Circular No. 02/2026/TT-BDTTG Guiding Certain Contents of Part Two of the National Program on Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas, Poverty Reduction for Sustainable Development and Economic-Social Development, Phase 2026-2035, Phase I: From 2026 to 2030, Within the Scope of Management Authority of the Ministry of Ethnic Affairs and Religion

 

CIRCULAR

GUIDANCE ON CERTAIN CONTENT OF PART TWO OF THE NATIONAL PROGRAM FOR NEW RURAL DEVELOPMENT, SUSTAINABLE POVERTY REDUCTION AND ECONOMIC-SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN ETHNIC MINORITY AND山体崩塌、滑坡和泥石流等自然灾害，以及人为因素如森林火灾的影响。这些灾害对当地居民的生活产生了严重影响。

Article 1. Scope of Application and Applicable Subjects

1. Scope of Application

This Circular provides guidance on the implementation of certain contents of Part Two of Decision No. 417/QĐ-BNNMT dated January 31, 2026, by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (Decision No. 417/QĐ-BNNMT), which approves the National Program for New Rural Development, Sustainable Poverty Reduction and Economic-Social Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas (DTTS&MN) for the period 2026-2035, Phase I: From 2026 to 2030, under the management authority of the Ministry of Religion and Ethnic Affairs, including contents 05, content 06 within component 01; content 03 within component 02; content 02, content 03 within component 03; content 01, content 02 within component 04; and content 01, content 02, and content 03 within component 05.

2. Applicable Subjects

 

This Circular applies to central government departments and agencies; people's committees at all levels and their subordinate organs; public institutions, cooperatives, associations, enterprises, households, individuals, and communities related to the scope of application as specified in paragraph 1 above.

Article 2. Implementation Principles

1. Compliance with Decree No. 358/2025/NĐ-CP dated December 31, 2025, by the Government on mechanisms for managing and implementing national program projects; Decision No. 16/2026/QĐ-TTg dated April 15, 2026, by the Prime Minister on principles, criteria, allocation standards of central budget funds, and the proportion of local counterpart funding for the National Program for New Rural Development, Sustainable Poverty Reduction and Economic-Social Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas for the period 2026-2030, as well as relevant regulations and guidelines; ensuring compliance with objectives, targeting the correct beneficiaries, scope, and authority; enhancing the mobilization and efficient use of social resources, integrating various funding sources to implement contents, ensuring focused, economical, transparent, and accountable fund utilization, preventing waste; decentralizing responsibilities while holding officials accountable for their tasks.

2. Based on assigned targets and indicators, actual conditions, local needs, and the ability to balance budgets and mobilize resources, local authorities shall decide on content and tasks, allocation standards in accordance with their authority but not lower than the general provisions of the Program; ensuring that implemented contents are prioritized, effective, avoiding dispersion or formalism.

3. Determination of support levels, funding sources, management procedures, payment processes, and financial settlement shall be conducted in accordance with laws on state budget, public investment, program management mechanisms, and guidelines from the Ministry of Finance.

 

4. In cases where an individual is eligible for multiple policies within this Program that have overlapping content or support characteristics, they will receive the highest level of support or the most beneficial policy.

5. Implementation activities must be adapted to local natural conditions, economic and social circumstances, customs, traditions, cultural identity, language, practical needs of each ethnic group, and specific areas; integrating gender considerations in the implementation process; prioritizing particularly difficult regions, ethnic groups facing significant challenges, those with unique difficulties, women, children, and vulnerable groups.

6. Strengthening decentralization to local levels, especially at the commune level, for implementing contents; clearly defining responsibilities of each level, agency, and unit in planning, selecting targets, approving lists, organizing implementation, monitoring, supervising, reporting results, and addressing violations (if any).

7. Implementation activities must be linked with objectives, indicators, output products, and the outcomes of execution, capable of specific measurement; regularly tracking, evaluating progress, quality, effectiveness, impact on local residents' lives, promptly identifying difficulties or obstacles for resolution or reporting to competent authorities for decision-making.

Article 3. Natural Disasters and Human Factors

This Circular also addresses the impacts of natural disasters such as landslides, mudflows, and forest fires, as well as human factors on local residents' lives.

This Circular applies to central ministries and agencies; people's committees at all levels and directly subordinate organs; public sector, cooperative, association, enterprise, household, individual, community subjects related to the scope of application as specified in Clause 1 of this Article.

Article 2. Implementation Principles

1. Compliance with Decree No. 358/2025/NĐ-CP dated December 31, 2025 by the Government on mechanisms for management and implementation of national target programs; Decision No. 16/2026/QĐ-TTg dated April 15, 2026 by the Prime Minister on principles, criteria, allocation standards for central budget funds and matching local government budget contributions for the National Target Program on building new rural areas, reducing poverty sustainably, and promoting economic and social development in ethnic minority and mountainous regions during the period 2026-2030 and relevant guiding documents; ensuring compliance with objectives, target groups, scope, authority; enhancing mobilization and effective use of social resources, integrating various funds to implement program contents, ensuring focused, frugal, efficient, transparent, and accountable fund utilization, preventing loss and waste; decentralizing authority while assigning accountability for the agencies, organizations, and individuals tasked.

