Law ON ACCESS TO INFORMATION No. 01/2026/QH16

Article 2. Interpretation of Terms

In this Law, the following terms are understood as follows: Information is news or data contained in written documents, files, records available in the form of handwritten, printed, electronic, drawings, photographs, sketches, tapes, discs, video recordings, audio recordings, or other forms created or held by agencies and units. Information created by an agency or unit refers to information generated during the performance of functions, duties, and powers of such agency or unit in accordance with legal provisions, signed, stamped, or confirmed in writing by a person authorized by that agency or unit. Information held by an agency or unit refers to information received by such agency or unit during the performance of its functions, duties, and powers in accordance with legal provisions.

Access to information includes reading, viewing, listening, recording, copying, photographing, downloading information. Provision of information includes agencies and units publicly disclosing information and providing information upon request by citizens. Article 3. Principles for Ensuring the Right to Access Information

All citizens are equal in the exercise of their right to access information without discrimination. Persons with disabilities, ethnic minority people, those living in border areas, islands, mountainous regions, areas inhabited by ethnic minorities, and areas with difficult economic and social conditions shall be supported and provided with favorable conditions by the State when exercising their right to access information. Provided information must be accurate and complete. The provision of information must comply with the prescribed procedures and processes as stipulated in laws; actively apply information technology, digital transformation, strengthen information provision on a digital environment; ensure timely, transparent, and convenient provision of information for citizens.

 

Limitations on access to information may be imposed by law when necessary for reasons of national defense, state security, public order, social safety, social ethics, or the health of the community.

The exercise of the right to access information by citizens shall not infringe upon the interests of the State and nation, the lawful rights and interests of agencies, organizations, or individuals.

Article 4. Application of Law

This Law applies generally to the access to information of citizens. In cases where other laws provide for access to information without conflicting with the principles set forth in Article 3 of this Law, such provisions shall be applied according to the relevant law.

Article 5. Prohibited Acts
Intentionally providing inaccurate or incomplete information; delaying the provision of information; failing to provide information as required; destroying information; forging information.
Providing and using information against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, disrupting unity policies, insulting religious beliefs, inciting ethnic discrimination, fomenting violence, affecting national defense, state security, foreign relations, public order, or social safety.
Providing and using information to defame honor, dignity, reputation, causing gender-based discrimination, causing financial loss, infringing upon other lawful rights and interests of agencies, organizations, or individuals.
Obstructing, threatening, harassing persons requesting or providing information; obstructing the provision of information activities.
Disseminating, buying, selling, or intentionally leaking personal privacy, confidential personal data, personal data, family secrets, business secrets as provided in Article 16 of this Law.

Article 3. Principles for Ensuring Access to Information Rights

All citizens are equal and shall not be discriminated against in exercising their right to access information. Persons with disabilities, ethnic minority people, residents of border areas, islands, mountainous areas, areas inhabited by ethnic minorities, and areas with difficult or extremely difficult economic and social conditions shall receive support from the State when exercising their right to access information.
The information provided must be accurate and complete.
Information provision must comply with the prescribed procedures and formalities as stipulated by law; actively promote the application of information technology, digital transformation, enhance the provision of information in a digital environment; ensure timely, transparent, and convenient information provision for citizens.
Limitations on access to information shall be provided for by law in cases where it is necessary due to national defense, national security, public order, social safety, social ethics, or community health reasons.
The exercise of the right to access information by citizens shall not infringe upon the interests of the State and nation, the lawful rights and interests of agencies, organizations, or individuals.

Article 4. Application of Law

This Law applies generally to the access to information rights of citizens. Where another law provides for access to information without conflicting with the principles set forth in Article 3 of this Law, such provisions shall be implemented according to the relevant law.

Article 5. Prohibited Acts

Intentionally providing inaccurate or incomplete information; delaying the provision of information; failing to provide information as required; destroying information; forging information.
Providing or using information against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, undermining unity policies, insulting religious beliefs, discriminating, dividing ethnic groups, inciting violence, affecting national defense and security, foreign relations, public order, social safety.
Providing or using information to defame honor, dignity, reputation, causing gender discrimination, causing property damage, infringing upon other lawful rights and interests of agencies, organizations, or individuals.
Obstructing, threatening, harassing persons requesting or providing information; obstructing the provision of information activities.
Disseminating, buying, selling, or intentionally leaking personal privacy, confidential personal information, personal data, family secrets, business secrets as provided in Article 16 of this Law.
Abusing the exercise of access to information rights to commit unlawful acts, hindering normal operations of agencies and organizations.

