Circular No. 06/2012/TT-BVHTTDL detailing the implementation of certain provisions of Government Decree No. 06/2011/NĐ-CP dated January 14, 2011 on supporting elderly people's participation in cultural, sports, and tourism activities and organizing birthday celebrations for the elderly.

CIRCULAR

Detailed regulations on implementation of certain provisions of Government Decree No. 06/2011/NĐ-CP dated January 14, 2011 on support for elderly people to participate in cultural, sports, and tourism activities and organizing longevity celebrationsparticipate in cultural, sports, and tourism activities and organize birthday celebrations for the elderly

Pursuant to the Law on the Elderly dated November 23, 2009;

Pursuant to Government Decree No. 06/2011/NĐ-CP dated January 14, 2011 detailing and guiding the implementation of certain provisions of the Law on Elderly People;

Pursuant to Decree No. 185/2007/NĐ-CP dated December 25, 2007 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism;

Upon the proposal of the Head of the Legal Department;

The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism promulgates this Circular providing detailed regulations on implementation of certain provisions of Government Decree No. 06/2011/NĐ-CP dated January 14, 2011 on support for elderly people to participate in cultural, sports, and tourism activities and organizing longevity celebrations.

Section 1
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Circular stipulates the support for elderly people to participate in cultural, sports, and tourism activities and organizing longevity celebrations.

Article 2. Applicability

1. This Circular applies to agencies, units, organizations, and individuals operating in the fields of culture, sports, and tourism; Provincial Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism (hereinafter referred to as Provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism); and agencies, units implementing longevity celebration activities at local levels.

2. Elderly people participating in cultural, sports, and tourism activities must be aged 60 years or older as provided for in Article 2 of the Law on Elderly People.

Section 2
SUPPORT FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE

TO PARTICIPATE IN CULTURAL, SPORTS, AND TOURISM ACTIVITIES

Article 3. Support for elderly people in cultural, sports, and tourism activities

Agencies, units, organizations, and individuals operating in the fields of culture, sports, and tourism shall have the responsibility to support elderly people in learning, cultural activities, entertainment, tourism, physical exercise, and sports as follows:

1. Prioritize investment in building and renovating cultural, sports, and tourism facilities to meet the needs of elderly people for learning, cultural activities, entertainment, and health maintenance.

2. Guide and create favorable conditions for elderly people to use library materials and participate in library activities in forms suitable to their health and library rules.

3. Assist and create conditions for elderly people to participate in physical exercise and sports activities, provide equipment, instructors, organize sports competitions exclusively for elderly people, ensuring safety for elderly people during training and competition at facilities.

4. Develop tourism products suitable to the psychology and health of elderly people.

5. Provide support and reduce service fees for elderly people according to the provisions of this Circular and relevant laws.

Article 4. Reduction of service fees for elderly people

1. When elderly people visit historical-cultural relics, museums, scenic spots; engage in physical exercise and sports at facilities under the management authority of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, they shall present their Identity Card or other lawful documents proving their status as elderly people to enjoy reduced service fees.

2. Encourage other service-providing facilities under the management authority of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to implement reductions in service fees for elderly people according to the provisions of this Circular and relevant laws.

Article 5. Discount rate for services

1. The minimum discount rate for services shall be twenty percent (20%) of the current service price at the facilities specified in Clause 1 of Article 4 of this Circular.

In cases where historical-cultural sites, museums, scenic spots charge service fees tied to admission fees, the discount rate shall be implemented according to the provisions of Circular No. 127/2011/TT-BTC dated September 9, 2011, issued by the Ministry of Finance, regarding the collection of admission fees for historical-cultural sites, museums, and scenic spots for senior citizens.

2. The specific discount rate for services shall be decided by the heads of the facilities specified in Clause 1 of Article 4 of this Circular based on actual conditions, or submitted for approval by the competent authority, but it must not be lower than twenty percent (20%) of the current service price.

Article 6. Responsibilities of facilities when implementing discounts for senior citizens

1. Publicly display the Notice on service discounts and the discount rates for senior citizens at the service provision locations.

