Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Articles of the International Treaties Law No. 137/2025/QH15

LAW

AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS TO CERTAIN ARTICLES OF THE LAW ON INTERNATIONAL TREATIES

Pursuant to the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam amended and supplemented by Resolution No. 203/2025/QH15;

The National Assembly enacts this Law on amendments and supplements to certain articles of the Law on International Treaties No. 108/2016/QH13.

Article 1. Amendments and supplements to certain articles of the Law on International Treaties

1. Amend and supplement Clause 1 of Article 8 as follows:

"1. The Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuracy, the State Audit Office, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and government agencies (hereinafter referred to as proposing agencies), based on their tasks and powers, request international cooperation, propose to the Prime Minister for the Prime Minister to submit to the President for negotiation of international treaties on behalf of the State, or propose to the Prime Minister for negotiation of international treaties on behalf of the Government."

2. Amend and supplement Clause 2 of Article 9 as follows:

"2. Agencies and organizations requested for opinions under Point c Clause 1 of this Article shall be responsible for replying in writing within ten days from the date of receipt of complete files for soliciting opinions."

3. Supplement Clause 1a following Clause 1 and amend and supplement Clause 2 of Article 11 as follows:

"1a. In cases where the competent agency of the Party, the President, or the Prime Minister has issued a written agreement on the policy of negotiating international treaties, the file submitted for negotiation only needs to include a report clearly stating the proposal for authorization to negotiate.

2. In cases where the proposing agency requests the conclusion of negotiations on international treaties, the submitted file must include a draft of the international treaty reflecting the negotiation conclusion plan."

4. Amend and supplement some clauses of Article 13 as follows:

a) Amend and supplement Clause 1 as follows:

"1. Based on their tasks, powers, and requirements for international cooperation, the agencies specified in Article 8 of this Law shall propose to the Prime Minister for the Prime Minister to submit to the President for decision to sign international treaties on behalf of the State or for the Government to decide to sign international treaties on behalf of the Government."

b) Amend and supplement Clause 4 as follows:

"4. Agencies and organizations requested for opinions under Clause 2 of this Article shall be responsible for replying in writing within ten days from the date of receipt of complete files or according to the time limit prescribed in Clause 1 of Articles 18 and 20 of this Law."

5. Amend and supplement Clause 1 of Article 18 as follows:

"1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall be responsible for reviewing international treaties within ten days from the date of receipt of complete files as prescribed in Article 21 of this Law or within twenty days in cases where the Review Board is established as prescribed in Clause 3 of this Article."

6. Amend and supplement Clause 1 of Article 20 as follows:

"1. The Ministry of Justice shall be responsible for examining international treaties within ten days from the date of receipt of complete files as prescribed in Article 21 of this Law or within twenty days in cases where the Examination Board is established as prescribed in Clause 3 of this Article."

7. Amend and supplement Article 21 as follows:

“Article 21. Files for requesting review and examination of international treaties

1. Files for requesting review and examination of international treaties include:

a) A document requesting review and examination of international treaties, including the contents prescribed in Clause 2 of Articles 18 and 20 of this Law;

b) A draft file for submitting proposals to sign international treaties as prescribed in Article 17 of this Law, excluding the review opinion of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the examination opinion of the Ministry of Justice.

2. Files for requesting review and examination of international treaties shall be sent electronically and one paper copy. The electronic version must comply with the standards prescribed by law; the proposing agency shall be responsible for the accuracy of both the paper and electronic versions.

3. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice shall receive and review files for requesting review and examination. In case the files do not comply with the provisions of Clause 1 of this Article, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice shall request the proposing agency to supplement and perfect the files within three working days from the date of receipt of the files."

8. Amend and supplement Clause 3 of Article 22 as follows:

"3. The head of the delegation attending international conferences must be authorized in writing by the Prime Minister, except in cases where the international conference does not involve the negotiation, adoption, or amendment of international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a member, in which case the head of the proposing agency may authorize attendance.

In cases where it is necessary to authorize members of the Vietnamese delegation to attend international conferences according to the regulations of the conference, the proposing agency shall submit to the Prime Minister for decision or the head of the proposing agency shall decide according to the provisions of this clause."

9. Amend and supplement Article 30 as follows:

“Article 30. Proposal for Approval of International Treaties

1. The proposing agency shall submit to the Prime Minister for the Prime Minister to submit to the President of the State for approval of international treaties after obtaining written opinions from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice. Depending on the nature and content of the international treaty, the proposing agency decides whether to seek opinions from relevant agencies and organizations.