2. Based on assigned targets and indicators, actual conditions, needs of the area, and budget balancing capacity, local authorities shall decide on content and tasks to be implemented in accordance with their authority but not lower than the general provisions of the Program; ensuring that implementation contents are prioritized, effective, avoiding dispersion or formalism.

3. Determination of support levels, funding sources, management procedures, payment, and final accounting of funds shall comply with laws on state budget, public investment, mechanisms for managing national target programs, and Ministry of Finance guidelines.

4. In cases where a subject is eligible to receive multiple policies with the same content or nature of support within this Program, they may only receive the highest level of support or apply the most beneficial policy.

5. Implementation activities must be adapted to natural conditions, economic and social circumstances, customs, traditions, cultural identity, language, practical needs of each ethnic group, area; integrating gender in the implementation process; prioritizing particularly difficult areas, ethnic groups facing many difficulties, those with specific hardships, women, children, and vulnerable groups.

6. Strengthening decentralization to local levels, especially at the commune level, for implementing program contents; simultaneously clarifying responsibilities of each level, agency, unit in planning, selecting targets, approving lists, organizing implementation, inspection, supervision, reporting results, and handling violations (if any).

7. Implementation activities must be linked with objectives, indicators, output products, implementation results, capable of specific measurement; regularly monitoring, evaluating progress, quality, effectiveness, impact on the lives of ethnic minority and mountainous region residents, promptly identifying difficulties or obstacles for resolution or reporting to competent authorities for consideration and decision.

 

Chapter II

INVESTMENT IN CONSTRUCTION, COMPLETION OF INFRASTRUCTURE

SPECIFIC FEATURES FOR DTTS AND MN PEOPLES' AREAS

Article 3. Support for establishing and maintaining support points for ethnic minority peoples to apply information technology in communes/villages to serve economic and social development and ensure public safety and order

1. Subjects

a) Ethnic minority affairs officers, civil servants, and staff of agencies at all levels from the central government down to localities; permanent bodies, advisory bodies, and support units for the level command committees;

b) Communes/villages in particularly difficult areas among ethnic minority peoples' areas as approved by competent authorities according to the provisions of Decree No. 272/2025/NĐ-CP dated October 16, 2025, of the Government on defining ethnic minority peoples' areas for the period 2026-2030 (Decree No. 272/2025/NĐ-CP), with priority given to border and island regions, areas with large or limited access to information technology;

c) Agencies, units, organizations, and individuals involved in the implementation and enjoyment of results related to this program.

2. Implementation content

a) Organizing training sessions, conferences, seminars, guidance, and skill development on digital transformation and application of information technology for economic and social development among ethnic minority peoples; promoting legal awareness, enhancing cybersecurity consciousness, preventing and warning against online fraud, and ensuring public safety and order;

b) Reviewing, establishing, and maintaining support points for ethnic minority peoples to apply information technology, ensuring compliance with management requirements and the needs of localities after reorganization according to the 2-tier administrative model; serving economic and social development and ensuring public safety and order;

c) Supporting the maintenance of online marketplaces in ethnic minority peoples' areas: implementing guidelines from the Vietnam Co-operative Union.

3. Content of financial support from the program's budget: regular funding to implement contents specified in Clause 2 of this Article.

Article 4. Addressing the issue of land shortage for housing

1. Subjects

Households without residential land, lacking residential land compared to the prescribed limits or those who received residential land support before May 31, 2021, but now lack residential land or fall short of the prescribed limits, including:

a) Households living in ethnic minority peoples' areas as defined by Decree No. 272/2025/NĐ-CP; priority given to households belonging to more disadvantaged ethnic groups, those with specific difficulties, poor households, near-poor households, and newly emerged poor households within the last 36 months from the time they were recognized as no longer poor by competent authorities, households living in border areas, regions at risk of natural disasters, landslides, or land safety issues;

b) Poor households, near-poor households, and newly emerged poor Kinh ethnic households residing in communes/villages in particularly difficult areas among ethnic minority peoples' areas.

2. Implementation content

Ensuring sufficient residential land area as prescribed by competent authorities; households receiving land support will also receive housing support according to the provisions of Circular No. 5 under this Program.

3. Content of financial support from the program's budget: public investment capital for supporting projects that provide land in a concentrated manner; regular funding for providing land through scattered support.

