Circular No. 03/2021/TT-BNG guides the functions, tasks, and authorities regarding foreign affairs work of specialized agencies under provincial People's Committees and district People's Committees.

CIRCULAR

GUIDELINES ON THE FUNCTIONS, TASKS, POWERS REGARDING FOREIGN AFFAIRS WORK OF SPECIALIZED AGENCIES UNDER PROVINCE PEOPLE'S COMMITTEES AND DISTRICT PEOPLE'S COMMITTEES

Pursuant to Decree No. 26/2017/NĐ-CP dated March 14, 2017 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Decree No. 29/2020/NĐ-CP dated March 3, 2020 of the Government amending Article 3 of Decree No. 26/2017/NĐ-CP dated March 14, 2017 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;

Pursuant to Decree No. 24/2014/NĐ-CP dated April 4, 2014 of the Government stipulating the organization of specialized agencies under provincial people's committees and municipal people's committees directly under the central government, and Decree No.107/2020/NĐ-CP dated September 14, 2020 of the Government amending and supplementing certain articles of Decree No.24/2014/NĐ-CPdated April 4, 2014 of the Government stipulating the organization of specialized agencies under provincial people's committees and municipal people's committees directly under the central government;

Pursuant to Decree No. 37/2014/NĐ-CP dated May 5, 2014 of the Government stipulating the organization of specialized agencies under district people's committees, town people's committees, city people's committees directly under provinces, and Decree No. 108/2020/NĐ-CP dated September 14, 2020 of the Government amending Decree No.37/2014/NĐ-CPdated May 5, 2014 of the Government stipulating the organization of specialized agencies under district people's committees, town people's committees, city people's committees directly under provinces;people'scommittee;

At the proposal of the Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs,

The Minister of Foreign Affairs issues this Circular guiding the functions, tasks, and powers regarding foreign affairs work of specialized agencies under provincial people's committees (hereinafter referred to collectively as provincial people's committees) and district people's committees, town people's committees, city people's committees directly under provinces (hereinafter referred to collectively as district people's committees).This Circular guides the functions, tasks, and powers regarding foreign affairs work of the Department of Foreign Affairs under provincial people's committees, the People's Committee Office at provincial level for localities that have not established a Department of Foreign Affairs, specialized agencies under district people's committees performing the duties of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Ho Chi Minh City Department of Foreign Affairs, public service units, and bureaus (if any) under specialized agencies at provincial level which are not within the scope regulated by this Circular.1. The Department of Foreign Affairs is a specialized agency under provincial people's committees, having the function of advising and assisting provincial people's committees in managing state administration over foreign affairs and border management work of the national territory for provinces with border areas (hereinafter referred to collectively as foreign affairs work) of the locality; public services within the scope of management of the Department according to the provisions of the law.2. The Department of Foreign Affairs has legal personality, its own seal and separate account; it is subject to the direction and management of the provincial people's committee on organization, staffing, and activities; at the same time, it is subject to the direction, guidance, and supervision of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in terms of professional matters.a) Draft decisions of the provincial people's committee related to foreign affairs work of the locality within the management scope of the Department of Foreign Affairs and other documents assigned by the provincial people's committee;

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

b) Draft long-term plans, five-year plans, annual plans, programs, projects, measures to organize the implementation of tasks related to foreign affairs work at the locality within the decision-making authority of the Provincial People's Council and the provincial people's committee;This Circular guides the functions, tasks, and powers regarding foreign affairs work of the Department of Foreign Affairs under provincial people's committees, the People's Committee Office at provincial level for localities that have not established a Department of Foreign Affairs, specialized agencies under district people's committees performing the duties of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Ho Chi Minh City Department of Foreign Affairs, public service units, and bureaus (if any) under specialized agencies at provincial level which are not within the scope regulated by this Circular.b) Security officers and soldiers of the Military Security Protection Bureau under the Ministry of National Defense."

c) Draft decisions on the delegation of tasks and powers in the field of foreign affairs management to the Department of Foreign Affairs and district people's committees according to the provisions of the law;

Article 2. Position and Functions of the Department of Foreign Affairs

d) Draft decisions specifying the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Department of Foreign Affairs; draft decisions specifying the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of public service units under the Department of Foreign Affairs;đ) Draft decisions implementing the socialization of activities providing public services in the field of foreign affairs within the authority of the provincial people's committee and according to the delegation from higher-level state agencies.2. Submit to the Chairman of the provincial people's committee draft decisions, directives, and other documents within the authority to issue of the Chairman of the provincial people's committee regarding foreign affairs work in the locality.

