Circular No. 12/2011/TT-BVHTTDL detailing standards, procedures, and documentation for recognizing the titles "Cultural Family"; "Cultural Village", "Cultural Commune", "Cultural Hamlet", "Cultural Ethnic Group", and equivalent titles.

CIRCULAR

Regulations on standards, procedures, formalities, and files for recognizing the title "Cultural Family"; "Cultural Village", "Cultural Commune", "Cultural Hamlet", "Cultural Village Group", and equivalents.

"Cultural Village", "Cultural Commune", "Cultural Hamlet", "Cultural Village Group", and equivalents

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Pursuant to the Law on Encouragement of Competition and Reward dated November 26, 2003, and the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Law on Encouragement of Competition and Reward dated June 14, 2005;

Pursuant to Decree No. 42/2010/NĐ-CP dated April 15, 2010 of the Government detailing the implementation of certain provisions of the Law on Encouragement of Competition and Reward and the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Law on Encouragement of Competition and Reward;

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;

Pursuant to Directive No. 1869/CT-TTg dated October 10, 2010 of the Prime Minister on strengthening coordination with the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee to promote the Mass Movement "All People United to Build Cultural Lives in Residential Areas" in the new period;

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism details regulations on standards, procedures, formalities, and files for recognizing the title "Cultural Family"; "Cultural Village", "Cultural Commune", "Cultural Hamlet", "Cultural Village Group", and equivalents, as follows:

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

Article 1. This Circular specifies detailed regulations on standards, procedures, formalities, and files for recognizing the title "Cultural Family"; "Cultural Village", "Cultural Commune", "Cultural Hamlet", "Cultural Village Group", and equivalents.

第二条 组织和实施奖励工作的支出水平，如政府第152/2025/NĐ-CP号决定关于分级授权和奖励领域的分权规定

a) Vietnamese citizen households currently residing in Vietnam;

b) Villages, communes, hamlets, village groups, and equivalents (hereinafter referred to collectively as residential areas);

c) Agencies, organizations, and individuals related to the procedures and formalities for recognizing "Cultural Families"; "Cultural Residential Areas" (hereinafter referred to as "Cultural Families"; Cultural Residential Areas).

Article 2. Implementation Principles

1. Recognition of "Cultural Families"; Cultural Residential Areas applies to cases where there is a registration for competition.

2. Propaganda and mobilization of the people to understand and voluntarily implement the recognition standards for "Cultural Families"; Cultural Residential Areas.

3. The evaluation process for recognizing "Cultural Families"; Cultural Residential Areas must ensure transparency, democracy, compliance with standards, procedures, formalities, and have a set timeframe.

4. Unify the implementation of the contents of the Mass Movement "All People United to Build Cultural Lives in Residential Areas" with the recognition standards for "Cultural Families"; Cultural Residential Areas, specifically:

a) Unity in building a stable and gradually developing economic life, contributing to building new rural areas and civilized cities;

b) Unity in building a healthy and rich cultural life, preserving and promoting national cultural identity; caring for educational affairs; health care, implementing population planning policies;

c) Unity in building a clean and beautiful environment;

d) Unity in promoting democracy, strictly adhering to the Party's guidelines and policies, state laws; building a solid political foundation;

đ) Unity in mutual assistance and support within the community; promoting traditions of "Repaying Gratitude", "Remembering the Source of Water", "Mutual Love and Care".

Article 3. Authority and Time Limit for Recognition

1. "Cultural Families" are recognized annually by the Chairman of the People's Committee at the commune level (referred to collectively as the commune level); recognized and accompanied by a Certificate every three years.

2. Cultural Residential Areas are recognized every three years by the Chairman of the People's Committee at the district level (referred to collectively as the district level).