Article 5. Resolution of Housing Shortage Situations

1. Scope

Households without a house, houses with leaks or damage, or households that have received housing support but no longer possess a house or houses with leaks or damage, including:

a) Households of ethnic minority groups (DTTS & MN) residing in areas where such groups are predominant, prioritizing households belonging to ethnicities facing significant difficulties and having specific hardships;

b) Poor and near-poor Kinh households living in extremely difficult communes or villages within the areas predominantly inhabited by ethnic minorities.

2. Implementation Content

a) Provide support for investment in building one new house according to local customs, ensuring compliance with housing quality standards as stipulated by the Ministry of Construction;

b) Support repair and maintenance of houses that have deteriorated in accordance with current regulations set by the state construction management authority.

3. Support Content from National Budget of the Program: regular budget funds to implement contents specified in paragraph 2 of this Article.

Article 6. Planning, Arrangement, and Stable Resettlement for Ethnic Minority Groups Still Practicing Free Migration and in Necessary Places

1. Scope

Households and individuals who are eligible for stable resettlement through concentrated or dispersed relocation according to approved plans and programs, including:

a) Households of ethnic minority groups still practicing nomadic or migratory lifestyles;

b) Households and individuals who have migrated freely to communes or villages within the areas predominantly inhabited by ethnic minorities;

c) Households and individuals living in areas predominantly inhabited by ethnic minorities that frequently experience natural disasters or are at risk of such, requiring resettlement and stable arrangement;

d) Households and individuals who voluntarily relocate to border communes or concentrated resettlement points, or those who are relocated to live stably in border communes or resettlement points according to national plans.

2. Implementation Content, Procedures, and Funding as per Article 13 of Circular No. 23/2026/TT-BNNMT dated May 23, 2026, by the Minister of Agriculture and Environment.

Article 7. Investment in Other Infrastructure Projects on Lands Predominantly Inhabited by Ethnic Minority Groups

1. Scope

Communes or villages predominantly inhabited by ethnic minority groups (DTTS & MN).

2. Implementation Content

a) Construction of new or renovation, upgrading of anti-landslide engineering at high-risk points that directly affect residential areas and schools;

b) Investment in the construction of crematoriums where necessary, in line with local customs, traditions, and culture of ethnic minority groups residing on such lands;

c) Planning and allocation of land for centralized cemetery or burial grounds in areas predominantly inhabited by ethnic minority groups (DTTS & MN), consistent with local customs, traditions, and culture.

3. Support Content from National Budget of the Program

a) Public investment funds to implement contents specified at point a, b of paragraph 2 of this Article;

b) Regular budget funds to implement contents specified in point c of paragraph 2 of this Article.

 

Chapter III

SUPPORT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRODUCTION, CREATION OF JOBS AND INCOME INCREASE FOR THE PEOPLE IN AREAS DOMINANTLY INHABITED BY ETHNIC MINORITY GROUPS (DTTS & MN)

Article 8. Support for Promoting Entrepreneurship and Investment in Areas Dominantly Inhabited by Ethnic Minority Groups

1. Scope

a) Direct support: Individuals, households, or groups of households with business startup plans, entrepreneurship initiatives, or investment attraction in areas predominantly inhabited by ethnic minority groups (DTTS & MN), including women from ethnic minorities, female heads of poor households, single mothers, women with disabilities, victims of domestic violence, victims of human trafficking, youth, students, young professionals, youth who have completed military service, and returning workers;

b) Participatory support: Enterprises, cooperatives, or economic and social organizations engaged in production, procurement, marketing, employment, or product sales to the base of higher education institutions or vocational training institutions; c) Capacity building for management: Civil servants, public officials, and staff involved in ethnic work at national and local levels; individuals working part-time at the commune, village, cooperative, or association level.

2. Implementation Content

a) Organizing training sessions, seminars, exchanges, learning experiences on entrepreneurship and business start-ups, providing knowledge about labor markets and investment attraction in areas predominantly inhabited by ethnic minority groups (DTTS & MN);

b) Organizing forums, conferences, exchange programs, and dialogues to share practical experience, production and business mindset, and enhance economic development capabilities. Supporting access to resources such as capital, science and technology, market information, contributing to expanding opportunities for collaboration in production and marketing of products;

c) Providing support for the incubation of entrepreneurial models linked with local specialties, industries, or regional advantages; prioritizing models involving enterprises, cooperatives, product distributors, or those capable of creating jobs and increasing income for residents in areas predominantly inhabited by ethnic minority groups (DTTS & MN);

d) Supporting publicity, promotion, organizing commercial events to market products from areas predominantly inhabited by ethnic minority groups through successful entrepreneurial models;

e) Organizing commendation ceremonies for youth, students, and exemplary individuals who have successfully started businesses in areas predominantly inhabited by ethnic minority groups (DTTS & MN).

3. Support Content from National Budget of the Program: regular budget funds to implement contents specified in paragraph 2 of this Article.

d) Organizing commendation for young people, students, exemplary individuals, and successful entrepreneurship role models in ethnic minority and mountainous regions.