3. Guide the implementation of the self-management mechanism for public service units under the management sector according to the provisions of the law; manage the activities of public service units both within and outside the public sector within the scope of the management sector.

Article 3. Tasks and Authorities of the Department of Foreign Affairs

1. Submit to the provincial People's Committee:

4. Organize the implementation of legal regulatory documents, plans, programs, projects, proposals on foreign affairs work of the locality after approval; provide information, propaganda, dissemination, guidance, inspection, supervision of the implementation of sectors within the scope of management of the Department.

5. Regarding cooperation and international integration:

a) Advise the provincial people's committee on international cooperation and integration work of the locality in accordance with the foreign policy guidelines of the Party and the policies and laws of the State.

b) Advise the provincial people's committee, build and implement plans, programs for international cooperation and integration of the locality, proposals to establish friendly cooperative relations of the locality with foreign partners, report to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as prescribed.

c) Serve as the focal point of the provincial people's committee in exchanging and cooperating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vietnamese representative offices abroad, diplomatic representative offices, consular representative offices, honorary consular offices of foreign countries, representative offices of intergovernmental international organizations (hereinafter referred to as foreign representative offices), non-governmental organizations from foreign countries, and other entities with foreign elements in Vietnam.

a) Advise the provincial people's committee on economic diplomacy work, building and implementing strategies, proposals, plans, programs of foreign affairs activities serving the socio-economic development of the locality.DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND INVESTMENTThe provincial People's Committee drafts decisions, directives, and other documents within the authority to issue of the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee regarding foreign affairs work at the local level.

3. Guide the implementation of the self-management mechanism for public service units under the management of the sector or field in accordance with the provisions of the law; manage the activities of public and non-public service units within the scope of the sector or field.

4. Organize the implementation of legal normative documents, plans, programs, projects, proposals on local foreign affairs work after approval; provide information, propaganda,disseminate,guide, inspect, examine, supervise the implementation of areas under the management of the Department.

5. Regarding international cooperation and integration:

a) Advise the Provincial People's Committee on international cooperation and integration work of the locality in line with the foreign policy guidelines of the Party and the State's policies and laws.

b) Advise the Provincial People's Committee, build and implement plans and programs for international cooperation and integration of the locality, proposals to establish friendly cooperative relations of the locality with foreign partners, report to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as prescribed.

Serve as the focal point of the Provincial People's Committee in exchanging and cooperating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vietnamese representative agencies abroad, diplomatic representative agencies, consular representative agencies, honorary consular agencies of foreign countries, representative agencies of intergovernmental international organizations (hereinafter referred to as foreign representative agencies), foreign non-governmental organizations, and other entities with foreign elements in Vietnam.

6. Regarding economic diplomacy:

a) Advise the Provincial People's Committee on economic diplomacy, build and implement strategies, proposals, plans, programs of foreign activities serving the socio-economic development of the locality.

b) Serve as the contact point for the provincial People's Committee in exchanging and cooperating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Vietnamese representative agencies abroad, foreign representative agencies in Vietnam, and other entities with foreign elements in promoting and introducing the potential and strengths of the locality; supporting the implementation of tasks related to trade promotion, investment, tourism, and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of local economic organizations abroad.

7. On cultural diplomacy work:

a) Advise the provincial People's Committee on cultural diplomacy work, developing and implementing programs and action plans to implement the cultural diplomacy strategy during each period.

b) Serve as the contact point for the provincial People's Committee in exchangingand supplement one, cooperating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Vietnamese representative agencies abroad, foreign representative agencies in Vietnam, and other entities with foreign elements in implementing cultural diplomacy activities in the locality, introducing and promoting the image, people, and culture of the locality abroad.

c) Coordinate in advising the provincial People's Committee on the construction and submission of proposals to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for the recognition of world cultural titles, as well as the conservation and enhancement of their values.nationalp international (UNESCO) recognize world cultural heritage titles and the preservation and promotion of their values.

