CIRCULAR

Guidelines for Implementing Certain Provisions of Decree No. 66/2006/NĐ-CP

dated July 7, 2006, on Developing Rural Industries

Decree No. 86/2003/NĐ-CP dated July 18, 2003 of the Government stipulating functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development;

To unify the implementation of Decree No. 66/2006/NĐ-CP dated July 7, 2006, of the Government on developing rural industries, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development guides the implementation of certain provisions of the Decree as follows:

Part I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Thông tư này quy định chi tiết khoản 4 Điều 38 Luật Thủy sản số 18/2017/QH14 đã được sửa đổi, bổ sung tại điểm c khoản 21 Điều 14 Luật số 146/2025/QH15.

This Circular stipulates the contents and criteria for recognizing traditional crafts, craft villages, traditional craft villages, and provides guidance on the content of developing plans for rural industries.

Thông tư này áp dụng đối với tổ chức, cá nhân có liên quan đến hoạt động kinh doanh đối tượng thủy sản nuôi chủ lực trên lãnh thổ Việt Nam.

This Circular applies to entities specified in Article 2 that operate in the field of rural industries as defined in Article 3 of Decree No. 66/2006/NĐ-CP and related organizations and individuals.

In this technical regulation, the following terms are understood as follows:

a) Traditional Craft is a craft that has been formed over a long period, producing unique products with distinct characteristics, passed down and developed until today or at risk of being lost.

b) Craft Village is one or more clusters of hamlets, villages, or similar residential areas within a commune or town, engaged in rural industries, producing one or more types of products.

c) Traditional Craft Village is a craft village with a traditional craft that has been formed over a long period.

Part II

RECOGNITION OF TRADITIONAL CRAFTS, CRAFT VILLAGES, AND TRADITIONAL CRAFT VILLAGES

 RECOGNITION OF TRADITIONAL CRAFTS, CRAFT VILLAGES, AND TRADITIONAL CRAFT VILLAGES

I. CRITERIA FOR RECOGNITION OF TRADITIONAL CRAFTS, CRAFT VILLAGES, AND TRADITIONAL CRAFT VILLAGES

1. Criteria for Recognition of Traditional Crafts

A craft must meet the following three criteria to be recognized as a traditional craft:

a) The craft has existed in the locality for more than 50 years as of the date of application for recognition;

b) The craft produces products with distinctive cultural characteristics of the ethnic group.

c) The craft is associated with the name of one or more artisans or the name of a craft village.

2. Criteria for Recognition of Craft Villages

A craft village must meet the following three criteria to be recognized:

a) At least 30% of households in the locality participate in rural industry activities;

b) Stable production and business operations for at least two years as of the date of application for recognition;

c) Compliance with state policies and laws.

3. Criteria for Recognition of Traditional Craft Villages

A traditional craft village must meet the criteria for a craft village and have at least one recognized traditional craft under this Circular.

For villages that do not meet criteria a and b for recognition of craft villages in Point 2, Section I, Part II but have at least one recognized traditional craft according to this Circular, they will also be recognized as traditional craft villages.

II. PROCEDURES FOR RECOGNITION OF TRADITIONAL CRAFTS, CRAFT VILLAGES, AND TRADITIONAL CRAFT VILLAGES

1. People's Committee of communes, wards, towns (hereinafter referred to as People's Committee of communes) having the crafts specified in Section I, Part II of this Circular shall prepare files for the recognition of traditional crafts, craft villages, and traditional craft villages and submit the request letter (with attached files) to the People's Committee of districts, counties, towns directly under provinces (hereinafter referred to as People's Committee of districts).

2. Files for Requesting Recognition of Traditional Crafts, Craft Villages, and Traditional Craft Villages

a) Files for Requesting Recognition of Traditional Crafts

- Summary of the formation and development process of the traditional craft, certified by the People's Committee of communes.

- Copies of certificates of medals won in domestic and international contests or exhibitions or artworks awarded by provincial or higher authorities (if applicable).

For organizations and individuals who cannot participate in contests or exhibitions or do not have award-winning works, they must provide a description of the distinctive cultural characteristics of the traditional craft.

- Copies of certificates recognizing Artisans issued by competent authorities (if applicable).

b) Files for Requesting Recognition of Craft Villages

- List of households participating in rural industry activities, certified by the People's Committee of communes.

- Summary of production and business results of organizations and individuals participating in rural industry activities in the last two years.

- Certificate of compliance with state policies and laws, certified by the People's Committee of communes.

c) Files for Requesting Recognition of Traditional Craft Villages

- Files for requesting recognition of traditional craft villages include the documents prescribed in Subpoint a and Subpoint b of Point 2, Section II, Part II of this Circular.

- If already recognized as a craft village, the files should comply with the regulations in Subpoint a of Point 2, Section II, Part II of this Circular. If not yet recognized as a craft village but have a recognized traditional craft, the files should comply with the regulations in Subpoint b of Point 2, Section II, Part II of this Circular.

- For villages that do not meet criteria a and b for recognition of craft villages in Point 2, Section I, Part II, the files include:

+ Summary of the formation and development process of the traditional craft, certified by the People's Committee of communes;

+ Certified copies of certificates of medals won in domestic and international contests or exhibitions or artworks awarded by provincial or higher authorities (if applicable).

For organizations and individuals who cannot participate in contests or exhibitions or do not have award-winning works, they must provide a description of the distinctive cultural characteristics of the traditional craft.

+ Copies of certificates recognizing Artisans issued by competent authorities (if applicable).