Chapter II

STANDARDS FOR THE TITLE "CULTURAL FAMILY"; "CULTURAL VILLAGE", "CULTURAL COMMUNE", "CULTURAL HAMLET", "CULTURAL VILLAGE GROUP", AND EQUIVALENTS

Article 4. Criteria for the Title "Cultural Family"

1. Serving as exemplary models in implementing the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies and laws; actively participating in local competitive movements:

a) Fulfilling citizens' rights and obligations well; not violating national laws, local regulations, and community conventions;

b) Maintaining political security, social order and safety; environmental hygiene; civilized public behavior; protecting historical and cultural relics and landscapes of the locality; actively participating in activities to build a cultural life in residential areas;

c) Not violating regulations on civilized practices in weddings, funerals, and festivals; not using or circulating harmful cultural products; not engaging in social vices; actively participating in eliminating social vices and preventing crimes;

d) Fully participating in all competitive movements; community meetings and activities.

2. Harmonious, happy, progressive families that assist and support everyone in the community:

a) Equal spouses who love and help each other progress. No form of domestic violence; gender equality; spouses comply with regulations on childbirth and share responsibility for raising healthy children and teaching them well;

b) Well-ordered families; grandparents and parents serving as role models; children being filial; preserving traditional family cultural values and selectively adopting new family cultural values;

c) Maintaining disease prevention hygiene; tidy homes; green, clean, and beautiful surroundings; using clean water, hygienic bathrooms, and latrines; family members having healthy lifestyles and regularly exercising;

d) Actively participating in poverty alleviation programs; neighborhood solidarity and assistance to those in need; responding to campaigns to repay kindness and the "Day for the Poor" movement and other humanitarian activities in the community.

3. Labor, production, business, work, and study organizations achieving productivity, quality, and efficiency:

a) School-age children all attend school, are diligent and studious; adults of working age have stable jobs, steady income, and fulfill assigned tasks well;

b) Having plans for family economic development, proactively implementing poverty reduction, and legitimately becoming prosperous;

c) Stable family economy, practicing thrift; material and spiritual cultural lives of family members continuously improving.

Article 5. Criteria for the Titles "Cultural Village", "Cultural Hamlet", "Cultural Commune", "Cultural Village Group" and equivalents

1. Stable and gradually developing economic life:

a) Effectively implementing the "Day for the Poor" campaign, no households in hunger, poverty rate lower than the average level of the province or centrally governed city (hereinafter referred to as the average level);

b) Having a movement to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses; higher percentage of households with durable houses than the average level;

c) Many effective activities: Propaganda, dissemination, and application of science and technology; development of traditional crafts; cooperation and linkage in economic development;

d) Higher labor employment rate and annual per capita income than the average level;

đ) Over 80% of households participating in the new rural construction movement; building socio-economic infrastructure at the community level;

2. Healthy and rich cultural and spiritual life:

a) The Village Cultural House-Sports Area (hamlet, commune, village group and equivalents) gradually meeting standards according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's regulations;

b) Maintaining cultural and sports movements, attracting over 40% of residents to participate in cultural and sports activities in the community;

c) Over 70% of households complying with civilized practices in weddings, funerals, and festivals; no acts of spreading and practicing superstitious beliefs;

d) No new cases of social vices occurring in the community; no individuals using or circulating harmful cultural products;

đ) Over 70% of households recognized as "Cultural Families", of which at least 50% of Cultural Families recognized for three years or more;

e) 100% of school-age children attending school, meeting the standard of universal education up to secondary level; having a "promote learning" movement;

g) No acts causing the spread of infectious diseases; no mass food poisoning incidents; reducing malnutrition rates among children, ensuring full vaccinations for children and regular check-ups for pregnant women;

h) Effectively implementing population and family planning work;

i) Many activities promoting unity in preserving and promoting ethnic cultural identity; protecting historical and cultural sites, scenic spots, and public facilities; preserving traditional folk cultural and sports activities in the locality.

