Candidates participate in the high school graduation exam 2025. Conditions for exemption from the foreign language subject in the exam this year are adjusted. — VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Tùng

HÀ NỘI — A raft of new regulations covering payment services, education, fire prevention and fighting, technology transfer and local government restructuring will take effect from next month, directly affecting citizens, organisations and businesses nationwide.

Transactions via bank accounts will be tightened. Clause 2 of Article 12 and Clause 5 of Article 7 of Circular 30/2025 add requirements for banks to verify and control the legality and validity of payment orders.

This includes ensuring that the account name matches the name on the citizen identity card provided in the customer’s agreement when opening and using a payment account to conduct transactions at the bank.

Circular 30/2025 officially takes effect from April 1.

In addition, penalties for fire prevention and fighting violations will be strengthened. The penalty levels were amended and supplemented by the Government in Decree 69/2026 on administrative sanctions in the field of fire prevention and fighting and search and rescue. The decree takes effect from April 20.

Clause 1 of Article 8 of Decree 69/2026 stipulates that the following act will be fined VNĐ30–40 million (US$1,100): “equipping mechanical fire-fighting, search and rescue equipment that does not meet the required quantity or technical standards.”

This fine level also applies to the acts of equipping or installing fire alarm system equipment that does not meet regulations; equipping or installing fire-fighting system equipment that does not meet regulations.

Conditions for exemption from the foreign language subject in the high school graduation exam will also be adjusted.

Regulations for this year’s exam have been amended and supplemented by the Minister of Education and Training under Circular 13/2026.

The list of foreign language certificates eligible for exemption now includes two additional qualifications, Korean TOPIK and the international English Versant English Placement Test (VEPT), from April 14.

With Circular 13/2026, the number of accepted certificates rises to 22, covering languages including English, Russian, French, Chinese, German, Japanese and Korean.

Circular 13/2026 officially takes effect from April 24.

The apparatus of People’s Councils at all levels must be completed by April 1.

Directive 08 on organising the first session of People’s Councils for the 2026–2031 term and enhancing the effectiveness of two-tier local government operations was signed and issued by the Prime Minister on March 17.

Under Directive 08, the Prime Minister requests provincial Party Committees to thoroughly prepare personnel work, ensuring that the apparatus of People’s Councils at all levels becomes operational no later than April 1.

The Ministry of Home Affairs urged provincial-level People’s Councils to complete dossiers by 5pm on March 31 for the approval of election results for chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of people’s committees and provincial-level people’s councils.

Numerous incentives are also set out for foreign direct investment projects involving technology transfer.

These are stipulated in the amended Law on Technology Transfer, passed by the 15th National Assembly last year.

Point c, Clause 2, Article 1 of the law prioritises preferential policies on tax, land and credit for FDI projects involving technology transfer, human resource training, development of research, design and manufacturing capabilities or the application of technology in Việt Nam.

It also encourages foreign organisations and individuals to transfer technology to Vietnamese partners to enhance domestic capacity for absorption, mastery and innovation.

The amended Law on Technology Transfer officially takes effect from April 1. — VNS