+ Certificate of compliance with state policies and laws, certified by the People's Committee of communes.

3. Procedure for Recognizing Traditional Crafts, Craft Villages, and Traditional Craft Villages

a) The People's Committee of districts collects files submitted by the People's Committee of communes, compiles a list (with attached files), and submits it to the People's Committee of provinces directly under the Central Government (hereinafter referred to as People's Committee of provinces) for recognition within 15 days from the date of receipt of valid files.

b) The People's Committee of provinces establishes a Review Board, selects those meeting the criteria set out in this Circular, issues decisions, and grants certificates of recognition for traditional crafts, craft villages, and traditional craft villages within 30 days from the date of receipt of valid files.

4. Timeframe for Recognizing Craft Villages, Traditional Craft Villages, and Traditional Crafts

The timeframe for recognizing traditional crafts, craft villages, and traditional craft villages is organized annually by the People's Committee of provinces.

5. Recognition of Traditional Trades, Craft Villages, and Traditional Craft Villages

The provincial People's Committee shall organize the recognition of traditional trades, craft villages, and traditional craft villages in accordance with the criteria stipulated in this Circular.

Decisions recognizing traditional trades, craft villages, and traditional craft villages made by the provincial People's Committee prior to this Circular, if they meet the criteria stipulated in this Circular, shall remain valid and may be supplemented with new contents that comply with the criteria stipulated in this Circular.

6. Traditional trades, craft villages, and traditional craft villages recognized by the provincial People's Committee shall enjoy preferential policies for rural industry development as prescribed in Decree No. 66/2006/NĐ-CP and related guiding documents issued by relevant state management agencies.

7. Revocation of Recognition Certificates for Traditional Trades, Craft Villages, and Traditional Craft Villages

Traditional trades, craft villages, and traditional craft villages recognized but failing to meet the stipulated criteria within five years from the date of recognition shall have their certificates revoked.

The People's Committee at the commune level shall report to the People's Committee at the district level a list of traditional trades, craft villages, and traditional craft villages that fail to meet the stipulated criteria. The People's Committee at the district level shall be responsible for compiling the list and submitting it to the provincial People's Committee for consideration and revocation of the recognition certificates.

Part II

DEVELOPMENT PLANNING

RURAL INDUSTRIES

I. BASIS FOR DEVELOPMENT PLANNING OF RURAL INDUSTRIES

1. Development planning of rural industries shall be carried out in phases, consistent with the overall socio-economic development plans of each locality and the country. The implementation of development planning for rural industries shall follow Decree No. 92/2006/NĐ-CP dated September 7, 2006, of the Government on the establishment, approval, and management of overall socio-economic development planning.

2. The provincial People's Committee shall complete the development plan for rural industries and submit it to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for consolidation and reporting to the Government.

II. MAIN CONTENTS OF THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR RURAL INDUSTRIES

1. Analysis and evaluation of the current status of rural industry development across different regions, including detailed analysis of major product structures, raw material areas, technology, labor, production organization, infrastructure, and environmental conditions.

2. Analysis and forecasting of factors influencing the development of rural industries, including comprehensive analysis and forecasting of factors affecting the development of craft villages, particularly market conditions and product competitiveness requirements.

3. Determination of the position and role of rural industries in local economies and the objectives for developing rural industries.

4. Justification of development strategies for rural industries, key products, and conditions ensuring the achievement of planning goals, such as raw materials, technology, labor...

5. Development of programs for preserving and promoting craft villages, including preservation and promotion of traditional craft villages, development of craft villages linked to tourism, and development of new craft villages.

6. Identification of policy measures and proposals for organizational implementation.

7. Presentation of development planning schemes for rural industries on planning maps.

III. IMPLEMENTATION OF DEVELOPMENT PLANNING FOR RURAL INDUSTRIES

1. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall develop an overall plan for the development of rural industries nationwide.

2. The provincial People's Committee shall develop plans for the development of rural industries in the context of industrialization and modernization of agriculture and rural areas. The preparation of investment program lists for developing rural industries should consider balanced funding sources to ensure implementation, including phased plans from 2007-2010 and 2010-2020.

Priority shall be given to developing programs for preserving and promoting craft villages through projects aimed at preserving and promoting traditional craft villages, developing craft villages linked to tourism, and developing new craft villages linked to domestic and international markets.

IV. SOURCE OF FUNDS

Costs for planning, standard rates, unit prices, and costs for project planning and review shall be based on Article 8 and Article 9 of Decree No. 92/2006/NĐ-CP on the establishment, approval, and management of overall socio-economic development planning and related implementing regulations. 

Part IV

IMPLEMENTATION

1. Provincial People's Committees that have developed plans for the development of rural industries should review and adjust them according to the guidelines set forth in this Circular.

2. The Processing Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development of provinces and cities shall coordinate with relevant agencies to periodically or urgently inspect the implementation of rural industry development plans, recognition of traditional trades, craft villages, and traditional craft villages, and the implementation of related development policies.

3. Reporting System

a) The provincial People's Committee shall send the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development a list of recognized traditional trades, craft villages, and traditional craft villages by December each year for consolidation and reporting to the Government.

b) On a regular basis, by December 15 each year, the Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development of provinces and cities shall report on the development of rural industries in their respective localities, along with difficulties, challenges, and policy recommendations for rural industry development to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. 

This Circular shall take effect fifteen days from the date of publication in the Official Gazette. Any issues arising during implementation should be promptly reported to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for appropriate amendments and supplements.