3. Clean and beautiful environment and landscape:

a) Having a sanitation team regularly cleaning and collecting waste to centralized treatment locations as prescribed;

b) Higher percentage of households with three hygienic facilities (clean water, bathroom, latrine) meeting standards than the average level; production and business establishments meeting environmental standards;

c) Residential housing and public facilities, cemeteries being constructed step-by-step according to planning;

d) Regularly promoting and reminding residents about environmental protection awareness; mobilizing people to improve and upgrade drainage systems; restoring ecological ponds and lakes; planting trees.

4. Good implementation of the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies and laws:

a) Over 90% of households being informed and strictly implementing the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies and laws, and local regulations;

b) Effective mediation activities; most conflicts and disputes resolved within the community;

c) Ensuring political security and social order; effectively implementing grassroots democracy regulations; promptly reflecting people's proposals and suggestions to address urgent issues at the grassroots level and community; no illegal mass complaints or lawsuits.

d) Promote propaganda and create conditions for various strata of the people in residential areas to participate in supervising the activities of state agencies, elected representatives, and state civil servants; participate in building Party Cells, administrative bodies achieving the title "Clean and Strong"; organizations reaching advanced titles or higher annually; self-management organizations in the community operating effectively.

5. Demonstrate a spirit of solidarity, mutual assistance, and support within the community:

a) Fully implement state policies, develop the movement "Repaying Gratitude", "Remembering the Source of Water", aiming to care for policy families, those who have contributed to the revolution, ensuring their living standards are equal to or higher than the average level;

b) Effectively carry out humanitarian and charitable activities, assisting disaster victims, needy families, lonely elderly individuals, orphaned children, disabled persons, dioxin-victims, and unfortunate individuals.

Article 6. Criteria for the Title "Civilized Residential Community" and equivalents

1. Stable and gradually developing economic life:

a) Effectively implementing the "Day for the Poor" campaign, no households in hunger, poverty rate lower than the average level of the province or centrally governed city (hereinafter referred to as the average level);

b) Having a movement to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses; higher percentage of households with durable houses than the average level;

c) Achieve a rate of over 80% of working-age labor having stable employment with steady income; average annual per capita income higher than the general average;

d) Engage in many effective activities: Propaganda, dissemination, and application of science and technology; development of traditional trades; cooperation and linkage for economic development.

2. Have a healthy, rich cultural life:

a) Construct cultural houses and sports fields suitable for the conditions of the Residential Community; have cultural, sports, and entertainment venues for adults and children; attract more than 60% of residents to participate in cultural and sports activities in the community;

b) Maintain cultural and sports movements, attracting more than 60% of residents to participate in cultural and sports activities in the community;

c) More than 80% of households comply well with regulations on civilized lifestyles in weddings, funerals, and festivals; urban civilized lifestyles; no acts of spreading and practicing superstitious beliefs;

d) No new cases of social vices occurring in the community; no individuals using or circulating harmful cultural products;

đ) More than 80% of households are recognized as "Civilized Families", of which at least 60% of civilized families are recognized for three consecutive years or more;

e) 100% of school-aged children attend school, meeting the standard for universal secondary education; there is a "Promotion of Learning" movement;

g) No acts causing the spread of diseases; no mass food poisoning incidents; no malnourished children; 100% of children receive expanded immunization and pregnant women undergo regular check-ups;

h) Effectively implementing population and family planning work;

i) Many activities promoting unity in preserving and promoting ethnic cultural identity; protecting historical and cultural sites, scenic spots, and public facilities; preserving traditional folk cultural and sports activities in the locality.

3. Clean and beautiful environment and landscape:

a) Do not encroach upon roadways and sidewalks; do not obstruct traffic; do not post unauthorized advertisements; do not construct awnings or extensions that detract from the cityscape;

b) Housing in residential areas and public facilities are constructed according to planning, complying with legal regulations on construction, harmonizing with the urban landscape;

c) Continuously promote and remind residents to enhance environmental awareness; do not discharge wastewater or litter on the streets; 100% of production and business establishments meet environmental standards; protect drainage systems; collection and disposal points for waste;