3. Support content from the state budget of the Program: regular funding support for implementing contents as specified in Clause 2 of this Article.

 

Chapter IV

DEVELOPMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES AMONG ETHNIC GROUPS AND MINORITIES

Article 9. Training of Teaching Competence for Teachers of Ethnic Languages

1. Subjects

a) Teachers teaching ethnic languages;

b) Educational institutions teaching ethnic languages.

2. Implementation Content

a) Compilation of materials, organization of training to enhance teaching competence, application of technology, artificial intelligence, innovation in teaching methods and development of pedagogical skills for the teachers of ethnic languages team;

b) Development of digital learning resources, electronic lecture bank supporting the teaching and learning of ethnic languages, digitization of ethnic language textbooks.

3. Content Supported by State Budget from the Program: regular funding to support implementation of contents stipulated in Clause 2 of this Article.

Article 10. Training on Knowledge of Ethnic Work

1. Subjects

a) Heads and deputy heads of departments, units under central government agencies directly overseeing ethnic work; heads and deputy heads of specialized agencies under provincial people's committees; party secretaries, deputy secretaries, chairpersons, vice-chairpersons of people's councils, chairpersons, vice-chairpersons of people's committees at the commune level; heads and deputy heads of people's committees at the commune level; principals, deputy principals of multi-level schools, secondary schools, primary boarding schools, and semi-boarding primary schools;

b) Civil servants and staff not holding leadership positions who provide advice and oversight on ethnic work in central government agencies; civil servants and staff not holding leadership positions who provide advice and oversight on ethnic work in provincial agencies; civil servants not holding leadership positions at the commune level, party branch secretaries, village heads, non-specialist cadres in villages in areas inhabited by ethnic groups;

c) Trainers and lecturers providing knowledge of ethnic studies;

d) For military forces, training on knowledge of ethnic work organized according to guidelines from the Ministry of National Defense and Ministry of Public Security.

2. Implementation Content

a) Development of training programs and materials for knowledge of ethnic work;

b) Organization of training on knowledge of ethnic work.

3. Content Supported by State Budget from the Program: regular funding to support implementation of contents stipulated in Clause 2 of this Article.

4. Training institutions assigned to organize training on knowledge of ethnic work must meet current regulations for civil servant and staff training; have relevant or specialized programs; ensure a sufficient number of resident lecturers and trainers to teach the topics in the training program.

Article 11. Training in Ethnic Languages for Civil Servants, Staff, and Military Personnel

1. Subjects

Civil servants, staff, and military personnel working in fields related to ethnic groups or working, living in areas inhabited by ethnic groups.

2. Implementation Content

a) Development and issuance of training programs for civil servants, staff on ethnic languages according to the Government Directive No. 38/CT-CP dated November 9, 2004, which promotes the training and development of ethnic languages among civil servants working in mountainous areas; issuance of teacher training programs for teaching ethnic languages as per the Government Decree No. 82/2010/NĐ-CP dated July 15, 2010, which stipulates the teaching and learning of ethnic language and script in primary and secondary schools and adult education centers;

b) Compilation of textbooks and materials based on civil servant, staff, and teacher training programs for ethnic languages issued by the Ministry of Education and Training;

c) Organization of classes to provide certificates in ethnic languages according to the Circular No. 09/2023/TT-BGDĐT dated April 18, 2023, which regulates the organization of training, development, and issuance of ethnic language certificates; Circular No. 02/2026/TT-BGDĐT dated January 22, 2026, which amends and supplements certain provisions of the regulations on organizing training, development, and issuance of ethnic language certificates attached to Circular No. 09/2023/TT-BGDĐT to meet the demand for human resources and ensure sufficient teachers to teach ethnic languages in localities;

d) Organization of pilot classes to provide basic communication skills training in ethnic languages for civil servants, staff, and military personnel working in areas inhabited by ethnic groups.

d) Training in ethnic languages for military forces conducted according to guidelines from the Ministry of National Defense and Ministry of Public Security.

3. Content Supported by State Budget from the Program: regular funding to support implementation of contents stipulated in Clause 2 of this Article.

Article 12. Mitigation of Early Marriage and Consanguineous Marriages

1. Subjects

a) Adolescents, youth from ethnic minority and mountainous area (DTTS&MN) communities, students at general education institutions, boarding schools, and semi-boarding schools, with priority given to those facing significant difficulties and specific hardships;

b) Parents, guardians; women and men from DTTS&MN areas, with priority given to individuals residing in regions with high rates of early marriage and consanguineous marriages;

c) Notable figures, village elders, community leaders, religious or community officials;

d) Party and government leadership at all levels; political-social organizations; local ethnic and cultural affairs officers; teachers, healthcare workers, and community health workers.