8. On overseas Vietnamese work:

a) Advise the provincial People's Committee on overseas Vietnamese affairs, organizing the implementation of policies, plans, and programs for overseas Vietnamese in the locality.

b) Organize information dissemination and propaganda regarding the Party and State's policies towards overseas Vietnamese; mobilize, guide, and support overseas Vietnamese and their relatives in working, doing business, living, and studying in the locality.

c) Annually, regularly summarize and statistically report the number of overseas Vietnamese in the locality, evaluate and propose recommendations to resolve issues related to overseas Vietnamese and their relatives in the locality, advise the provincial People's Committee to report to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as prescribed.

9. Regarding consular work and protection of citizens:

a) Advise the provincial People's Committee on the management functions concerning the issuance of diplomatic passports and official passports to persons eligible under Vietnamese law.

b) Handle issues related to the protection of local citizens abroad and consular work for foreigners in the locality.

c) Serve as the contact point for receiving and delivering results of applications for consular certification,legalization at the local level when authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; receive, coordinate with relevant agencies to review, verify, and submit to the Chairman of the provincial People's Committee for approval to issue the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Card (ABTC), if assigned by the provincial People's Committee.legalize consular functions at the local level when authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; receive, coordinate with relevant agencies to review, verify and submit to the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee for consideration and permission to use the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Card (ABTC card, if assigned by the Provincial People's Committee).

d) Coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collecting and receiving samples of seals, signatures, and positions of local agencies and organizations, as well as central agencies and organizations located in the locality, to process consular certification andlegalization at the local level when authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; receive, coordinate with relevant agencies to review, verify, and submit to the Chairman of the provincial People's Committee for approval to issue the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Card (ABTC), if assigned by the provincial People's Committee.legalization.

đ) Serve as the contact point for communication with foreign representative agencies in Vietnam to resolve routine consular cases within the jurisdiction of the province, based on the guidance of the provincial People's Committee and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs., amended and supplemented by Decree No. 109/2025/NĐ-CP and Decree No. 193/2025/NĐ-CPi with foreign representative agencies in Vietnam to handle routine, less complex consular cases in the area based on the authorization of the Provincial People's Committee and guidance from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

e) Coordinate with relevant agencies and the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to advise the provincial People's Committee on policies and guidelines for citizens' emigration from the locality.

10. Regarding national border and territory management (for provinces with borders):

a) Serve as the permanent agency of the provincial People's Committee for national border and territory management; assist the provincial People's Committee in performing state management functions over national border and territory management in the locality according to laws and directives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant ministries and sectors.

b) Monitor,Comprehensivereport to the provincial People's Committee and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the implementation of international treaties on borders and territories, and other programs and projects related to border management within the province's jurisdiction.

c) Advise the provincial People's Committee on handling issues arising along land and sea borders in the locality, reporting to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant agencies.

d) Organize training sessions, disseminate laws, policies, and guidelines of the Party and State on national border and territory management; guide, inspect, and manage documents, maps, and files related to borders within the local jurisdiction; supervise and guide local agencies and units on state management of national borders.

đ) Lead and coordinate with relevant agencies to advise the provincial People's Committee on the construction, maintenance, repair of national boundary markers and boundary demarcation objects, and other measures to protect these markers and objects when necessary.

e) Coordinate with relevant agencies to implement international cooperation tasks on border defense and border defense diplomacy.

11. Regarding protocol and reception work:

a) Implement state management over protocol and reception work in the locality.

b) Propose, develop, and advise the provincial People's Committee to promulgate regulations on protocol and reception work in the locality; organize inspections and guidance on the implementation of protocol and reception regulations in local agencies.

c) Implement protocol and reception work, welcoming foreign delegations visiting or transiting through the locality to meet with provincial leaders; lead protocol and logistical support for provincial delegations visiting and working abroad.

d) Coordinate with units of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to guide, manage, and ensure the implementation of privileges, immunities, and diplomatic protocols for foreign consular agencies and units subordinate to foreign diplomatic missions located in the locality, in accordance with Vietnamese law, international treaties to which Vietnam is a party, and international practice (for localities with foreign consular agencies and units subordinate to foreign diplomatic missions).