4. Good implementation of the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies and laws:

a) More than 95% of households are informed and strictly follow the Party's guidelines and policies, state policies and laws, and local regulations;

b) Mediation activities are effective, most conflicts and disputes are resolved within the community;

c) Ensure political security and social order; effectively implement grassroots democracy; promptly reflect the proposals and suggestions of the people, resolve pressing issues at the grassroots level; no illegal mass complaints or lawsuits;

d) Promote propaganda and create conditions for various strata of the people in residential areas to participate in supervising the activities of state agencies, elected representatives, and state civil servants; participate in building Party Cells, administrative bodies achieving the title "Clean and Strong"; organizations reaching advanced titles or higher annually; self-management organizations in the community operating effectively.

5. Demonstrate a spirit of solidarity, mutual assistance, and support within the community:

a) Fully implement state policies, develop the movement "Repaying Gratitude", "Remembering the Source of Water", aiming to care for policy families, those who have contributed to the revolution, ensuring their living standards are equal to or higher than the average level;

b) Effectively carry out humanitarian and charitable activities, assisting disaster victims, needy families, lonely elderly individuals, orphaned children, disabled persons, dioxin-victims, and unfortunate individuals.

Chapter III

PROCEDURES, REQUIREMENTS, AND DOCUMENTS FOR RECOGNITION OF THE TITLES "CIVILIZED FAMILY", "CIVILIZED VILLAGE", "CIVILIZED HAMLET", "CIVILIZED RURAL COMMUNITY", "CIVILIZED ETHNIC GROUP", "CIVILIZED RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY" AND EQUIVALENTS

Article 7. Procedures, formalities, and documents for recognizing the title "Cultural Family"

1. Procedures and formalities:

a) The household registers to build a cultural family with the People's Committee Working Group at the residential area;

b) The Head of the People's Committee Working Group at the residential area chairs a meeting of the residential area, in conjunction with the Village Chief (or equivalent), to elect cultural families;

c) Based on the minutes of the meeting to assess cultural families at the residential area, the Head of the Mobilization Team for "All People United to Build a Cultural Life in Residential Areas" proposes the Chairman of the People's Committee at the commune level to issue a decision recognizing "Cultural Families" annually;

The processing time is five (05) working days from the date of receiving complete valid documents.

d) Based on the decision recognizing "Cultural Families" annually, the Head of the Mobilization Team for "All People United to Build a Cultural Life in Residential Areas" proposes the Chairman of the People's Committee at the commune level to issue a decision recognizing and issuing a Certificate of Recognition for "Cultural Families" for three years.

The processing time is five (05) working days from the date of receiving complete valid documents.

2. Documents:

a) The registration form for building the title "Cultural Family" by households;

b) Minutes of the meeting to assess cultural families at the residential area, accompanied by a list of families proposed for recognition as "Cultural Families" (with at least 60% of participants agreeing);

One (01) set of documents must be submitted directly to the People's Committee at the commune level.

The Certificate of Recognition for "Cultural Family" shall be implemented according to Model No. 01 attached as an appendix to this Circular.

c) Conditions for recognition:

- Meeting three criteria stipulated in Article 4 of this Circular;

- Time to build "Cultural Families" is one (01) year (for initial recognition); three (03) years (for issuance of certificate).

d) Commendation and rewards:

- The list of "Cultural Families" is announced over the community radio; they are honored at the "National Solidarity Day" event (November 18 each year) in the residential area;

- "Cultural Families" recognized for three years are recorded in the "Family Cultural Tradition Book" in the residential area; they are issued a Certificate of Recognition for "Cultural Family";

- "Cultural Families" recognized and awarded certificates are nominated as exemplary cultural families and rewarded according to point c, Clause 2, Article 71 of Decree No. 42/2010/NĐ-CP dated April 15, 2010 of the Government.