2. Implementation Content

a) In accordance with Section 3.2 of Paragraph 3 in Part II of Decision No. 1102/QĐ-BYT dated April 21, 2026, which provides guidelines for implementing certain national criteria for building new rural areas, poverty reduction, and economic-social development in ethnic minority and mountainous regions from 2026 to 2035, Phase I: From 2026 to 2030, within the scope of management by the Ministry of Health regarding the mitigation of early marriage and consanguineous marriages.

b) Conduct nationwide public awareness campaigns on mitigating early marriage and consanguineous marriages through Vietnam Radio, Vietnam Television, Vietnam News Agency, and other media outlets;

c) Organize competitions to enhance understanding of laws related to marriage and family, gender equality, prevention of early marriage, and avoidance of consanguineous marriages.

3. Financial Support from the National Budget for the Program: Regular funding support for implementing the contents specified in Paragraph 2 of this Article.

 

Chapter V

SPECIAL POLICIES FOR PRIORITIZED SUPPORT AND DEVELOPMENT OF ETHNIC GROUPS ENCOUNTERING SIGNIFICANT DIFFICULTIES, WITH SPECIFIC CHALLENGES

Article 13. Special policies for prioritized support and development of communities, households, and individuals from ethnic groups encountering significant difficulties, with specific challenges

1. Subjects

a) Poor and near-poor households listed as belonging to ethnic groups encountering significant difficulties, with specific challenges in the period 2026-2030 in DTTS&MN areas;

b) Communities and individuals from ethnic groups listed as facing specific challenges in the period 2026-2030 in DTTS&MN areas.

2. Implementation Content

a) Support for production and livelihood development:

Provide comprehensive direct financial support for purchasing seeds, livestock, feed, fish feed, fertilizers, pesticides, vaccines, veterinary medicines, medical supplies, and animal health equipment to care for animals and other agricultural materials as per regulations for poor and near-poor households from ethnic groups encountering significant difficulties, with specific challenges; prioritize support for production development in groups of households whose projects have been approved by competent authorities.

Organize training sessions, workshops, and exchanges on production knowledge and economic development for households and groups of households.

b) Support for the restoration, preservation, and promotion of cultural heritage values of ethnic groups encountering significant difficulties, with specific challenges:

Conduct oral language classes in ethnic languages; organize traditional culture teaching classes.

Restore, reconstruct, and preserve traditional musical instruments, costumes, cultural forms, and traditional crafts.

Provide equipment for community activity centers that are culturally appropriate.

Establish and maintain the activities of folk culture clubs, village art teams.

Organize cultural exchange meetings, seminars, and discussions; organize annual traditional festivals; organize days of celebration, exchanges, and competitions on traditional cultural forms, performances, and clothing of ethnic groups.

Organize information dissemination to enhance spiritual life for the community.

c) Development of population numbers and quality improvement in ethnic groups with specific challenges (excluding health insurance services):

Organize nutritional counseling activities for pregnant women at least three times per pregnancy period.

Provide medical staff support for examinations, follow-ups, information updates, and management of pregnant women until childbirth (in addition to current travel allowances): up to four visits per expectant mother.

Support nutrition for pregnant women before, during, and after childbirth.

Support pregnant women in undergoing screening and diagnosis of common congenital diseases as specified by the Ministry of Health.

Provide travel expenses for pregnant women to healthcare facilities for examinations and screening of common congenital diseases.

Provide incentives for childbearing among households from ethnic groups with specific challenges, starting from the second child, with higher support levels than the previous consecutive birth.

Support newborns in undergoing screening, diagnosis, and treatment of common congenital diseases as specified by the Ministry of Health.

Provide travel expenses for newborns to healthcare facilities for screening and diagnosis of common congenital diseases.

Support treatment for acute malnutrition in children under five years old.

Provide monthly nutritional supplements at home for children under five years old.

d) Human resource development support

Provide scholarships for students from ethnic groups with specific challenges who excel academically to pursue higher education or postgraduate studies in advanced educational systems as directed by the Ministry of Education and Training.

Prioritize the placement of workers from ethnic groups encountering significant difficulties, with specific challenges, in training, vocational, and agricultural activities.

Scholarships for students from ethnic minorities with specific hardships who excel academically to pursue higher education or postgraduate studies in advanced educational systems according to guidelines by the Ministry of Education and Training.

Prioritizing the placement of workers from ethnic groups facing many difficulties, those with specific hardships, in agricultural training, vocational training programs for rural industries.

3. Support content from the state budget of the Program: regular funding support for implementing contents as specified in Clause 2 of this Article.

Article 14. Sustainable Investment for the Dan Lai Community in Pu Mat National Park, Nghe An Province

1. Subject

Households, individuals, and the Dan Lai community (from the Tho ethnic group) residing in the core area of Pu Mat National Park, Nghe An Province.