2. Notify the implementation of service discounts to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Section 3
ORGANIZING BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS

Article 7. Time for organizing birthday celebrations for senior citizens

Birthday celebrations for senior citizens aged seventy (70), seventy-five (75), eighty (80), eighty-five (85), ninety (90), ninety-five (95), and one hundred (100) years old and above shall be held on one of the following days: Vietnam Senior Citizens' Day (June 6), International Day of Older Persons (October 1), Tet (Lunar New Year), or their birthdays.

Article 8. Decorations for the birthday celebration ceremony

1. Hang the National Flag on the left side of the stage (viewed from below).

2. Place a bust of President Ho Chi Minh on a high platform under the National Flag. If the flag is hung on a pole, the bust of President Ho Chi Minh should be placed slightly forward to the right of the flagpole (viewed from below). The logo of the Association of Senior Citizens shall be placed centrally above the title of the event (at a distance of 25-30 cm).

3. The title of the event shall be displayed in uppercase letters on a backdrop to the right of the stage.

4. The content of the title shall be as follows according to age:

a) Seventy (70) years old and seventy-five (75) years old: birthday celebration ceremony;

b) Eighty (80) years old and eighty-five (85) years old: longevity celebration ceremony;

c) Ninety (90) years old, ninety-five (95) years old, and one hundred (100) years old and above: grand longevity celebration ceremony.

d) In case of a joint celebration ceremony for senior citizens of different ages, the title shall be jointly recorded as: birthday celebration ceremony.

5. Decorative flowers shall be placed below and in front of the bust of President Ho Chi Minh.

6. Any slogans for the event (if any) shall be hung in prominent positions suitable to the conference hall space. The content of the slogan shall be decided by the organizing committee.

Article 9. Attire during the birthday celebration ceremony

1. Attire for senior citizens being celebrated: traditional attire according to ethnic customs and religious practices.

2. Attire for attendees of the birthday celebration ceremony: elegant and appropriate attire in accordance with local customs and traditions.

Article 10. Procedure for conducting the ceremony

1. Announce the program for the ceremony.

2. Declare the purpose and introduce representatives briefly and solemnly.

3. Deliver the opening speech.

4. Announce the list of senior citizens to be celebrated.

5. Present congratulatory certificates and gifts to the senior citizens being celebrated.

6. Cultural performances to celebrate: singing, reciting poetry, or other forms of cultural performance.

7. Representatives of government leadership deliver congratulatory speeches.

8. The celebrants deliver remarks. In cases where multiple celebrants are present, a representative shall deliver the remarks.

9. Conclude the ceremony.

Article 11. Principles for conducting longevity celebration ceremonies

1. The person in charge of the ceremony shall be a representative of the Association of the Elderly at the commune level.

2. In cases where the elderly person being celebrated is ill or weak and unable to attend the longevity celebration ceremony, the organizing committee shall have the responsibility to deliver the congratulatory certificate and gifts directly to their residence.

3. The organization of longevity celebrations at home must ensure solemnity, thriftiness, joyfulness, and healthiness, in accordance with local customs, traditions, cultural practices, ethnic groups, religions, and the circumstances of the family.

Article 12. Budget for organizing longevity celebrations

The budget for organizing longevity celebration ceremonies for the elderly shall be implemented in accordance with the provisions of the State Budget Law; Circular No. 21/2011/TT-BTC dated February 18, 2011, issued by the Ministry of Finance on managing and using initial healthcare costs for the elderly residing in their communities; congratulating, celebrating longevity, and commending and rewarding the elderly; and relevant financial laws.

Section 4
IMPLEMENTATION

Article 13. Responsibilities of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism

1. Coordinate with the People's Committee at the district level to direct and guide the District Cultural and Information Office and the People's Committee at the commune level to cooperate with the local Association of the Elderly in organizing longevity celebrations for the elderly in accordance with the provisions of this Circular, ensuring solemnity, thriftiness, and suitability with local customs and traditions.

2. Annually organize monitoring, evaluation, and reporting to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on the implementation of support for the elderly's participation in cultural, sports, and tourism activities and the organization of longevity celebrations for the elderly in the locality under its management.

Article 14. Effective Date

1. This Circular takes effect from July 1, 2012.

2. During the implementation process, if there are any difficulties, please promptly report to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for research, revision, and supplementation.