam - General provisions - Miscellaneous (circular, directive, legal notice, instruction, etc.)

Circular No. 8-BKH/DN guiding the implementation of Decree No. 50-CP of August 28, 1996 of the Government on the establishment, reorganization, dissolution and bankruptcy of state enterprises and Decree No. 38-CP of April 28, 1997 of the government on amendments and supplements to a number of articles of Decree No. 50-CP.

Adoption: 1997-06-11 | Date of entry into force: 1997-06-26 | VNM-1997-M-47680

Governs establishment, registration, and re-organization of state enterprises.

Viet Nam - General provisions - Miscellaneous (circular, directive, legal notice, instruction, etc.)

Circular No. 25-TC/TCDN guiding the order, procedures and principles for financial settlement when the state enterprises are dissolved.

Adoption: 1997-05-15 | VNM-1997-M-47681

Sets forth the procedure for the dissolution of enterprises, including settlement of unpaid wages.

Viet Nam - General provisions - Regulation, Decree, Ordinance

Decree No. 36-CP issuing the regulation on industrial zones, export processing zones and hi-tech zones.

Adoption: 1997-04-24 | Date of entry into force: 1997-05-10 | VNM-1997-R-47439

Regulates organization and management of industrial zones, export processing zones and hi-tech zones. Labour relations in industrial zones, and by extension in the other two types of zones, shall be governed by the Labor Code. Boards of Management of industrial zones may set up an employment centre as stipulated by Decree No. 72-CP of 31 October 1995.

Viet Nam - General provisions - Regulation, Decree, Ordinance

Decree issuing Regulations in industrial zones, export-processing zones and high-tech zones (No. 36-CP).

Adoption: 1997-04-24 | VNM-1997-R-48359

Provides for the rights and obligations of enterprises and the development of infrastructure in industrial zones. Chapter IV stipulates that labour relations in industrial zones shall be governed by the Labour Code (23 June 1994), and provides for the establishment of recruitment centres. Also covers investment and custom matters in relation to export processing zones and high-tech zones.

Viet Nam - General provisions - Regulation, Decree, Ordinance

Decree No. 31-CP of April 14, 1997 of the Government Issuing the Regulation on Administrative Probation.

Adoption: 1997-04-14 | VNM-1997-R-78277

Provides for the imposition of administrative probation on persons who commit offenses against the national security as prescribed in Chapter I of the Part on Offenses of the Penal Code.