Foreign and Vietnamese reporters working at a sports centre in Bắc Ninh city. — Photo: VNA

DECREE No. 262/2026/ND-CP of June 30, 2026

On press activities of foreign press agencies, foreign representative missions and foreign organisations in Viet Nam

...

Chapter III

PRESS ACTIVITIES AND PRESS-RELATED ACTIVITIES OF FOREIGN REPRESENTATIVE MISSIONS AND FOREIGN ORGANISATIONS IN VIET NAM

Article 19. Publishing of foreign information publications

1. Foreign representative missions and foreign organisations in Viet Nam that publish newsletters or special publications in Viet Nam shall obtain a publication permit issued by a competent Vietnamese state management agency in accordance with the law on the press.

2. Foreign representative missions and foreign organisations in Viet Nam shall, when publishing newsletters or special publications, comply with the contents of the publication permit and may not transfer the permit to another party.

3. The agency competent to issue a publication permit for a newsletter or special publication is competent to decide on termination of publication or revocation of the permit in accordance with law.

4. The publishing of foreign information publications other than newsletters and special publications must comply with the law on publishing and Viet Nam’s current law.

Article 20. Press conferences

1. A foreign representative mission or foreign organisation that wishes to hold a press conference in Ha Noi shall notify the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in writing, either in person or online, at least 24 hours before the scheduled time of the press conference, and simultaneously notify the Ministry of Foreign Affairs thereof.

2. A foreign representative mission or foreign organisation that wishes to hold a press conference in another locality shall notify the provincial-level People’s Committee of such locality in writing, either in person or online, at least 24 hours before the scheduled time of the press conference, and simultaneously notify the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs thereof.

3. A press conference held by a foreign delegation visiting Viet Nam at the invitation of Party and State leaders or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall be conducted in accordance with the official programme of the delegation. A press conference that is not included in the official programme of the delegation shall be subject to the procedures specified in Clauses 1 and 2 of this Article.

4. For a press conference held by a foreign delegation visiting Viet Nam at the invitation of ministries, commissions, sectors or localities, the host agency shall notify the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the provincial-level People’s Committee (if the press conference is held in a locality) in writing, either in person or online, at least 24 hours before the scheduled time of the press conference.

5. The notice of a press conference must specify the agency, organisation or individual chairing the press conference; the venue and time; the contents; documents evidencing the lawfulness of the information to be provided to the press at the press conference; and the list of press agencies invited to attend the press conference.

6. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and provincial-level People’s Committees shall notify the foreign representative mission or foreign organisation in Viet Nam that the press conference may not be held in case the notice of the press conference fails to satisfy the requirements specified in Clause 5 of this Article, and shall simultaneously notify the Ministry of Foreign Affairs thereof.

In case a foreign representative mission or foreign organisation in Viet Nam holds a press conference with contents not conformable to those specified in Clause 5 of this Article or in case there are signs of a violation of Viet Nam’s law, a state management agency may suspend the press conference and shall simultaneously notify the Ministry of Foreign Affairs thereof.

Article 21. Display of paintings and photographs, and installation of panels, posters and screens and other forms of information outside the headquarters of foreign representative missions and foreign organisations in Viet Nam; film screenings and exhibitions which Vietnamese citizens in Viet Nam are invited to attend

1. In case a foreign representative mission or foreign organisation in Viet Nam wishes to display paintings and photographs, or install panels, posters and screens and other forms of information outside its headquarters, it shall send a written application in person, by post, online or by email to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism if its headquarters is located in Ha Noi, or to the provincial-level People’s Committee concerned if its headquarters is located in another locality.

The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall specify the conditions, dossiers of application and procedures for issuing permits for the activities specified in this Clause.

2. Foreign representative missions and foreign organisations in Viet Nam may organise film screenings at public film-screening venues in accordance with Vietnam’s law and must satisfy the conditions prescribed by the law on cinematography and other relevant laws of Viet Nam, unless otherwise provided by a treaty to which the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam is a contracting party.

Before organising a film screening at a public film-screening venue, a foreign representative mission or foreign organisation shall send a written notice of the film content and screening programme to the provincial-level People’s Committee of the locality where the screening is to be held.

Within 7 working days after receiving the notice, in case the film content or screening programme shows signs of a violation under the law on cinematography or other relevant laws of Viet Nam, the provincial-level People’s Committee shall issue a written notice of disapproval, clearly stating the reason.

Upon expiry of the above-mentioned period, if no written opinion has been issued by a competent local agency, the foreign representative mission or foreign organisation may organise the film screening in accordance with the notified content.

3. When organising an exhibition in Viet Nam, a foreign representative mission or foreign organisation shall comply with the law on exhibitions, publishing, fine arts and photography and other relevant laws of Viet Nam.

Before organising an exhibition, a foreign representative mission or foreign organisation shall carry out procedures for applying for an exhibition permit with a competent Vietnamese state agency in accordance with the law applicable to each type of exhibition.

A dossier of application, order, procedures, competence and time limit for processing the dossier of application for an exhibition permit must comply with relevant laws.

