Circular No. 14/2023/TT-BVHTTDL stipulates the work of competition and reward in the Cultural, Sports, and Tourism sector.

CIRCULAR

REGULATIONS ON COMPETITION AND REWARD WORK IN THE CULTURE, SPORTS AND TOURISM SECTOR

Pursuant to the Law on Encouragement and Reward dated June 15, 2022;

Pursuant to Decree No. 01/2023/NĐ-CP dated January 16, 2023 of the Government providing for the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism;

The phrase "or examination" is abolished pursuant to Clause 6, Article 8 of Circular No. 15/2025/TT-BVHTTDL dated November 25, 2025, of the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism amending and supplementing certain articles of Circulars prescribing job codes, qualification standards, and salary grades for civil servants in the heritage culture, library, grassroots cultural activities, sports, fine arts, art performance, film, and cultural propaganda sectors, which takes effect from January 15, 2026.

The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism issues this Circular to provide detailed regulations on competition and reward work in the Culture, Sports and Tourism sector.

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

1. This Circular provides detailed implementation of Clause 4 Article 24, Clause 3 Article 26, Clause 3 Article 27, Clause 3 Article 28, Clause 2 Article 71, Clause 6 Article 74, Clause 2 Article 75, and Clause 6 Article 84 of the Law on Competition and Reward, and the competition and reward work in the Culture, Sports and Tourism sector (hereinafter referred to as the Sector).

2. This Circular applies to collectives, cadres, civil servants, public officials, workers at Departments, Bureaus, the Inspectorate under the Ministry, the Office of the Ministry, the Management Board of the Ethnic Cultural Village - Tourism, the Party Committee Office, the Trade Union Office, the Youth League Office of Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, units under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (hereinafter referred to as the Ministry), provincial Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism, provincial Departments of Culture and Sports, provincial Tourism Departments; collectives and individuals with outstanding achievements and contributions to the construction and development of the Ministry, the Sector, and other organizations and individuals related to the competition and reward work of the Sector.

Article 2. Competition Groups, Competition Clusters

1. Annually, the Cadre and Civil Servant Organization Department shall submit to the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism (hereinafter referred to as the Minister) for decision:

a) To establish Competition Groups comprising agencies and units under the Ministry and Competition Clusters comprising Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Departments of Culture and Sports, Tourism Departments of provinces and centrally-administered cities based on the characteristics, functions, tasks, and nature of work of the agencies and units.

b) To recognize Group Leaders, Cluster Leaders, Deputy Group Leaders, and Deputy Cluster Leaders based on the proposals of the Competition Groups and Clusters (hereinafter referred to as Groups and Clusters).

2. Groups and Clusters have the following tasks:

a) To organize the launch, signing of competition agreements, interim and final reviews of competitions initiated by the Ministry;

b) To propose directions and tasks for organizing competitions, setting targets, contents, and methods for implementing competitions, building new models and exemplary cases within Groups and Clusters;

c) To evaluate, review, and honor outstanding collectives in Groups and Clusters from highest to lowest and report to the Competition and Reward Council of the Ministry for examination, presenting awards to the Minister according to their authority or submitting to competent authorities for examination and rewards.

3. Group Leaders and Cluster Leaders have the following responsibilities:

a) To lead and direct activities of Groups and Clusters; chair and conclude meetings of Groups and Clusters; propose rewards according to regulations;

b) To prepare files for the Competition and Reward Council of the Ministry to examine and submit to the Minister for recognition of the title "Competition Flag of the Ministry" and "Outstanding Labor Collective" for collectives in Groups and Clusters;

c) To prepare files for the Competition and Reward Council of the Ministry to examine and submit to the Minister for awarding certificates of merit from the Minister to collectives in Clusters.

4. Deputy Group Leaders and Deputy Cluster Leaders are responsible for assisting Group Leaders and Cluster Leaders in implementing activities of Groups and Clusters when authorized or assigned. Deputy Group Leaders and Deputy Cluster Leaders are accountable for their decisions before Group Leaders, Cluster Leaders, and the law.

5. Heads of agencies and units under the Ministry shall establish and decide on the organization of activities of Competition Groups of departments and equivalent units (hereinafter referred to as departments) under agencies and units as follows:

a) For agencies and units with three to less than ten departments, one Competition Group shall be established;

b) For agencies and units with ten or more departments, two Competition Groups shall be established.

Article 3. Criteria for Awarding the Title "Advanced Worker"

1. The title "Advanced Worker" is awarded annually at the end of the working year or academic year to individuals in agencies and units under the Ministry who meet the criteria stipulated in Clause 1 Article 24 of the Law on Competition and Reward.

2. Maternity leave according to regulations shall be counted towards the evaluation for the title "Advanced Worker".

3. Time spent by individuals sent by competent authorities to attend training, education, and enhancement courses counts towards the evaluation for the title "Advanced Worker."

4. If an individual transferred to the Ministry for work during the year of commendation, the agency proposing the commendation must seek comments from the previous workplace if the individual has worked there for six months or more.