2. Implementation Content

a) Investment in essential economic and social infrastructure to support community development;

b) Support for building residential houses, toilets, and livestock shelters;

c) Support for land cultivation and improvement, seeds, and production materials;

d) Support for education, culture, healthcare, and public health services;

d) Training and capacity-building of the Dan Lai ethnic cadre team.

3. Content of Financial Support from the State Budget under the Program

a) Public investment capital to support the implementation of content specified in Point a of Clause 2 of this Article;

b) Regular expenses to support the implementation of content specified in Points b, c, d, and d of Clause 2 of this Article.

4. The People's Committee of Nghe An Province shall implement according to regulations.

 

Chapter VI

PUBLICITY AND PROMOTION; APPLICATION OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION TO SUPPORT ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE DTTS&CM COMMUNITIES

Article 15. Commendation and Honoring Advanced Individuals; Leveraging the Role of Respected Figures, Religious Leaders, Ethnic Minority Community Members, and Local Residents

1. Subject

a) Outstanding and exemplary advanced individuals in various social fields among the DTTS&CM communities;

b) Religious leaders, respected figures, village elders, head of hamlet, branch secretary, heads of political and social organizations in villages within the DTTS&CM communities;

c) Cadres, civil servants, and staff from the national and local ethnic affairs and religious work systems who have made significant contributions in their fields.

2. Implementation Content

a) Building, identifying, nurturing, selecting, managing, and leveraging the role of respected figures among the DTTS community according to the actual conditions of the locality;

b) Producing feature stories, documentary films, special programs, columns, and segments; applying information technology, digital transformation, and digital platforms to implement commendation and honoring activities for individuals as specified in Clause 1 of this Article;

c) Organizing commendations and honors at the local, provincial, and national levels. Organizing exhibitions showcasing economic and social achievements and displaying exemplary agricultural products from the DTTS&CM communities.

d) Organizing seminars, conferences, training sessions, symposiums, exchanges, receptions, visits, and study tours to introduce and commend individuals as specified in Clause 1 of this Article.

3. Content of Financial Support from the State Budget under the Program: regular expenses to support the implementation of content specified in Clause 2 of this Article.

Article 16. Publicizing and Educating on Laws

1. Subject

a) Village elders, head of hamlet, respected figures, religious leaders, ethnic minority community members, and local residents residing in the DTTS&CM communities. Prioritizing those from very small ethnic minorities facing many difficulties; ethnic minorities with religions; students and trainees at educational institutions within the DTTS&CM regions.

b) Core personnel responsible for publicizing and educating on laws (PBGDPL); local cadres, civil servants, staff, and individuals assigned to carry out PBGDPL tasks in the DTTS&CM regions.

2. Implementation Content

a) Promoting Party policies, the Constitution, and legal provisions that directly affect the lives of ethnic minorities, residents living in the DTTS&CM regions; ethnic minority policies, religious policies, economic and social development policies, livelihoods, employment, and social security for the DTTS&CM regions. Emphasizing the benefits of law compliance, adherence to laws linked with customs, traditional practices, and good cultural values; linking legal education with religious teachings for ethnic minorities with religions.

b) Developing real-life scenarios, specific characters, skits, feature stories, bulletins, legal stories that are relevant to the lives of ethnic minorities, DTTS&CM regions. Encouraging and prioritizing the production of PBGDPL content in the local language on radio, television, and digital platforms; sharing data with the National Legal Portal, digital platforms, and social media.

c) Developing, maintaining, and expanding effective models of publicizing and educating on laws within communities that are tailored to the specific characteristics of the target audience and the DTTS&CM regions. Emphasizing models that highlight traditional cultural values, religious teachings (living a good life, practicing one's faith); the central role of community members; the importance and credibility of core personnel, legal propagandists, village heads, respected figures among ethnic minorities, and religious leaders.

d) Developing and compiling publicizing and educating on laws programs and materials. Regularly updating and supplementing these programs and materials; digitizing all PBGDPL programs and materials;

e) Organizing training sessions to enhance skills in publicizing and educating on laws, focusing on the application of information technology, digital transformation, and AI, as well as Party policies and national legal provisions related to ethnic affairs, religious policies, and economic and social development in the DTTS&CM regions.

f) Organizing dialogues, conferences, seminars, symposiums, and other activities to exchange experiences both domestically and internationally. Sharing successful models and effective practices that are relevant to the specific characteristics of the target audience and the DTTS&CM regions to address any difficulties or challenges promptly.

Improving the effectiveness of publicizing and educating on laws. Enhancing the effectiveness of public awareness and legal education;

g) Review of customs and traditions contrary to legal provisions; promote and mobilize efforts to fundamentally eliminate such customs and traditions;

h) Compile programs, materials, and organize training and capacity building for the core team engaged in public awareness and mobilization work.

3. Content of financial support from the state budget of the Program: regular funding to implement the contents specified in Clause 2 of this Article.