2. The Prime Minister shall submit to the President of the State for the President of the State to submit to the National Assembly for approval of international treaties that require approval by the National Assembly.

3. Agencies and organizations whose opinions are sought under Clause 1 of this Article shall be responsible for replying in writing within ten days from the date of receipt of the request for opinion.”

10. Amend and supplement Article 39 as follows:

“Article 39. Proposal for Approval of International Treaties

1. The proposing agency shall submit to the Government for decision on approval of international treaties after obtaining written opinions from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice. Depending on the nature and content of the international treaty, the proposing agency decides whether to seek opinions from relevant agencies and organizations.

2. Agencies and organizations whose opinions are sought under Clause 1 of this Article shall be responsible for replying in writing within ten days from the date of receipt of the request for opinion.”

11. Amend and supplement some clauses of Article 41 as follows:

a) Amend and supplement Clause 1 as follows:

“1. The agency prescribed in Article 8 of this Law, based on its tasks and powers, and in accordance with requirements for international cooperation, proposes to the Government for the Government to decide, or proposes to the Prime Minister for the Prime Minister to submit to the President of the State for decision, or for the President of the State to submit to the National Assembly for decision regarding accession to international treaties according to the authority prescribed in Clauses 1, 2, and 3 of Article 43 of this Law.”;

b) Amend and supplement Clause 3 as follows:

“3. Agencies and organizations whose opinions are sought under Clause 2 of this Article shall be responsible for replying in writing within ten days from the date of receipt of all documents for the request for opinion.”.

12. Amend and supplement Clause 2 of Article 48 as follows:

“2. In case the foreign signatory raises reservations against the international treaty after the proposing agency has submitted to the competent authority for signing, approval, ratification, or accession to the international treaty, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall immediately notify the proposing agency upon receiving information about the foreign signatory's reservations against the international treaty. The proposing agency shall be responsible for submitting supplementary proposals on accepting or opposing the reservations after obtaining written opinions from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, and relevant agencies and organizations.”.

13. Amend and supplement Article 54 as follows:

“Article 54. Amendment, Supplement, and Extension of International Treaties

1. International treaties may be amended, supplemented, or extended in accordance with the provisions of the treaties themselves or through agreements between Vietnam and the foreign signatories.

2. The document deciding on the amendment, supplementation, or extension of international treaties shall include the following contents:

a) The name of the international treaty being amended, supplemented, or extended; the time and place of signing and the effective date;

b) The content of the amendment, supplementation, and the duration of the extension of the international treaty;

c) The responsibilities of the proposing agency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and relevant agencies and organizations.

3. The procedures and formalities for deciding on the amendment, supplementation, or extension of international treaties shall be carried out as follows:

a) The proposing agency shall be responsible for seeking inspection opinions from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, examination opinions from the Ministry of Justice, and opinions from relevant agencies and organizations before submitting to the Government or the Prime Minister for the amendment, supplementation, or extension of the international treaty. The inspection and examination documents do not necessarily have to include opinions from relevant agencies and organizations. The agencies and organizations whose opinions are sought shall be responsible for replying in writing within ten days from the date of receipt of all documents for the request for opinion;

b) The Government decides on the amendment, supplementation, or extension of international treaties approved, acceded to, or signed by the Government but not requiring ratification or approval; the Prime Minister submits to the President of the State for decision on the amendment, supplementation, or extension of international treaties requiring ratification or accession decided by the President of the State;

c) The President of the State decides on the amendment, supplementation, or extension of international treaties requiring ratification or accession decided by the President of the State; submits to the National Assembly for decision on the amendment, supplementation, or extension of international treaties requiring approval or accession decided by the National Assembly;

d) The National Assembly decides on the amendment, supplementation, or extension of international treaties requiring approval or accession decided by the National Assembly according to the procedures and formalities similar to those for approving international treaties prescribed in Articles 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36 of this Law.

4. Documents submitted for the amendment, supplementation, or extension of international treaties shall include:

a) A proposal from the proposing agency clearly stating the purpose, requirements, legal basis, and legal consequences of amending, supplementing, or extending the international treaty;

b) Inspection opinions from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, examination opinions from the Ministry of Justice, and opinions from relevant agencies and organizations; reports explaining and adopting inspection opinions from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, examination opinions from the Ministry of Justice, and opinions from relevant agencies and organizations; recommendations for handling measures;

c) The text of the international treaty;

d) Proposals for amending, supplementing, or extending the international treaty from the foreign signatory or relevant state agencies of Vietnam.”.