Article 8. Procedures, formalities, and documents for recognizing "Cultural Villages", "Cultural Hamlets", "Cultural Wards", "Cultural Villages", "Urban Community Cultural Villages" and equivalents

1. Procedures and formalities:

a) The residential area registers to build a cultural residential area with the Standing Committee of the People's Committee of the People's Front at the commune level;

b) The Head of the People's Committee Working Group at the residential area chairs a meeting of the residential area, in conjunction with the Village Chief (hamlet, ward, village, urban community and equivalent), to propose recognition of a cultural residential area;

d) Based on the application documents for recognizing a cultural residential area, the Culture and Information Office cooperates with the People's Front at the district level and member organizations of the Steering Committee for the "All People United to Build a Cultural Life" movement at the district level to conduct inspections (with inspection minutes);

đ) The Culture and Information Office cooperates with the People's Front at the district level and the Rewards and Incentives Department to submit to the Chairman of the People's Committee at the district level for issuing decisions to recognize and re-recognize, and issue Certificates of Recognition for cultural residential areas;

The processing time is five (05) working days from the date of receiving complete valid documents.

2. Documents:

a) Report on achievements in building a cultural residential area by the Head of the Mobilization Team at the commune level, confirmed by the People's Committee at the commune level;

b) Inspection minutes on the results of implementing recognition standards for cultural residential areas by the Mobilization Team at the commune level annually and every three years;

c) Official letter proposing recognition by the People's Committee at the commune level;

Application documents for recognition consist of one (01) set, to be submitted directly to the People's Committee at the district level.

The Certificate of Recognition for a cultural residential area shall be implemented according to Model No. 02 attached as an appendix to this Circular.

d) Conditions for recognition:

- Meeting the standards prescribed in Articles 5 and 6 of this Circular and additional criteria as prescribed by the Provincial People's Committee or the People's Committee of the centrally governed city (if applicable);

- Time to register to build a cultural residential area is two (02) years or more (for initial recognition); three (03) years or more (for re-recognition).

đ) Rewards:

- Cultural residential areas are rewarded according to point d, Clause 2, Article 71 of Decree No. 42/2010/NĐ-CP dated April 15, 2010 of the Government;

- Encouraging localities to increase funding from state budgets and social resources to support cultural residential areas in building infrastructure and equipment for community cultural houses and sports facilities.

Chapter IV

IMPLEMENTATION

Article 9. Responsibility for Implementation

1. On the basis of recognition criteria for "Cultural Families" and "Cultural Residential Areas" stipulated in this Circular, the People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities shall establish criteria and levels of achievement suitable to their circumstances.

2. The Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall cooperate with the Chairmen of the People's Front Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities to disseminate and implement this Circular, and to inspect its implementation.

3. The Steering Committees for the "All People United to Build a Cultural Life" movement at all levels shall direct the assessment and recognition of "Cultural Families" and the inspection of recognition of cultural residential areas in the fourth quarter of each year.

4. Based on annual assessment, inspection, and evaluation results, families and residential areas that violate the provisions of this Circular will not be re-recognized; serious violators will have their titles revoked. Those who issue recognition decisions are responsible for issuing revocation decisions.

Article 10. Provisions on implementation

This Circular takes effect forty-five (45) days from the date of signature.

This Circular replaces Circular Joint Circular No. 01/2006/TTLT/MTTW-BVHTT dated June 23, 2006, guiding the coordination and direction to enhance the quality of the Mass Movement "All People United for the Construction of Cultural Lives in Residential Areas" between the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee and the Ministry of Culture and Information. It abolishes Decision No. 62/2006/QĐ-BVHTT dated June 23, 2006, issued by the Minister of Culture and Information (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) on the Regulation on Granting the Title of "Cultural Family," "Cultural Village," and "Cultural Ward." It also abolishes Clause V, Article 2 of Circular No. 07/2011/TT-BVHTTDL dated June 7, 2011, issued by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism regarding amendments, supplements, replacements, or abolition of relevant provisions related to administrative procedures within the scope of management functions of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

In the course of implementation, if there are difficulties or obstacles, localities shall reflect them to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for study, amendment, and supplementation./.