Article 17. Public Awareness and Mobilization Among Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Area People

1. Target Group

a) Officials, civil servants, and staff within the system of ethnic affairs and religious work agencies, those engaged in public awareness and mobilization at various levels; leaders of grassroots political-social organizations;

b) Village elders, village chiefs, respected individuals, religious officials, and functionaries in areas inhabited by ethnic minorities and mountainous area people;

c) Enterprises, cooperatives, economic organizations operating in areas inhabited by ethnic minority and mountainous area people

d) Residents of areas inhabited by ethnic minority and mountainous area people.

2. Implementation Content

a) Develop documents, manuals, publications, notebooks, brochures, and flyers;

b) Organize seminars, conferences, training sessions, symposiums, exchanges, meetings, field trips, learning of experiences, competitions through theatrical performances; promote the Party's policies, state laws, and regulations to ethnic minority people, religious people, and residents in areas inhabited by ethnic minorities and mountainous area people;

c) Promote using various forms: news reports, documentary films, special programs, sections, and columns; apply information technology, digital transformation, and digital platforms for the implementation of public awareness and mobilization activities among ethnic minority and mountainous area people

d) Encourage the use of ethnic minority languages and digital platforms in public awareness and mobilization efforts.

3. Content of financial support from the state budget of the Program: regular funding to implement the contents specified in Clause 2 of this Article.

Article 18. Strengthening and Enhancing Access and Enjoyment of Legal Aid, Mediation at Grassroots Level, Measures for Security Guarantees, Registration of Security Interests, and State Compensation for Areas Inhabited by Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Area People

1. Target Group

a) Legal aid: as per Article 7 of the Legal Aid Law and the following target groups: residents in areas inhabited by ethnic minorities and mountainous area people, women and girls from ethnic minority regions who are victims of gender-based violence; officials, civil servants, and staff within the system of ethnic affairs and religious work agencies at all levels; those providing legal aid in areas inhabited by ethnic minorities and mountainous area people, individuals with authority to initiate proceedings, public notaries, grassroots officials, village chiefs, community representatives, leaders of groups, and members of organizations operating in areas inhabited by ethnic minorities and mountainous area people; legal education officers, legal publicity officers; village elders, village chiefs, respected individuals, religious officials in areas inhabited by ethnic minorities and mountainous area people; enterprises, business entities, cooperatives, economic organizations, social organizations operating in areas inhabited by ethnic minorities and mountainous area people;

b) Grassroots mediation: mediators, members of the mediation team as per the Law on Grassroots Mediation and the following target groups: leaders of grassroots Party, government, and mass organization at the village level; village elders, chiefs, respected individuals, religious officials in areas inhabited by ethnic minorities and mountainous area people, training officers;

c) Access to and enjoyment of security measures, registration of security interests: those managing state registration of security interests in areas inhabited by ethnic minorities and mountainous area people; those registering security interests at registration authorities; those supporting the operation of security interest registration and grassroots officials, village chiefs, respected individuals, residents in areas inhabited by ethnic minorities and mountainous area people;

d) State compensation: residents in areas inhabited by ethnic minorities and mountainous area people; organizations operating in areas inhabited by ethnic minorities and mountainous area people; those engaged in state compensation work, state officials, legal aid officers, individuals, and organizations providing legal support in areas inhabited by ethnic minorities and mountainous area people.

2. Implementation Content

In accordance with the contents specified in Section B of Part Two, Document No. 2855/HD-BTP dated April 29, 2026, of the Ministry of Justice guiding on implementing certain components of the National Program for Building New Rural Areas, Reducing Poverty, and Promoting Economic-Social Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Area Regions from 2026 to 2035, Phase I: From 2026 to 2030.

3. Content of financial support from the state budget of the Program: regular funding to implement the contents specified in Clause 2 of this Article.

Article 19. Construction and Maintenance, Operation of the System for Monitoring Development Levels in Ethnic Minority Areas and Lists of Ethnic Groups Still Facing Many Difficulties with Special Difficulties

1. Implementation Content

a) Construction of the system for monitoring development levels in ethnic minority areas, lists of ethnic groups still facing many difficulties with special difficulties;

b) Support activities serving management, operation, and maintenance of the system;

c) Allocate support funds for managing, inspecting, evaluating development levels in ethnic minority areas and monitoring and assessing activities of Part Two;

d) Organize conferences, seminars, training sessions, and professional exchanges to serve work on construction, management, operation, and maintenance of the system.

2. Support Content from the State Budget of the Program: Regular budget funds for implementing contents specified in paragraph 1 of this Article.