Article 6. Handling of Violations

Any person who commits a violation of the law on access to information shall be subject to disciplinary action, administrative penalty, or criminal prosecution depending on the nature and extent of the violation.
If a provider of information violates the law and causes damage, such provider shall bear civil liability for compensation in accordance with the provisions of the law.
A person exercising the right to access information who uses the provided information to cause harm to the lawful rights and interests of an agency or organization or another individual shall be liable under the provisions of the law.
Chapter II RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF CIVILIAN IN THE MATTER OF ACCESS TO INFORMATION; RESPONSIBILITY OF AGENCIES IN ENSURING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RIGHT TO ACCESS INFORMATION

Article 7. Exercise of Right to Access Information

Civilian exercises the right to access information in accordance with this Law.

A person without capacity for civil acts shall make a request for provision of information through their legal representative.
A person with difficulty in perception or control of behavior shall make a request for provision of information through their guardian.
A person under 18 years of age may exercise the right to access information by themselves, with the consent of their legal representative, or through their legal representative in accordance with civil law provisions, except where otherwise provided by the Law on Children and other laws.
Article 8. Rights and Obligations of Civilian in Accessing Information
Civilians have the following rights:

To receive accurate, complete, timely, transparent, and convenient information;

To lodge complaints or file lawsuits against violations of laws on access to information as provided in Article 13 of this Law.
Civilians have the following obligations:
To comply with the provisions of the law on access to information;
Not to distort the content of the provided information;
Not to infringe upon the lawful rights and interests of an agency, organization, or another individual when exercising their right to access information.
Article 9. Methods of Accessing Information
Civilians may exercise access to information through the following methods:

Free access to publicly disclosed information by agencies and units;

Requesting an agency or unit to provide information.
Article 10. Scope and Responsibility for Providing Information
Agencies and units have the responsibility to provide information created by themselves, except as provided in Article 15 of this Law; they shall provide such information when conditions are met according to provisions if provided in Article 16 of this Law.

Except for the following cases, agencies and units directly responsible for providing information:

The Office of the National Assembly is responsible for providing information created by the National Assembly, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly, bodies of the National Assembly, and the National Election Committee, as well as information created by itself;
The Office of the President is responsible for providing information created by the President and information created by itself;
The Office of the Government is responsible for providing information created by the Government and the Prime Minister, as well as information created by itself;
The Office of the Delegation to the National Assembly and Provincial People's Council has the responsibility to provide information created by the Delegation to the National Assembly, the People's Council, its Standing Committee, and bodies of the People's Council at the provincial level, as well as information created by itself;
d) The lead unit designated by the People's Committee at the provincial level is responsible for providing information created by the People's Committee and the Chairman of the People's Committee, as well as information created by itself;
The lead unit designated by the People's Committee at the commune level shall provide information to residents in its jurisdiction created by the People's Council, its Standing Committee, bodies of the People's Council, the People's Committee, the Chairman of the People's Committee, specialized agencies, and administrative organizations under its own level; it may also provide such information to other civilians where directly related to their lawful rights and interests;
g) The Minister of Defense and the Minister of Public Security shall specify the lead units for providing information within their organizational systems.

Agencies and units have the responsibility to provide information in their possession when the provision of such information is necessary to protect public interest or community health.
For files and documents containing both non-accessible citizen information, accessible citizen information, and parts that can be reasonably separated, agencies and units shall consider and decide on providing a portion of the file or document containing the accessible citizen information.

g) The Minister of Defense and the Minister of Public Security shall specify the points of contact for providing information within their organizational systems.
Agencies and units are responsible for providing information they possess when such provision is necessary to protect public interests and community health.
For files or documents containing both accessible and non-accessible citizen information, as well as reasonably separable parts of the document, agencies and units shall consider and decide on providing a portion of the file or document that contains accessible citizen information.