12. Regarding external information work:

a) Serve as the lead agency of the Provincial People's Committee in exchanging and cooperating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Vietnamese representative agencies abroad, foreign representative agencies in Vietnam in implementing the local information dissemination program approved by the Provincial People's Committee.

b) Provide local information to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant agencies to support foreign information dissemination work; coordinate with Vietnamese representative agencies abroad to implement foreign information activities and promote the locality abroad.

c) Uniformly manage foreign journalists' press activities at the locality; develop activity programs, organize meetings and interviews with provincial leaders, provide directed information, monitor and manage foreign journalists' activities according to the law.

13. Regarding organization and management of outbound and inbound delegations:

a) Serve as the lead agency advising the Provincial People's Committee annually and every six months on building and adjusting plans for provincial leader outbound and inbound delegations to be submitted to competent authorities for submission to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.ComprehensiveTogether, submit for consideration and approval by the Prime Minister.

b) Implement state management over provincial leader outbound delegations and delegations from agencies, units, and localities within the province (outbound delegations) and international delegations visiting and working in localities within the province (inbound delegations).

c) Organize provincial leader outbound delegations; serve as the liaison agency with agencies and units of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Vietnamese representative agencies abroad to support, guide, and manage outbound delegations according to regulations; review outbound delegation proposals, track and compile statistics on outbound delegations under the management authority of the Provincial People's Committee.

d) Develop and implement plans and projects to welcome foreign delegations visiting and working with provincial leaders; review proposals and recommendations from local departments regarding provincial leaders receiving foreign guests; compile statistics on inbound delegations under the management authority of the Provincial People's Committee.

14. Regarding organization and management of international conferences and seminars:

a) Implement state management over international conferences and seminars within the authority of the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; advise the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee to coordinate opinions and manage international conferences and seminars organized in the province by other authorized persons.

b) Serve as the lead agency to receive and review the content of international conferences and seminars within the authority of the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; manage, guide, inspect, and ensure that agencies, units, and localities comply with regulations on organizing and managing international conferences and seminars.

c) Report to the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee for consideration to suspend the organization of international conferences and seminars within his authority; request other authorized agencies to consider suspending the organization of international conferences and seminars in the province or handle according to administrative violation laws if violations are detected in organizing and managing international conferences and seminars.

d) Advise the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee to report annually to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the situation of organizing and managing international conferences and seminars in the locality.

15. Regarding signing and implementing international agreements:

a) Assist the Provincial People's Committee in implementing state management over the signing and implementation of international agreements at the local level according to international agreement laws.

b) Monitor and urge the implementation of signed agreements; report and seek guidance from competent authorities on issues arising during the signing and implementation of international agreements at the local level.

16. Regarding non-governmental foreign organizations:

a) Serve as the lead agency assisting the Provincial People's Committee in implementing state management over the activities of foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) at the local level; provide opinions on issuing, extending, amending, supplementing, and revoking registration certificates and other activities of foreign NGOs at the local level; guide and support foreign NGOs in procedures and in surveying, developing, and implementing funding projects according to the law; inspect and supervise the activities of organizations and employees working for foreign NGOs at the local level; report to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Foreign NGOs as required.

b) Manage cooperation and fundraising activities for non-official development assistance (ODA) from foreign NGOs at the local level; develop programs and plans and support agencies, units, and localities in fundraising for non-ODA assistance from foreign NGOs.

c) Coordinate in reviewing programs, projects, and non-ODA grants from foreign NGOs to ensure political foreign policy requirements.

d) Hire and manage Vietnamese workers employed by foreign NGOs operating in the locality when authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through delegated authority, assigned tasks, or bidding.

đ) Serve as the permanent office of the Local NGO Work Committee (for localities with such committees).

17. Regarding diplomatic inspection work:

a) Carry out administrative and specialized inspections at the local level as prescribed.

b) Perform tasks related to handling complaints and denunciations and preventing corruption as prescribed. Guide and inspect subordinate units of the Department to comply with general legal provisions on inspection, complaint resolution, and anti-corruption.

c) Recommend suspension or cancellation of regulations found to be contrary to the law through inspection work. Monitor, urge, and inspect the implementation of inspection conclusions, recommendations, and decisions.

18. Regarding professional training for foreign affairs work:

a) Propose, develop, and implement training programs for local officials and civil servants in foreign affairs professional knowledge and skills.

b) Serve as the coordinating entity to collaborate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant agencies in implementing training programs on foreign affairs and international integration for local officials.