5. If an individual is transferred or seconded to another agency or unit, the evaluation for the title "Advanced Worker" shall be conducted by the transferring or seconding agency or unit. The receiving agency or unit must provide comments on compliance with Party policies, state laws, internal regulations, and assigned tasks during the transfer or secondment period.

6. The title "Advanced Worker" shall not be awarded in any of the following cases:

a) Individuals recruited or working under labor contracts for less than nine months;

b) Absent from work without participating in work for three to less than six months in accordance with the law, except as provided in Clause 2 of this Article;

c) Individuals currently under investigation for disciplinary action, investigation, audit, or inspection due to suspected violations, or whose complaints or reports are being verified.

Article 4. Standards and Recipients for the Award of the "Ministry Flag of Excellence"

1. The "Ministry Flag of Excellence" shall be awarded at the end of the work year or school year to collectives meeting the standards prescribed in Clause 1 of Article 26 of the Law on Encouragement and Reward.

2. The "Ministry Flag of Excellence" shall be awarded to leading collectives in thematic campaigns launched by the Ministry that have been implemented for three years or more upon campaign conclusion.

3. The recipients for the award of the "Ministry Flag of Excellence" are outstanding collectives leading the campaign movements of Clusters and Sector Campaigns, and thematic campaigns launched by the Ministry, including:

a) Agencies and units under the Ministry;

b) Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Departments of Culture and Sports, and Departments of Tourism of provinces and centrally-administered cities;

c) Agencies, organizations, and public institutions operating in the fields of culture, family affairs, sports, and tourism;

d) Departments within agencies and units under the Ministry.

Article 5. Criteria and Recipients for the Award of the Excellent Labor Collective Title

Article 5. Standards for the Award of the "Outstanding Labor Collective" Title

1. The "Outstanding Labor Collective" title shall be awarded at the end of the work year or school year to collectives meeting the standards prescribed in Clause 1 of Article 27 of the Law on Encouragement and Reward.

a) Agencies and units under the Ministry;

2. The recipients for the award of the "Outstanding Labor Collective" title include:

Article 6. Criteria and Recipients for the Award of the Advanced Labor Collective Title

b) Departments within agencies and units specified in point a of this clause.

Article 6. Standards for the Award of the "Advanced Labor Collective" Title

1. The "Advanced Labor Collective" title shall be awarded at the end of the work year or school year to collectives meeting the standards prescribed in Clause 1 of Article 28 of the Law on Encouragement and Reward.

2. The recipients for the award of the "Advanced Labor Collective" title are departments within agencies and units under the Ministry.

Article 7. Standards for the Award of the Certificate of Merit by the Minister

1. The Certificate of Merit by the Minister shall be awarded to individuals who exemplarily implement Party policies, State laws, and regulations and meet the standards in one of the following cases:

a) Individuals working in agencies and units under the Ministry meeting the standards prescribed in points a, b, c, or d of Clause 1 of Article 74 of the Law on Encouragement and Reward;

b) Individuals achieving outstanding and exceptional results in international competitions, festivals, and exhibitions in the fields of culture, family affairs, physical education, sports, and tourism, or achieving outstanding and exemplary results during thematic campaigns launched by the Ministry;

c) Individuals outside the sector making outstanding contributions to the construction and development of culture, sports, and tourism.

2. The Certificate of Merit by the Minister shall be awarded to collectives meeting the standards in one of the following cases:

a) Collectives in agencies and units under the Ministry meeting one of the standards prescribed in Clause 3 of Article 74 of the Law on Encouragement and Reward;

b) Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Departments of Culture and Sports, and Departments of Tourism of provinces and centrally-administered cities meeting the standards prescribed in point a of Clause 3 of Article 74 of the Law on Encouragement and Reward and being considered annually at the end of the Ministry's work year;

c) Collectives achieving outstanding and exceptional results in international competitions, festivals, and exhibitions in the fields of culture, family affairs, physical education, sports, and tourism, or results with exemplary impact within the Ministry or the sector, or achieving outstanding and exemplary results during thematic campaigns launched by the Ministry;

Article 8. Criteria for awarding Certificates of Merit by the Head of the Agency or Unit with Legal Personality under the Ministry

1. The Certificate of Merit by the Head of the Agency or Unit shall be awarded to individuals who set a good example in implementing Party guidelines, State policies and laws, and meet one of the following criteria:

a) Individuals working at agencies and units who have performed their tasks well or achieved many merits or outstanding achievements in the fields managed by these agencies and units;

b) Individuals who have achieved significant results in international competitions, festivals, exhibitions in the fields of culture, family, sports, and tourism, or who have been recognized for their achievements during themed campaigns initiated by the Ministry or the agency/unit;

c) Individuals outside the Sector who have made outstanding contributions to the construction and development of the agency/unit or the management sector concerning culture, sports, and tourism.