14. Add Clause 3 after Clause 2 of Article 58 as follows:

“3. Proposals for signing international treaties and texts of international treaties shall be stored in accordance with the laws on archiving.”.

15. Amend and supplement Clause 1 and Clause 2 of Article 60 as follows:

“1. International treaties that become effective for the Socialist Republic of Vietnam must be published on the Electronic Gazette and the electronic portal of the proposing agency, except where there is an agreement to the contrary between Vietnam and the foreign signatory or a decision by a competent state agency.

In cases where there is a requirement not to publish the international treaty, the proposing agency shall submit to the Prime Minister for decision after obtaining written opinions from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, and relevant agencies and organizations. The proposing agency shall be responsible for informing the content that needs to be implemented to the agencies, organizations, and individuals directly implementing the relevant provisions of the international treaty.

2. The Official Gazette shall publish the international treaty on the Official Gazette's electronic version within fifteen days from the date of receipt of the certified copy of the effective international treaty sent by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The published document on the Official Gazette's electronic version shall have the same effect as the certified copy of the international treaty prescribed in Article 61 of this Law.”

16. Amend and supplement Clause 4 of Article 63 as follows:

“4. The proposing agency shall promptly submit to the Prime Minister for decision in cases where there is a change in the person authorized to sign an international treaty on behalf of the Government; submit to the Prime Minister for the Prime Minister to submit to the State President for decision in cases where there is a change in the person authorized to sign an international treaty on behalf of the State.”

In cases where there is a change in the person authorized, the proposing agency shall promptly submit to the competent authority for decision.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall complete the diplomatic procedures for issuing authorization letters or mandates in accordance with Clauses 1, 2, and 3 of this Article after receiving the decision of the competent authority.

17. Amend and supplement Clause 1 of Article 64 as follows:

“1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall notify the foreign contracting party or the depositary of the multilateral international treaty about the approval, ratification, accession to the international treaty within ten days from the date of receipt of the document of the National Assembly, State President, or Government regarding the approval, ratification, or decision to accede to the international treaty, except in cases provided for in Clause 2 of Article 71a of this Law.”

18. Amend and supplement Clause 3 of Article 70 as follows:

“3. The procedure, formalities, dossier for negotiation, signing, approval, ratification, amendment, supplementation, extension, termination of effect, and implementation of international treaties on official development assistance loans and preferential foreign loans shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the law on public debt management.”

19. Amend and supplement Article 71 as follows:

“Article 71. Simultaneous Proposal for Negotiation and Signing of International Treaties

If the proposing agency determines the content and collects all necessary documents in the proposal dossier for signing the international treaty in accordance with Article 17 of this Law, it may simultaneously propose negotiation and signing of the international treaty. The procedure, formalities, and dossier for simultaneous proposal for negotiation and signing of the international treaty shall be implemented in accordance with Section 2 of Chapter II of this Law.”

20. Add Article 71a after Article 71 as follows:

“Article 71a. Simultaneous Proposal for Signing and Approval or Ratification of International Treaties

1. If the proposing agency determines that the international treaty can be ratified immediately after signing, is sufficiently clear and detailed for implementation, and has collected all necessary documents in the proposal dossier for ratification of the international treaty under the jurisdiction of the State President as prescribed in Article 31 of this Law, it may simultaneously propose signing and ratifying the international treaty. The dossier for submission shall be implemented in accordance with Articles 17 and 31 of this Law.

2. If the proposing agency determines that the international treaty can be approved immediately after signing, is sufficiently clear and detailed for implementation, and has collected all necessary documents in the proposal dossier for approval as prescribed in Article 40 of this Law, it may simultaneously propose signing and approving the international treaty. The dossier for submission shall be implemented in accordance with Articles 17 and 40 of this Law.

3. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall proceed with the external notification procedure regarding the approval or ratification within ten days from the date of receipt of the original international treaty in accordance with Clause 1 of Article 26 of this Law.

4. In cases where changes occur leading to the simultaneous signing and approval or ratification no longer being appropriate, the proposing agency shall coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, report to the Government and the State President for consideration and decision.

21. Amend and supplement Article 72 as follows:

“Article 72. Negotiation and signing of international treaties under simplified procedures

1. The simplified procedures shall be applied to the negotiation and signing of international treaties in the following cases:

a) Standard international treaties as defined in international treaties between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the same foreign contracting party, or according to standard models approved by competent authorities pursuant to Clause 2 of this Article;

b) As decided by the Prime Minister or other competent authority regarding the application of simplified procedures once or multiple times based on the proposal of the proposing agency.