Article 11. Obligations of Authorities and Units in Ensuring the Implementation of the Right to Access Information

Authorities and units shall have the obligation to implement measures ensuring the right to access information; create favorable conditions for persons with disabilities, ethnic minority people, residents in border areas, islands, mountainous areas, areas inhabited by ethnic minorities, and areas with difficult economic and social conditions to exercise their right to access information.
Authorities and units shall facilitate and encourage enterprises, organizations, and individuals to research and apply scientific and technological advancements into the construction of public information systems; they are responsible for upgrading and investing specialized equipment to serve the provision of information activities in border areas, islands, mountainous areas, areas inhabited by ethnic minorities, and areas with difficult economic and social conditions as prescribed by relevant laws.
The electronic portal and website of authorities and units shall be interconnected and integrated with those of subordinate authorities and units for updating and sharing information to facilitate citizens.
Authorities and units are responsible for maintaining, preserving, and updating the database of information, ensuring that the information is systematic, complete, comprehensive, easy to search, download, and use.
Authorities and units shall have the obligation to review, classify, inspect, and ensure
the confidentiality of information before providing it.
Ministries, agencies at the same level as ministries, agencies under the Government, people's committees at all levels are responsible for compiling and publicly disclosing a list of public sector entities with the task of supplying basic and essential public service services within their management scope. Authorities and units shall be responsible for announcing administrative procedures related to providing information in accordance with regulations.
In accordance with their functions and tasks assigned, ministries, agencies at the same level as ministries, agencies under the Government, people's committees at all levels implement measures ensuring the right to access information as prescribed by the Government.
The Government uniformly manages state affairs concerning access to information; it shall specify
in detail Clause 1 and Clause 4 of this Article.

Article 12. Monitoring the Implementation of the Right to Access Information

The National Assembly, Standing Committee of the National Assembly, people's councils at all levels, Vietnam Fatherland Front, and other competent agencies and organizations shall monitor the implementation of citizens' right to access information within their respective functions and powers in accordance with legal provisions.

Article 13. Complaints, Reports, and Litigation

The person requesting the provision of information has the right to lodge a complaint or initiate litigation against authorities and units, persons responsible for providing information as stipulated in Article 10 of this Law.
Citizens have the right to report violations of laws related to access to information.
Complaints, reports, and litigation concerning access to information shall be conducted in accordance with legal provisions on complaints, reports, and administrative proceedings, except where relevant laws provide otherwise.

Chapter III DISCLOSURE AND PROVIDING INFORMATION UPON REQUEST

Section 1 SCOPE OF INFORMATION TO BE ACCESSIBLE

Article 14. Information accessible to citizens

Citizens may access information from authorities and units, except for the information not accessible as prescribed in Article 15 of this Law; they may have conditional access to information as stipulated in Article 16 of this Law.

Article 15. Information Not Accessible to Citizens

Information classified as state secrets in accordance with the law on protecting state secrets.
When information classified as a state secret is declassified, citizens may access such information in accordance with this Law.
Information concerning private life, personal secrets, family secrets under civil law and personal data under the law on protecting personal data, except as provided for in Clause 1 of Article 16 of this Law.
Business secrets under intellectual property law, except as provided for in Clause 2 of Article 16 of this Law.
Information that, if disclosed, would cause harm to national interests, affect national defense and security, foreign affairs, public order and social safety, social ethics, community health, or the life, health, rights, and legitimate interests or property of others.
Determination of information under this clause is carried out in accordance with relevant laws; where no such provisions exist, based on actual conditions, the head of the agency or unit shall be responsible for examining and deciding on the provision of information.
Information classified as work secrets determined by agencies and units in accordance with the law.
Internal meetings of agencies and units; documents prepared by agencies and units for internal purposes.
Article 16. Conditions for Access to Citizen Information
Information related to private life, personal secrets may be accessed upon consent from the individual concerned. Information related to family secrets may be accessed upon consent from all members of the family.
Access to personal data information is carried out in accordance with the law on protecting personal data.

Information related to business secrets may be accessed upon consent from the owner of such secrets.

