Circular 13/2026/TT-BVHTTDL stipulates the conditions, activities, notification filing documents for establishing permanent offices, representative offices, appointing resident correspondents, and sample introduction letters when engaging in journalism operations.

CIRCULAR

Prescribing Conditions, Activities, Notification Forms for Establishing Permanent Representative Offices, Branch Offices, Assigning Regular Correspondents and Sample Introduction Letters when Engaging in Journalism Activities

       Pursuant to the Press Law No. 126/2025/QH15;

       Pursuant to the Government Decree No. 43/2025/NĐ-CP dated February 28, 2025, stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism;

       Upon the proposal of the Director of the Press Department;

       The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism promulgates this Circular prescribing conditions, activities, notification forms for establishing permanent representative offices, branch offices, assigning regular correspondents and sample introduction letters when engaging in journalism activities.

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

       This Circular prescribes conditions, activities, notification forms for establishing permanent representative offices, branch offices, and assigning regular correspondents within the territory of Vietnam for press agencies as prescribed in Point d Clause 1 Article 21 of the Press Law No. 126/2025/QH15; and sample introduction letters when engaging in journalism activities as prescribed in Clause 4 Article 27 of the Law No. 126/2025/QH15.

Article 2. Applicability

       This Circular applies to provincial People's Committees, press agencies under organizations prescribed in Clause 1 Article 17 of the Law No. 126/2025/QH15; journalists and correspondents working at permanent representative offices, branch offices of press agencies, and regular correspondents of press agencies as prescribed in Article 21 of the Law No. 126/2025/QH15.

Article 3. Conditions for Establishing Permanent Representative Offices, Branch Offices, and Assigning Regular Correspondents

1. Conditions for Establishing Permanent Representative Offices:

a) Having a workplace to establish a permanent representative office;

b) Having a head of the permanent representative office and staff ensuring the operation of the permanent representative office. The head of the permanent representative office must have a valid journalist card issued by the press agency with a permanent representative office and not be disciplined with a warning or higher penalty according to the law within one year counted from the date the permanent representative office begins operations.

2Conditions for Establishing Branch Offices:

a) Having a workplace to establish a branch office;

b) Having a head of the branch office and staff ensuring the operation of the branch office. The head of the branch office must have a valid journalist card issued by the press agency with a branch office and not be disciplined with a warning or higher penalty according to the law within one year counted from the date the branch office begins operations;

c) Having at least two valid journalist cards including the head, working and operating regularly in the province or city where the branch office is located.

3. Conditions for Assigning Regular Correspondents:

a) Must have a valid journalist card issued by the press agency assigning the regular correspondent;

b) Not be disciplined with a warning or higher penalty according to the law within one year counted from the date the regular correspondent begins operations in the locality.

Article 4. Notification Forms for Establishing Permanent Representative Offices, Branch Offices, and Assigning Regular Correspondents

Press agencies meeting the conditions and having the need to establish permanent representative offices, branch offices, or assign regular correspondents shall submit directly or through the postal service or online one set of notification forms to the provincial People's Committee where the permanent representative office, branch office, or regular correspondent is established. 1. Notification Form for Establishing a Permanent Representative Office:

a) A letter from the press agency sent to the provincial People's Committee regarding the establishment of a permanent representative office, specifying the start date

of operations; b) List of personnel of the permanent representative office.

2. Notification Form for Establishing a Branch Office:

a) A letter from the press agency sent to the provincial People's Committee regarding

the establishment of a branch office, which must include the approval opinion of the press agency's management and specify the start date of operations; b) List of personnel of the branch office.

3. Notification for Assigning a Regular Correspondent:

A letter from the press agency assigning a regular correspondent, specifying the start date

of operations in the locality. Article 5. Activities of Permanent Representative Offices, Branch Offices, and Regular Correspondents 1. Activities of permanent representative offices, branch offices, and regular correspondents must align with the mission and purpose of the press agency; comply with assigned tasks, powers, responsibilities, and adhere to laws on press and other relevant laws.

2. The head of the permanent representative office, the head of the branch office, and regular correspondents must participate in regular press conferences organized by the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department to receive information

for local propaganda work, except in cases of force majeure; they may not miss more than half of the annual press conferences organized by the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department. In case the head of the permanent representative office or the head of the branch office cannot attend, a representative authorized by the permanent representative office or branch office must attend instead. Authorization must be done in writing and for each specific case.

3. Permanent representative offices and branch offices cease operations immediately upon the revocation of the press agency's press activity license by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Regular correspondents cease operations immediately upon the revocation of the press agency's press activity license or the revocation of their journalist card by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

4. Press agencies must notify the provincial People's Committee where the permanent representative office, branch office, or regular correspondent operates in writing at least five working days before any of the following changes occur:

a) Change of office location;

b) Change of head of the permanent representative office; head of the branch office; regular correspondent;

c) Suspension or cessation of operations of the permanent representative office; branch office; regular correspondent.

5. Press agencies are responsible for submitting periodic reports every six months,

annually

to the local state management body on press activities at the place where the permanent representative office, branch office, or regular correspondent operates according to Model No. 02 attached to this Circular.

a) The deadline for submitting the report is before June 15 of the reporting year for the first six-month report; before January 15 of the following year for the annual report; b)

In case of emergency or special topics , press agencies must submit reports as required by the local state management body on press activities. 6. Provincial People's Committees are responsible for publicly posting information about the addresses of permanent representative offices, branch offices, and the names of heads of permanent representative offices, branch offices, and regular correspondents of press agencies on their official websites; sharing

such information with central and other local state management bodies on press activities. Article 6. Issuance of Forms       Attached to this Circular are the following forms:        1. Form No. 01: Introduction Letter for Press Activities.       2. Form No. 02: Report on the Operation Status of Permanent Representative Offices/Branch Offices/Regular Correspondents. Article 7. Effective Date        This Circular takes effect from July 1, 2026. concerning the press at the locality where the permanent office or representative office is located, dispatching permanent correspondents.

6. The People's Committee of the province shall be responsible for publicly posting information about the address of the permanent office, representative office, and the name of the head of the permanent office, representative office, and permanent correspondent of the press agency on its Electronic Information Portal; implementing sharing this information with central state management agencies for the press and other localities.

Article 6. Issuance of Forms

This Circular issues the following forms attached hereto:

1. Form No. 01: Introduction Letter for Press Activities.

2. Form No. 02: Report on the Operation Status of Permanent Office/Representative Office/Permanent Correspondent.

Article 7. Effective Date

This Circular takes effect from July 1, 2026.

Article 8. Transitional Provisions

The representative offices currently operating under Clause 1 of Article 22 of the Press Law No. 103/2016/QH13 shall review and complete the conditions set forth in this Circular until June 30, 2027. As of July 1, 2027, representative offices that do not meet the conditions stipulated in this Circular shall cease operations.

Article 9. Responsibility for Implementation

In the course of implementation, if there are any difficulties, the provincial People's Committees and relevant agencies, units, and individuals are requested to promptly report to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for study and appropriate amendments and supplements.