2. After soliciting opinions from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the proposing agency shall submit a model of the international treaty to the Prime Minister for decision on behalf of the Government, and then submit it to the Prime Minister who will submit it to the President for decision on behalf of the State.

3. The simplified procedures for negotiating and signing international treaties shall be carried out as follows:

a) The dossier submitted for negotiation as stipulated in Article 11 of this Law only needs to propose the authorization for negotiation;

b) Agencies and organizations consulted as stipulated in Clause 2 of Article 13 of this Law, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Justice shall provide written responses within five working days from the date of receipt of the dossier for consultation, requesting review and examination;

c) The dossier for requesting review and examination of international treaties includes the request for review and examination of international treaties, the draft report to the Government on the proposal to sign international treaties, comments from relevant agencies and organizations, and the text of the international treaty;

d) The dossier submitted for signing international treaties includes the documents specified in Clauses 1, 2, and 6 of Article 17 of this Law;

đ) The report on signing international treaties must include an assessment of the political, defense, security, economic, and social impacts of the international treaty, an evaluation of the compatibility of the proposed international treaty with international treaties in the same field that the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a member, and an assessment of the consistency between the provisions of the international treaty and Vietnamese laws.”

22. Supplement Article 72a after Article 72 as follows:

“Article 72a. Delegation in special cases

In cases where it is necessary to handle practical requirements or there is an urgent need for external affairs, after soliciting opinions from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, and relevant agencies and organizations, the proposing agency shall report to the Prime Minister to request the President to delegate the Prime Minister to decide on negotiating, signing, amending, and supplementing certain international treaties on behalf of the State within a specified period of time. This provision does not apply to international treaties as specified in Points a, b, c, and d of Clause 1 of Article 4 of this Law.”.

23. Amend and supplement the name of the Article and some clauses of Article 73 as follows:

a) Amend and supplement the name as follows:

“Article 73. Amendment, supplementation, and extension of international treaties under simplified procedures”;

b) Amend and supplement Clause 1 as follows:

“1. In cases where the content of amendment, supplementation, and extension of international treaties is merely technical or does not change the fundamental rights and obligations of Vietnam, the proposing agency is not necessarily required to solicit opinions from relevant agencies and organizations as stipulated in Point a of Clause 3 of Article 54 of this Law before submitting to the Government and the Prime Minister. If opinions are solicited, the consulted agencies have the responsibility to provide written responses within five working days from the date of receipt of the dossier for consultation.”

c) Amend and supplement Clause 4 as follows:

“4. The dossier submitted for the amendment, supplementation, and extension of international treaties under simplified procedures includes the documents specified in Clause 4 of Article 54 of this Law, except for the opinions of relevant agencies and organizations.”

24. Supplement Clause 8 after Clause 7 of Article 79 as follows:

“8. To take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, and relevant agencies and organizations to report to the Prime Minister on the implementation of procedures as provided for in international treaties or according to agreements among members of international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a party regarding the accession of foreign contracting parties to such international treaties, and to propose appropriate procedures and processes.”

25. Replace some phrases as follows:

a) Replace the phrase "Foreign Relations Committee of the National Assembly" with the phrase "Committee for National Defense, Security, and Foreign Relations of the National Assembly" in Article 33;

b) Replace the word "day" with the phrase "working day" in Article 60 and Article 63.

26. Repeal Article 19 and Article 74.

Article 2. Implementation clause

1. This Law shall take effect from January 1, 2026.

2. Amend and supplement some clauses and points of the Government Organization Law No. 63/2025/QH15 as follows:

a) Amend and supplement Clause 3 of Article 10 as follows:

“3. Decisions on amnesty in accordance with the law;”

b) Amend and supplement Point a of Clause 3 of Article 13 as follows:

“a) Bestow honors such as medals, awards, and national titles; make decisions on granting, withdrawing, or revoking Vietnamese citizenship; submit to the President for approval to accede to, continue, or terminate the effectiveness of international treaties within the President's jurisdiction;”

Article 3. Transitional Provisions

In case the dossier proposing negotiation, signing, amendment, supplementation, extension of international treaties or other related dossiers has been submitted to the competent authority before the effective date of this Law and the competent authority has not yet resolved then it shall be implemented in accordance with the International Treaties Law No. 108/2016/QH13.

This Law was passed by the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Session 10, on 10 the 12 of Agriculture and Rural Development