19. Implement regular and ad hoc reports on the implementation of foreign affairs tasks as prescribed.

20. Implement administrative reform according to the goals and content of the provincial People's Committee's administrative reform program; organize the application of science and technology, build information systems and data storage facilities to serve state management and foreign affairs activities; coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to establish a database on local foreign affairs activities nationwide.

21. Specify the specific functions, tasks, powers, and work relationships of units under the Department; manage organizational structure, staffing, implement salary systems, policies, incentives, training, promotion, appointment, dismissal, commendation and reward, disciplinary measures for civil servants, public officials, and employees under the Department's jurisdiction in accordance with the law and the division of labor or delegation by the provincial People's Committee.

22. Manage financial resources and assets assigned and organize the implementation of the budget allocated in accordance with the law and the division of labor by the provincial People's Committee.

23. Guide and inspect the implementation of the self-management mechanism and responsibility of subordinate public service organizations under the Department of Foreign Affairs in accordance with the law.

24. Perform other tasks assigned by the provincial People's Committee or the Chairman of the provincial People's Committee.

Article 4. Functions, tasks, and authorities regarding foreign affairs of the People's Committee Office at the provincial level when the provincial People's Committee does not establish a Department of Foreign Affairs.

1. In cases where a separate Department of Foreign Affairs is not established, the People's Committee Office at the provincial level shall have the function of advising and assisting the provincial People's Committee in state management of foreign affairs work.

2. The People's Committee Office at the provincial level shall perform tasks and exercise authorities regarding foreign affairs as prescribed in Article 3 of this Circular.

Article 5. Functions, Tasks, and Powers of County Specialized Agencies in Foreign Affairs

1. The specialized agency at the county level, assigned by the county People's Committee in accordance with regulations, has the task of advising and assisting the county People's Committee in the signing and implementation of international agreements in accordance with the law on international agreements.

2. The Office of the People's Council and People's Committee at the county level advises the county People's Committee on foreign affairs, border issues, and the signing and implementation of international agreements by the People's Committee at the commune level in border areas for counties with national land borders on land, sea, and islands.

3. Carry out other foreign affairs tasks and powers delegated by the People's Council, People's Committee at the county level, or the Chairman of the county People's Committee.

Article 6. Effectiveness

This Circular takes effect from December 12, 2021.

2. This Circular replaces Circular Joint No. 02/2015/TTLT-BNG-BNV dated June 28, 2015, issued by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Home Affairs guiding the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Department of Foreign Affairs under the provincial People's Committees and municipalities directly under the Central Government.

Article 7. Responsibility for Implementation

1. Provincial People's Committees shall be responsible for:

a) Specify the specific tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the People's Committee Office at the provincial level in accordance with the framework regulations of the Government and this Circular regarding the requirements for state management in the field of foreign affairs; manage the organizational structure, job positions, civil servant staffing, civil servant grade structure within the specialized agency for foreign affairs, job positions, public official structure by occupational title, and the number of staff in public service units (if any) under the Department of Foreign Affairs.

b) Provide detailed guidance on the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of specialized agencies under the county People's Committee in carrying out foreign affairs work in accordance with the law.

c) Based on the characteristics and socio-economic development situation of the locality, decide on the establishment, restructuring, or dissolution of public service units under the Department of Foreign Affairs in accordance with the law.

d) Decide on the delegation or authorization for the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs to perform certain tasks and powers within the authority of the provincial People's Committee and the Chairman of the provincial People's Committee in accordance with the law.

đ) For provinces and centrally governed cities that have the need to organize the Department of Foreign Affairs but have not yet met the criteria set forth in Clause 10, Article 1 of Decree No. 107/2020/NĐ-CP dated September 14, 2020, of the Government amending and supplementing some articles of Decree No. 24/2014/NĐ-CP dated April 4, 2014, of the Government on the organization of specialized agencies under the provincial People's Committees and centrally governed city People's Committees, the provincial People's Committee may develop a roadmap and plan to meet the criteria for establishing the Department of Foreign Affairs.

2. The county People's Committee shall be responsible for:

Specifying the specific functions, tasks, and powers of county specialized agencies in foreign affairs in accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and related laws.

3. The Chairmen of the provincial and centrally governed city People's Committees shall be responsible for organizing the implementation of this Circular. During the implementation process, if any issues arise or difficulties occur, the Chairmen of the provincial and centrally governed city People's Committees shall promptly report to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for consideration and resolution within their authority./.