Access to stored documents under historical archives is carried out in accordance with the law on archival management.
In performing their functions, duties, and powers, the head of the agency or unit decides to provide information concerning private life, personal data, family secrets, business secrets for public interest, community health as provided by relevant laws without requiring consent under Clauses 1 and 2 of this Article.
Section 2 DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION
Article 17. Information Required to be Disclosed
The following information must be disclosed:
National and regional economic and social development strategies, programs, projects, plans; annual work program of agencies and units; periodic reports; national industry or sector databases; statistical information on managed industries or sectors;

Legislative texts; general administrative documents with universal applicability; international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a party, international agreements in which Vietnam participates; procedures for administrative actions and processing workflows of agencies and units.

Project files, draft legislative texts as per legal provisions; content and results of public consultations, reception of public opinions on matters within the decision-making authority of state organs as required by law; proposals and draft proposals for establishment, dissolution, merger, division of administrative units, adjustment of administrative boundaries, and renaming of administrative units; information disseminated to guide implementation of laws, regulations, policies in areas under the jurisdiction of state organs;

Functions, duties, powers, organizational structure of agencies and units and their subordinate units; duties and powers of civil servants, public officials directly handling matters for citizens; internal rules and regulations issued by agencies and units; plans for position transfers; standards, norms, policies, implementation results of standardization, normalization, and policy provisions;
National budget estimates; reports on the execution of national budget estimates; national budget settlements; annual financial statements; national budget estimates, execution status, and budget settlements of budgetary units, organizations receiving state budget support; direct state budget support to citizens in the area; annual financial plans, implementation status, and financial settlements of non-budgetary state financial funds; procedures for state budget management; information on taxes, fees, and charges;
Information on allocation, management, use of official development assistance and non-governmental organization aid according to regulations; management and use of relief and social assistance funds; management and use of public contributions and various funds;
Information on investment activities, management, and use of state capital in enterprises; reports evaluating business performance and ranking businesses; reports monitoring the disclosure of financial information by enterprises and state organs representing shareholders; organizational structure and operations of state-owned enterprises;
Public assets as per legal provisions; allocation, management, and use of public finances or funds raised from legitimate sources; project lists, programs for public investment, procurement, and management and use of public investment funds; implementation status and results of plans, programs, projects; information on business investment projects; tendering outcomes and reasons for non-winning bids as requested by the bidder;
Audit conclusions; reports on anti-corruption work; audit reports issued after issuance, reports on the execution of audit conclusions and recommendations from the National Audit Office after reporting to the National Assembly; national strategies on combating waste; implementation plans for national strategies on combating waste; conservation programs, anti-waste programs; reports on conservation efforts, anti-waste results; outcomes of handling wasteful behavior.
Project files, draft normative legal documents as provided by law; content and results of public consultations, receiving public opinions for issues within the decision-making authority of state organs to be consulted with the public according to legal provisions; proposals and draft proposals for establishing, dissolving, merging, dividing administrative units, adjusting administrative boundaries, and renaming administrative units; information on disseminating, guiding implementation of laws, regulations, policies in areas under the management of state organs;
Information on functions, tasks, powers, organizational structure of agencies and units and their subordinate agencies; tasks and powers of civil servants, public officials directly handling matters for citizens; internal rules, regulations issued by agencies and units; transfer plans; staffing standards, criteria, results of implementing staffing standards, criteria;
Information on state budget estimates; reports on the implementation of state budget estimates; state budget settlement reports; annual financial reports; state budget estimates, implementation status, and budget settlements of budgetary units, organizations receiving state budget support; direct state budget support to residents in the area; annual financial plans, implementation status, and financial settlements of non-budgetary state financial funds; state budget procedures; information on taxes, fees, and charges;