 

Chapter VII

ORGANIZATION OF IMPLEMENTATION

Article 20. Organization of Implementation

1. The Ministry of Ethnic Affairs and Religion is the lead agency to guide, organize implementation, monitor, urge, inspect, and summarize the implementation status of contents specified in this Circular; it will coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Finance, and other central agencies related during the process of implementation.

a) Monitor, urge, guide, resolve difficulties, and obstacles in implementing contents within the scope of this Circular;

b) Take the lead, coordinate with relevant central agencies to develop documents, forms, monitoring, inspection, and evaluation tools for contents under Part Two;

c) Summarize progress, results, and recommendations from central agencies and localities to report to competent authorities in accordance with regulations;

d) Take the lead, coordinate with relevant central agencies to implement activities at regional, inter-regional, and national scales;

d) Coordinate with relevant central agencies for inspections, evaluations, preliminary reviews, and final reviews of implementation contents under Part Two; promptly propose adjustments, supplements, or handling of issues beyond authority.

2. The People's Committee at the provincial level is fully responsible for organizing the implementation of contents specified in this Circular to ensure alignment with objectives, target groups, areas, content, funding sources, and legal provisions.

a) Directly review, identify target groups, areas, needs, and priority order for investment and support;

b) Clearly assign responsibilities to provincial ethnic affairs and religion agencies, departments, the People's Committees of districts, and related agencies and units;

c) Integrate resources, avoid policy overlaps, prevent resource dispersion, prioritize particularly difficult areas, ethnic groups still facing many difficulties with special difficulties, vulnerable groups, and other disadvantaged populations;

d) Organize inspections, evaluations, summaries, and report results; promptly identify, handle issues within authority or report to competent authorities for handling obstacles, violations (if any).

d) For targets and tasks related to ethnic minority areas but not specifically detailed in Part Two, the provincial People's Committee shall allocate resources based on guidance from the lead agency of the corresponding content and part of the Program to implement such targets and tasks:

Strive to increase average income of ethnic minorities by half that of the country.

Contribute to reducing multidimensional poverty in ethnic minority areas below 10%.

Contribute to transforming rural labor structure towards increasing the share of industrial, handicraft, tourism, and service sectors.

Annually attract 3% of rural labor force into industries, handicrafts, tourism, and services.

Strive for 40% of ethnic minority workers to know how to engage in industrial, handicraft, tourism, and service sectors.

Strive for 80% of farming households among ethnic minorities to engage in commercial agriculture and forestry.

Strive for an annual increase in the number of students enrolled at higher education levels among ethnic minorities in ethnic minority areas by at least 10%.

Enhance community and cadre capacity in implementing Part Two of the Program in ethnic minority areas.

Train, plan, build a team of ethnic minority cadres, especially those in place. Ensure that the proportion of ethnic minority civil servants, public officials, and staff matches the ethnic minority population ratio in each locality.

Support digital transformation and application of information technology to serve economic and social development while ensuring national security and defense in ethnic minority areas.

Strive for a 30% increase in the proportion of workers from ethnic groups still facing many difficulties with special difficulties who are trained and live by their trade.

Support ethnic minorities' access to scientific and technological information and promotion of local products among domestic and international friends.

Enhance the ability to apply and use information technology for economic and social development in ethnic minority areas, especially digital transformation and digitalization in implementing the Program.

Enhance the capacity and awareness of ethnic minorities in applying digital transformation to improve their quality of life and production efficiency.

e) Localities shall balance resources based on actual conditions to integrate support for households, groups of households, and communities from ethnic groups still facing many difficulties with special difficulties with housing, livelihood, cultural preservation, and population quality improvement policies at a higher standard than other ethnic groups in the same locality.

g) For localities that have achieved poverty reduction goals, no longer have extremely poor communes, and no longer have poor or near-poor households according to current standards, the provincial People's Committee shall determine priorities based on actual conditions for sustainable development, improving living standards, and narrowing development gaps in ethnic minority areas.

3. Mechanisms for coordination and resolution of obstacles

During the implementation process, central and local ministries and agencies must ensure frequent, timely, and unified coordination; in cases where content regarding guidance authority is unclear, the relevant ministry or agency shall submit a document to the Ministry of Ethnic Affairs and Religion for consolidation, coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and other related ministries and agencies to examine, provide guidance, or report to an authorized body for decision-making.

4. Where the legal normative document referred to in this Circular is amended, supplemented, or replaced, it shall be implemented according to the amended, supplemented, or replacement document.

Article 21. Implementation Clause

1. This Circular takes effect from the date of issuance and promulgation.

2. Central ministries and agencies, People's Committees of provinces and cities, based on their assigned functions and tasks, shall organize the implementation of the contents stipulated in this Circular; they shall direct subordinate organs and units to coordinate implementation, ensuring synchronization, unity, accuracy, targeting, and appropriateness to actual conditions.

3. During the implementation process, if there are difficulties or obstacles, central ministries and agencies, People's Committees of provinces and cities, and relevant organs and units shall report to the Ministry of Ethnic Affairs and Religion for consolidation, research, handling according to their authority, or propose to an authorized body for examination and handling in accordance with regulations./.