Chapter IV

IMPLEMENTATION RESPONSIBILITY

Article 22. Responsibilities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible to the Government for performing the state management of all press activities and press-related activities of foreign press agencies, foreign representative missions and foreign organisations in Viet Nam.

2. In managing the press activities of foreign press agencies, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall perform the following tasks:

a/ To manage, issue permits, provide guidance and provide other necessary services for foreign correspondents entering Viet Nam to conduct press activities.

b/ To issue permits to foreign press agencies to establish permanent offices in Viet Nam and appoint resident correspondents, and coordinate with provincial-level People’s Committees in handling matters regarding the employment of press assistants and contributors by permanent offices.

c/ To manage and provide guidance on the press activities of resident correspondents and permanent offices in Viet Nam.

d/ To coordinate with ministries, ministerial-level agencies and provincial-level People’s Committees in addressing professional and technical requirements; requests for the import and export of professional and technical equipment; requirements relating to entry into, exit from, residence in and travel within Viet Nam; and other requirements serving the press activities of foreign press agencies in Viet Nam.

3. To coordinate with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in addressing requests concerning press-related activities of foreign representative missions and foreign organisations in Viet Nam.

4. To provide guidance on the implementation of provisions governing press activities of foreign press agencies that fall within the competence of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

5. To assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with ministries, ministerial-level agencies and provincial-level People’s Committees in, summarising and making annual reports on the implementation of provisions governing press activities and press-related activities of foreign press agencies, foreign representative missions and foreign organisations in Viet Nam.

6. To provide guidance, training and support to provincial-level People’s Committees in managing, and guiding the press activities of, foreign press agencies in their respective localities.

Article 23. Responsibilities of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

1. To manage and issue permits for press activities and press-related activities of foreign representative missions and foreign organisations, including:

a/ The publishing and circulation of foreign information publications.

b/ Foreign press conferences in Viet Nam.

c/ The display of paintings and photographs and other forms of information outside the headquarters of foreign representative missions and foreign organisations in Ha Noi.

d/ To manage and issue permits for the installation of panels, posters and screens outside the headquarters of foreign representative missions and foreign organisations in Ha Noi, and for film screenings and exhibitions organised by foreign representative missions and foreign organisations in Ha Noi which Vietnamese citizens are invited to attend.

2. To provide guidance on the implementation of provisions governing press activities and press-related activities of foreign representative missions and foreign organisations that fall within the competence of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

3. To assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with relevant competent authorities in, dealing with violations in press activities and press-related activities of foreign representative missions and foreign organisations.

Article 24. Responsibilities of provincial-level People’s Committees

Provincial-level People’s Committees shall receive, consider and process requests from foreign correspondents, foreign representative missions and foreign organisations to conduct press activities in their respective localities; issue press assistant cards and issue permits to contributors of permanent offices; and coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and relevant agencies in managing, and providing guidance on the activities of, foreign correspondents, and handling violations.

Article 25. Responsibilities of ministries and ministerial-level agencies

1. The Ministry of Public Security shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with ministries and ministerial-level agencies in, ensuring national security and social order and safety in foreign press activities; ensuring security and safety for foreign press agencies, foreign representative missions and foreign organisations in Viet Nam; detecting, preventing and handling in accordance with law acts of abusing press activities to infringe upon national security or social order and safety; and closely coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in ensuring compliance with prescribed time limits in processing administrative procedures for the licensing, management, and provision of guidance on, foreign press activities.

2. Ministries and ministerial-level agencies shall, within the ambit of their assigned functions and tasks, coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in managing and handling violations in press activities of foreign press agencies, foreign representative missions and foreign organisations.

Chapter V

IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS

Article 26. Transitional provisions

1. Permits and written approvals issued before the effective date of this Decree continue to be valid until the expiry of the periods specified in such permits or written approvals.

2. Permits for establishment of permanent offices of foreign press agencies issued before the effective date of this Decree that do not specify a validity period remain valid and shall not be subject to procedures for renewal.

3. Valid dossiers of application for permits that were received by competent state agencies before the effective date of this Decree but for which permits have not yet been issued continue to be considered and processed in accordance with the law in force at the time the dossiers were received.

Article 27. Effect

1. This Decree takes effect on July 1, 2026.

2. This Decree replaces Decree No. 88/2012/ND-CP of October 23, 2012, on information and press activities of foreign press agencies, foreign representative missions and foreign organisations in Viet Nam.

3. Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, and Chairpersons of provincial-level People’s Committees shall implement this Decree.-

On behalf of the Government

For the Prime Minister

Deputy Prime Minister

    PHAM GIA TUC

<Source: Official Gazette, Issue Nos 73-79/2026>

<Part 1 is available at https://vietnamnews.vn/politics-laws/1802900/decree-tightens-regulations-on-press-activities-of-foreign-journalists-and-organisations-in-viet-nam.html>

<Part 2 is available at https://vietnamnews.vn/politics-laws/1803396/decree-sets-stricter-rules-for-foreign-press-activities-in-viet-nam.html>