d) Information on allocation, management, use of official development assistance and non-governmental aid funds as provided by law; information on managing and using relief and social assistance funds; managing and using public contributions and various funds;
Information on investment activities, management, and use of state capital in enterprises; reports evaluating the results of operations and ranking companies; reports monitoring the disclosure of financial information of enterprises and state organs representing shareholders; information on organizational structure and operations of state-owned enterprises;
Information on public assets as provided by law; allocation, management, and use of public finances or funds raised from legal sources; project lists, investment programs, procurement programs and their management and use
capital investment, implementation status and results of plans, programs, projects; information on business investment projects; bidding results and explanations for non-winning bids as requested by the bidder.
The conclusion of the inspection; report on anti-corruption work; audit report after issuance, report on the results of implementing the audit conclusions and recommendations of the National Audit Office after reporting to the National Assembly; National strategy on preventing and combating waste; plan for organizing the implementation of the national strategy on preventing and combating waste; saving program, anti-waste program; report on the results of saving and anti-waste work; results of handling wasteful behavior;
Information on administrative penalties for violations related to food safety, product quality, goods, pharmaceuticals, labor, construction, social insurance, health insurance, environmental protection, taxation, securities, intellectual property, measurement, production and sale of counterfeit goods causing significant consequences or having a negative impact on public opinion; information on employers' delayed or avoided payment of mandatory social insurance contributions and unemployment insurance;
Information on national-level planning, regional planning, provincial planning, sectoral detailed planning, urban and rural planning, special economic zone administrative and economic unit planning;
Land use plan; land prices; land expropriation; compensation, support, and resettlement plans related to projects or works within the area; land survey and evaluation results; decision on compulsory inventory inspection enforcement; land boundary markers in safety protection zones;
List of residential construction investment projects permitted for foreign organizations and individuals to own residences; housing development programs and plans; list of ongoing residential construction investment projects within the province or city; building quality assessment conclusions, renovation and reconstruction plans; expropriation and transfer of public housing; relocation decisions for multi-story buildings; enforcement decisions on expropriating social housing;
Information on products, goods, services with negative impacts on health, environment; inspection and supervision conclusions related to environmental protection, community health, food safety, occupational safety; information on chemical safety; list of healthcare facilities that have obtained operating licenses; quality assessment results of healthcare facilities; working hours and lists of practicing personnel at healthcare facilities; prices of medical services; healthcare facilities violating healthcare laws;
General information about educational institutions; financial receipts and disbursements of educational institutions; conditions ensuring quality, plans and outcomes for early childhood education, general education, continuing education;
Conditions ensuring quality in training, research, training activities, scientific and technological programs at higher education institutions and vocational education institutions;
Environmental quality information, pollution incidents; emergency response plan for environmental incidents; list of surface water discharges and potential sources of environmental incidents within the province or city; environmental impact assessment reports; environmental permits; information on natural heritage sites, natural ecosystems, species, and genetic resources; nature reserves and biodiversity conservation facilities; important wetlands; soil, air, surface water, groundwater, marine water, sediment, aquatic environment quality monitoring results;
Information on environmental quality, pollution levels; emergency response plans for environmental incidents; list of sources discharging pollutants into surface waters and potential sources causing environmental incidents within the province or city; environmental impact assessment reports; environmental permits; information on natural heritage sites, natural ecosystems, species, and genetic resources; nature reserves and biodiversity conservation facilities; important wetlands; soil, air, surface water, groundwater, marine water, sediment, aquatic environment quality monitoring results;
List of cultural heritages approved and announced at the localities where such heritages are located;
Labor market information as per employment law regulations; recruitment, utilization, management of civil servants, public officials, and staff; list and outcomes of scientific research programs and projects; lists of archival documents and materials;
Information on basic and essential public service provision processes, timelines, and results; online public service processing procedures, timelines, and results; quality assurance measures for online public services as per regulations; evaluation results on the level of accessibility and reach of online public services;
Approved digital transformation plans; standard and technical specifications for common digital platforms; digital transformation assessment outcomes;
Information required to be disclosed according to legal provisions; names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses of the lead agencies or units responsible for receiving information requests; addresses of channels for public disclosure and provision of information upon request;
Other information required to be disclosed in accordance with legal provisions.
In addition to the information specified in Clause 1 of this Article, based on conditions and practical capabilities, agencies and units proactively disclose other information they have created or possess to protect public interests and community health.