2. The Certificate of Merit by the Head of the Agency or Unit shall be awarded to groups meeting the following criteria:

a) Groups within agencies and units under the Ministry that have satisfactorily completed their tasks; maintain internal unity, effectively implement grassroots democratic regulations, organize well the mass movement campaigns, care for the material and spiritual lives of group members, practice thrift, and combat waste; fully implement systems and policies for all members of the group;

b) Groups that have achieved significant results in international competitions, festivals, exhibitions in the fields of culture, family, sports, and tourism, or whose achievements serve as exemplary models within the Ministry or the Sector, or who have been recognized for their achievements during themed campaigns initiated by the Ministry or the agency/unit;

c) Groups outside the Sector that have made exceptional contributions to the construction and development of the agency/unit or the management sector concerning culture, sports, and tourism;

3. Other cases shall be decided by the Head of the Agency or Unit.

Article 9. Name and Recipients of the Commemorative Medal of the Ministry

1. Name of the Commemorative Medal

The Commemorative Medal "For the Cause of Culture, Sports and Tourism" (hereinafter referred to as the Commemorative Medal) is a form of recognition and encouragement awarded by the Minister to individuals who have made significant contributions to the construction and development of the Sector. The Commemorative Medal is only awarded once.

2. Recipients of the Commemorative Medal

a) Individuals working in the Sector at agencies and units under the Ministry; Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Departments of Culture and Sports, Tourism Departments of provinces and centrally-administered cities;

b) Individuals outside the Sector who have made significant contributions to the construction and development of culture, sports, and tourism;

c) Individuals residing abroad and foreigners who have positively contributed to the construction and development of culture, sports, and tourism in Vietnam;

d) Individuals who voluntarily quit their job, are dismissed due to disciplinary action, or are convicted by a court decision with legal effect shall not be eligible for the Commemorative Medal;

đ) Individuals who are under investigation by competent authorities for disciplinary actions, investigations, audits, or complaints and denunciations that are being verified shall not be eligible for the Commemorative Medal;

e) Individuals who have served the required period but were disciplined below the level of dismissal shall only be eligible for the Commemorative Medal two years after the disciplinary measures are lifted. The time spent under discipline shall not be counted towards eligibility for the Commemorative Medal.

Article 10. Criteria for awarding Commemorative Medals

1. Individuals who have been and are working in the Industry shall be considered for the award of Commemorative Medals when they have completed at least 20 years of service for males and 15 years of service for females (including time spent studying or performing military service).

2. Individuals specified in Clause 1 of this Article shall be considered for the award of Commemorative Medals earlier than prescribed in any of the following cases:

a) For individuals working in particularly difficult areas, border regions, or islands, the actual time worked in these locations shall be multiplied by a factor of 1.3 to calculate the time of service in the Industry;

b) Dancers, circus performers, and national sports team athletes shall be considered for the award of Commemorative Medals five years earlier than prescribed;

c) Individuals awarded the title of Labor Hero, National Model Worker, People's Artist, Meritorious Artist, People's Artisan, Meritorious Artisan, People's Teacher, Meritorious Teacher, People's Doctor, Meritorious Doctor, authors whose works, clusters of works, projects, or clusters of projects have been awarded the Ho Chi Minh Prize or State Prize for Literature and Arts shall be proposed for the award of Commemorative Medals immediately upon receiving such titles or awards.

3. Individuals working outside the Industry shall be considered for the award of Commemorative Medals if they meet any of the following criteria:

a) Holding a management position (with a coefficient of 0.7 or higher) for at least five years and making significant contributions to leadership and guidance, contributing to the development of the Industry;

b) Leading or primarily participating in state-level scientific research projects in the fields of culture, family, physical education, sports, tourism, and having the project accepted with a satisfactory evaluation, effectively applied, and having practical value serving the Industry's cause;

c) Making positive contributions to the protection and promotion of tangible and intangible cultural heritage or documentary heritage, or making substantial material or financial contributions to support the Industry's cause.

4. Individuals who are overseas Vietnamese or foreigners who have made positive contributions to the construction and development of Vietnam's culture, sports, and tourism.

5. Other cases shall be decided by the Minister.

Article 11. Number of files for proposing the award of commendation titles and forms of reward within the authority of the Minister

The file for proposing the award of commendation titles and forms of reward within the authority of the Minister includes one set (original) and electronic documents of the reward file, except for documents containing state secrets.

Article 12. Effective Date

1. This Circular takes effect from January 1, 2024. The following documents shall cease to be effective from the date this Circular takes effect:

a) Circular No. 07/2019/TT-BVHTTDL dated August 30, 2019, issued by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism guiding the competition and reward work in the Industry of Culture, Sports and Tourism;

b) Circular No. 11/2014/TT-BVHTTDL dated October 1, 2014, issued by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism stipulating the awarding of Commemorative Medals "For the Cultural, Sports and Tourism Cause".

2. During implementation, if any difficulties arise, agencies, units, and individuals are requested to promptly report to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (through the Department of Organization and Cadres) for study and appropriate amendments and supplements./.