Article 18. Forms and Timing of Public Disclosure of Information

The forms of public disclosure of information include:
Posting on the agency's or unit's electronic portal, website, data portal, information channels, official community pages;
Public disclosure through mass media;
Publishing in the Official Gazette, posting;
Through citizen reception meetings, press conferences, press releases, spokesperson activities;

d) Other forms of public disclosure that are convenient for citizens as determined by the agency or unit responsible for public disclosure.
In case the law specifies a form of public disclosure for specific information, such provisions shall be applied.
Where the law does not specify a specific form of public disclosure, based on actual conditions and capabilities, agencies or units may choose one or several forms of public disclosure as stipulated in Clause 1 of this Article to ensure that citizens can access the information.
For individuals with disabilities, ethnic minority people, residents in border areas, islands, mountainous regions, areas inhabited by ethnic minorities, and economically and socially disadvantaged and extremely difficult areas, in addition to the forms specified in Clause 1 of this Article, agencies or units shall determine a form of public disclosure that is suitable for citizens' access capabilities.
The timing of public disclosure of information for each sector shall be carried out according to relevant legal provisions; where there are no specific legal provisions, it must be disclosed within five working days from the date of creation of the information by the competent agency or unit.
Article 19. Public Disclosure of Information on Electronic Portals, Websites, Data Portals, Content Channels, Official Community Pages

Agencies and units shall publicly disclose on their own electronic portals and websites all the information specified in Clause 1 of Article 17 of this Law and other information as prescribed by law.

Based on actual conditions, agencies and units shall publicly disclose information created or held by themselves on data portals, content channels, official community pages.
Where there is no electronic portal, website, data portal, in the absence of an electronic portal, website, data portal, agencies and units shall be responsible for disclosing the information specified in Clause 1 of this Article through appropriate alternative means.
Article 20. Public Disclosure of Information on Mass Media

Agencies and units have the responsibility to provide complete, accurate, and timely information to mass media agencies as required by law, which must be publicly disclosed on mass media.

The publication and dissemination of information in the press shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the law on the press.
Article 21. Publishing in the Official Gazette, Posting
Public disclosure of information by publishing in the Official Gazette or posting is conducted in accordance with legal provisions.

For information disclosed through posting where specific locations and durations are not specified by law, it must be posted at the agency's or unit's premises or community activity location for a minimum period of 30 days.

The disclosure of information by means of publication in the Official Gazette or notice shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the law.
For information disclosed by means of posting, where the law does not specifically provide for the location and duration of the posting, it must be posted at the office premises or community activity venue for a minimum period of 30 days.

Article 22. Handling Inaccurate Public Information

Where a body or unit discovers that information created by itself and already made public is inaccurate, it shall promptly correct and publicly disclose the corrected information.
Where a body or unit discovers that information created by another body or unit but made public by itself is inaccurate, the body or unit that made the public disclosure shall promptly correct and publicly disclose the corrected information.
Where a body or unit discovers that information it created but was inaccurately disclosed by another body or unit, the body or unit that created the information shall request the other body or unit to promptly correct and publicly disclose the corrected information.
Where a citizen believes that public information is inaccurate, they may submit a suggestion to the body or unit that made the public disclosure. Within ten days from receipt of the suggestion, the responsible body or unit shall check the accuracy of the information and respond to the citizen; if it is determined that the public information is inaccurate, it must promptly correct and publicly disclose the corrected information.
Inaccurate public information disclosed in any form shall be corrected in the same manner, and the corrected information shall be made public on the data portal, electronic information portal, website, content channel, or official community of the body or unit that disclosed the inaccurate information.

Section 3 SUPPLY OF INFORMATION UPON REQUEST

Article 23. Information Supplied Upon Request

Information supplied upon request includes:
Information required to be publicly disclosed under paragraph 1 of Article 17 of this Law if it falls within any of the following cases:
Information that is within the public disclosure period but has not yet been disclosed;
Information that has exceeded the public disclosure period as prescribed by law;
Information currently being publicly disclosed but due to force majeure, the person requesting the information cannot access it;
Information related to private life, personal secrets, personal data, family secrets, or business secrets that meet the conditions for supply under Article 16 of this Law;
Information related to the daily life, living activities, production, and business operations of the person requesting the information but does not fall within the type of information prescribed in Article 17 of this Law and paragraph 2 hereof;
In addition to the information specified in paragraphs 1, 2, and 3 hereof, based on its mission, authority, conditions, and practical capabilities, a body or unit may supply other information it has created or holds to protect public interests and community health.
Article 24. Forms of Requesting and Supplying Information

The person requesting the information may directly or through an authorized representative request its supply in one of the following forms:

At the office of the body or unit;
Through postal services;
Via the Internet, including via email, electronic information portal, website, data portal, National Public Service Portal, mobile application, or other digital platforms designated by the competent authority.
The person requesting the information may use their personal mobile phone and other technical means to copy, photograph, download documents, files, and materials at the office of the body or unit, except where relevant laws provide otherwise.
The body or unit requested shall supply the information in the form requested by the requester, taking into account the nature of the information being supplied, the conditions, and capabilities of the body or unit, unless a law provides otherwise.
It is encouraged to supply information in the form specified at point c of paragraph 1 hereof.
The agency or unit shall be responsible for providing information in the form requested by the requester, consistent with the nature of the information to be provided, the conditions, and the capabilities of the agency or unit, except where the law provides otherwise.
Encouragement is given to the provision of information in the form specified at Point
c Clause 1 of this Article.

Article 25. Costs of Access to Information

Citizens are provided with information without paying fees or charges, except as otherwise provided by relevant laws.
The person requesting the provision of information shall bear the actual costs for printing, copying, photographing, and sending the information.
In cases where the information is requested in accordance with point a and
point c of Clause 1, Article 23 of this Law, no fees are required.
The Minister of Finance shall specify the details of this clause.

Article 26. Procedure and Process for Providing Information Upon Request

The person requesting the provision of information must submit a request in accordance with the prescribed requirements. For requests under Clauses 1 and 2, Article 16 of this Law, they must also attach relevant individual or organizational consent documents.
The agency or unit shall be responsible for receiving, guiding citizens to fulfill their requests for information; explaining and assisting those facing difficulties in accessing information; providing the information or refusing the request in writing and specifying the reasons as provided in Article 27 of this Law.
Depending on the specific case, within a maximum period of twelve days from the receipt of a valid request for information, the agency or unit shall provide the information to the citizen; if additional time is needed for examination, search, sorting, compilation, copying, and handling the request for information, it may be extended but not beyond twelve days, with written notification about the extension within the period for providing the information.
The Government shall specify the procedures and processes for providing information upon request and the model documents to be used in such provision.

Article 27. Refusal of Information Provision

An agency or unit may refuse to provide information in the following cases:
Information as provided in Article 15 of this Law; information that does not meet the conditions specified in Article 16 of this Law;
Information that has been made public according to Article 17 of this Law, except as provided in Clause 1, Article 23 of this Law;
The requested information is outside the scope of responsibilities for provision;
The information has already been provided twice to the same requester, unless there are justifiable reasons;
The requested information exceeds the capacity to respond or affects the normal operations of the agency or unit;
The person requesting the provision of information fails to pay the actual costs for printing, copying, photographing, and sending the information as provided in Article 25 of this Law.

Article 28. Handling of Inaccurate or Incomplete Information Provided Upon Request

If it is discovered that the information provided by oneself is inaccurate or incomplete, within five working days from the date of discovery, the agency or unit shall correct, re-provide, or supplement the missing information.
If the person requesting the provision of information believes that the provided information is inaccurate or incomplete, they have the right to request the agency or unit that provided the information to re-provide accurate information and/or provide supplementary information.
Within ten days from receipt of the request, the agency or unit that provided the information shall verify the accuracy and completeness of the information and respond to the requester; if the provided information is inaccurate or incomplete, it must be re-provided accurately and supplemented with any missing information.

Chapter IV PROVISIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION

Article 29. Applicable Clauses

Persons residing in Vietnam are required to provide information directly related to their rights and obligations.
The provision of information for persons residing in Vietnam
shall be governed by the provisions set forth in Section 3 of Chapter III of this Law.
Citizens may request the provision of information through organizations, associations, or enterprises where multiple members of such organization, association, or enterprise have identical requests for information.
The Government shall provide detailed regulations concerning this clause.

Article 30. Enforceability

This Law shall come into force on September 1, 2026.
The Law on Access to Information No. 104/2016/QH13 shall cease to be effective as of the date this Law comes into force.
Article 31. Transitional Provisions

The provision of information created or held by agencies and units prior to the reorganization of their organizational structure, where such functions, duties, and powers are assumed by other agencies and units, shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of this Law.

PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY