Decree No. 177/2013/ND-CP provides detailed regulations and guidance on implementing certain provisions of the Price Law.

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Pursuant to the Law on Government Organization dated February 18, 2025;"b) In addition to the lists of public services issued according to the provisions of Clause 2, Article 4 of this Decree, specialized agencies under provincial People's Committees shall report to the provincial People's Committee for decision-making on amending, supplementing, or issuing the list of public services funded by the state budget within their jurisdiction and consistent with the local budget capacity within the approved budget by the Provincial People's Assembly, and send it to the Ministry of Finance and relevant ministries and sectors for supervision during implementation."pursuant to the Government's Resolution dated December 25, 2001;

The Law on Prices,No. 11/201Decree No. 149/2016/NĐ-CP dated November 11, 2016 amending and supplementing Decree No. 177/2013/NĐ-CP dated November 14, 2013 of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of some provisions of the Government's regulations on the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Transport;

In particular, the contract signed between the foreign expert and the non-governmental organization from a foreign country must be supplemented with confirmation from the non-governmental aid provider agency of Vietnam that the foreign expert will directly implement the activities of the program or project funded by non-governmental organizations from foreign countries according to the approved program or project documentation.and project management units managing one construction project in accordance with current laws on project management for construction investment (excluding project management units that are member organizations of enterprises);hereinafter referred to as the Law on Prices,

The Government issues this Decree to provide detailed regulations and guidance on the implementation of certain provisions ofi the Law on Prices.Pointthe Law on Prices.

Chapter I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Decree provides detailed regulations and guidance on the implementation of certain provisions of the Law on Prices regarding price stabilization; state pricing; price negotiation; inspection of price formation factors; price declaration; price display; state management authority in the field of prices and price data bases.

Article 2. Applicability

Organizations and individuals engaged in production and business; consumers; state agencies; other organizations and individuals related to activities in the field of prices within the territory of Vietnam.

Chapter II

STATE PRICE REGULATION ACTIVITIES

Section 1

PRICE STABILIZATION

Article 3. Goods and services subject to price stabilization

1. The list of goods and services subject to price stabilization as prescribed in Article 15 of the Law on Prices includes:

a) Finished petroleum products consumed domestically at actual temperature including: motor gasoline (excluding aviation gasoline), kerosene, diesel fuel, mazut;

b) Retail electricity;

c) Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG);

d) Urea fertilizer; NPK fertilizer;

đ) Plant protection chemicals, including: insecticides, fungicides, herbicides;

e) Vaccines for animal disease prevention;

g) Table salt;

h) Milk for children under six years old;

i) Sugar for consumption, including white sugar and refined sugar;

k) Rough rice; common polished rice;

l) Medicines for disease prevention and treatment included in the essential medicines list used in medical facilities.

2. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance to provide detailed guidance on the goods subject to price stabilization suitable for each period for the goods specified in points d, đ, e and k of Clause 1 of this Article.

3. The Ministry of Health shall be responsible for providing detailed guidance on the goods specified in points h and l of Clause 1 of this Article, and simultaneously send the Ministry of Finance for monitoring and supervision.

4. In case it is necessary to adjust the list of goods and services subject to price stabilization as prescribed in Clause 2 of Article 15 of the Law on Prices, based on the proposals of ministries, ministerial-level agencies (hereinafter referred to as ministries), provincial People's Committees (hereinafter referred to as provincial People's Committees), the Ministry of Finance shall compile and report to the Government for consideration and submit to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly for decision.

Article 4. Circumstances for implementing price stabilization

1. When the market price of goods and services prescribed in Article 3 of this Decree experiences abnormal fluctuations in the following cases:

a) The purchase price or sale price on the market increases excessively or decreases excessively without reason compared to the increase or decrease in price due to the impact of price formation factors calculated according to policy regimes, economic-technical norms or pricing methods issued by competent state authorities;

b) The purchase price or sale price on the market increases or decreases abnormally in cases of natural disasters, fires, epidemics, enemy attacks, financial-economic crises, temporary supply-demand imbalance;

2. When the general level of prices fluctuates affecting economic and social stability, adversely impacting production and people's livelihood.

Article 5. Price Stabilization Fund

1. The price stabilization fund is a financial fund not included in the state budget and can only be used for the purpose of price stabilization as prescribed by competent state authorities.

2. Establishing a price stabilization fund for goods specified in points a, b and k of Clause 1 of Article 3 of this Decree and can only be used to stabilize the price of those goods and services.

In case it is necessary to change or supplement the goods subject to the establishment of a price stabilization fund, the Ministry of Finance shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries to submit to the Government for consideration and decision.

3. The price stabilization fund is established from sources as prescribed in Clause 3 of Article 17 of the Law on Prices.

4. The level of establishment and use of the price stabilization fund is determined based on the characteristics of production and business of the goods subject to the fund, ensuring flexible use of the price stabilization fund in line with market price fluctuations.

5. Management and use of the price stabilization fund must ensure transparency and public disclosure, with oversight by competent state authorities.

6. Enterprises producing and trading goods subject to the establishment of a price stabilization fund must comply with legal regulations on the establishment, use, and management of the price stabilization fund.

7. The Ministry of Finance shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to provide specific guidance on the mechanism for forming, managing, and using the price stabilization fund for each good and service specified in Clause 2 of this Article.

Article 6. Price Registration

1. During the period when the State implements price registration measures to stabilize prices for specific goods listed in the catalog of goods and services subject to price stabilization, organizations and individuals engaged in production and business must register prices before setting or adjusting prices of such goods and services by submitting the Price Registration Form to the competent state agency. The price registration shall be carried out as follows:

a) In cases where organizations and individuals engaged in production and business only conduct wholesale sales, they shall register the wholesale price.

b) In cases where organizations and individuals engaged in production and business both conduct wholesale and retail sales, they shall register both the wholesale and retail prices.

c) In cases where organizations and individuals engaged in production and business are importers and exclusive distributors, they shall register the projected wholesale and retail prices.

d) In cases where organizations and individuals engaged in production and business are exclusive distributors, they shall register the wholesale and retail prices or projected retail prices; in cases where total agents have the authority to determine and adjust prices, they shall register the wholesale and retail prices or projected retail prices; in cases where agents have the authority to determine and adjust prices, they shall register the retail prices.

e) For salt, rice, and ordinary white rice, the registration of selling prices shall be conducted by organizations and individuals engaged in the production and business of these items (excluding farmers and salt producers). In cases where organizations and individuals engaged in production and business purchase salt directly from salt producers or rice and ordinary white rice directly from farmers, they must register the price of purchasing salt from salt producers and the price of purchasing rice and ordinary white rice from farmers.

2. Competent state authorities shall receive and review the Price Registration Forms:

a) At the central level:

- The Ministry of Finance shall receive and review the Price Registration Forms for goods and services specified in points a, b, c, d, e, g, h, i, and k of Clause 1, Article 3 of this Decree. Where necessary, the Ministry of Finance shall send copies of the Price Registration Forms to the Ministry of Industry and Trade or the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for coordination in reviewing.

- The Ministry of Health shall receive and review the Price Registration Forms for medicines for disease prevention and treatment for humans listed in point 1 of Clause 1, Article 3 of this Decree.

b) At the local level, it shall be the responsibility of the Department of Finance and relevant sectoral departments; People's Committees at the district level, as assigned by the provincial People's Committee, to receive and review the Price Registration Forms for goods and services specified in Clause 1, Article 3 of this Decree within their respective jurisdictions.

3. The Ministry of Finance shall notify organizations and individuals engaged in production and business to register prices at the central level; specify the Price Registration Form and procedures for receiving and reviewing the Price Registration Form. The provincial People's Committee shall notify organizations and individuals engaged in production and business to register prices at the local level for those not included in the list of organizations and individuals engaged in production and business registered with the Ministry of Finance. For medicines for disease prevention and treatment for humans listed in point 1 of Clause 1, Article 3 of this Decree, the price registration shall be carried out according to the guidelines of the Ministry of Health.

4. The maximum duration for applying price registration measures to stabilize prices for individual goods shall not exceed six months.

5. Other goods and services for which specialized laws provide for price registration shall be implemented in accordance with the provisions of those laws.

Article 7. Authority and responsibility for deciding to apply and implement price stabilization measures

1. Authority and responsibility for deciding to apply and organizing the implementation of price stabilization measures as prescribed in Article 18 of the Law on Prices; at the same time implementing according to the division set out in Clauses 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 of this Article.

2. The Ministry of Finance shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to advise and propose to the Government decisions and guidance on the organization of implementation of the following price stabilization measures:

a) Purchasing or selling state reserves;

b) Financial measures and price support measures in accordance with the provisions of the law and international commitments;

c) Establishing and using a price stabilization fund as prescribed in Article 5 of this Decree;

d) Registering prices for goods and services subject to price stabilization, except essential medicines for people as specified in Point 1, Clause 1, Article 3 of this Decree;

đ) Inspecting price formation factors;

e) Determining specific prices, maximum prices, minimum prices, or price ranges suitable for each type of goods and services based on the principles, bases, and methods prescribed in Articles 20 and 21 of the Law on Prices;

g) Other measures as prescribed by law.

3. The Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to advise and propose to the Government decisions and guidance on the organization of implementation of the following price stabilization measures:

a) Balancing supply and demand for domestically produced goods and export-import goods; goods between regions and localities within the country through organizing circulation of goods; purchasing or selling circulating reserves;

b) Controlling inventory of goods; inspecting the quantity and volume of existing goods.

4. The Ministry of Health shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to advise and propose to the Government decisions and guidance on the organization of implementation of price stabilization measures for essential medicines for people as specified in Point 1, Clause 1, Article 3 of this Decree by the following price stabilization measures:

a) Balancing supply and demand for domestically produced goods and export-import goods; goods between regions and localities within the country through organizing circulation of goods; purchasing or selling circulating reserves;

b) Controlling inventory of goods; inspecting the quantity and volume of existing goods;

c) Registering prices;

d) Inspecting price formation factors.

5. The State Bank shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to advise and propose to the Government decisions and guidance on the organization of implementation of monetary measures in accordance with the provisions of the law to stabilize prices.

6. Provincial People's Committees shall organize the implementation of price stabilization measures decided by the Government and guided by the Ministry of Finance and related sector management ministries according to their functions, tasks, and authorities; proactively implement market stabilization programs suitable to the actual situation in their locality. In cases of natural disasters, fires, epidemics, or unexpected accidents, based on the actual situation in their locality, Provincial People's Committees shall decide on applying price stabilization measures within their authority as follows:

a) Balancing supply and demand for certain essential goods and services in their locality;

b) Financial and monetary measures in accordance with the provisions of the law;

c) Registering prices for goods and services subject to price stabilization as prescribed;

d) Inspecting price formation factors; controlling inventory of goods; inspecting the quantity and volume of existing goods in their locality;

đ) Applying price support measures in accordance with the provisions of the law and international commitments;

e) Determining specific prices, maximum prices, minimum prices, or price ranges for essential goods and services necessary for production and consumption.

7. Organizations and individuals engaged in production and business have the responsibility to implement price stabilization measures decided by the Government and Provincial People's Committees and guided by relevant ministries. If they fail to implement or implement incorrectly, they will be dealt with according to the provisions of the law.

Section 2

PRICING

Article 8. Authority and responsibility for valuation

1. The Government and the Prime Minister shall set prices for goods and services as prescribed in Clause 1 and Clause 2, Article 22 of the Law on Prices, and other goods and service prices as prescribed by relevant specialized laws.

2. Ministers shall set prices for goods and services as follows:

"a) The Minister of Finance shall prescribe:"

- Specific prices for aviation services including takeoff and landing services; air traffic control services for departure and arrival; flight support services; security screening services;

- Price ranges for: Domestic air transport services on exclusive routes; state monopoly services at airports as prescribed in the Civil Aviation Law; potable water;

- Maximum purchase price, minimum selling price for national strategic reserves (excluding those in the defense and security sectors); cost standards for import and export at national reserve warehouses and maximum export costs outside the warehouse, storage costs for national strategic reserves;

- Maximum purchase price for public utility products and services, and public services funded by the central budget (excluding those within the pricing authority of other ministries and provincial People's Committees) ordered or planned by competent state agencies;

"- Maximum purchase prices for goods and services ordered by the Prime Minister, with production and business plans using the central budget;"

- Minimum selling price for domestically produced cigarette products;

- Maximum or minimum prices for leasing fees of state-owned infrastructure assets serving national interests and public benefits;

"b) The Minister of Industry and Trade shall prescribe:"

- Specific prices for electricity transmission prices, ancillary system service prices;

- Price ranges for power generation prices, wholesale electricity prices;

c) The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development shall prescribe: Price ranges for forests including production forests, protective forests, and special-use forests owned by the entire people with the State acting as the representative owner;

d) The Minister of Information and Communications shall prescribe: Prices for postal and telecommunications products and services including public postal and telecommunications services as prescribed by laws on postal and telecommunications;

đ) The Minister of Health shall prescribe: Prices for medical examination and treatment services as prescribed by laws on medical examination and treatment; drug prices paid by the state budget and health insurance as prescribed by laws on pharmaceuticals;

e) The Minister of Transport shall prescribe: Prices for public utility products and services in the management and maintenance of national railway, road, inland waterway sectors implemented through state orders or plans using central government budgets;

g) The Minister of National Defense shall prescribe:

- Prices for public utility products and services serving national defense produced and supplied by enterprises and units under the Ministry of National Defense according to orders, plans, and designated tenders paid from the state budget;

- Prices for defense goods and services ordered by the Ministry of National Defense from enterprises according to the government's plan paid from the state budget; prices for national strategic reserves related to national defense;

h) The Minister of Public Security shall prescribe:

- Prices for goods and services serving political security and social order produced and supplied by security enterprises under the Ministry of Public Security according to orders, plans, and designated tenders of the Ministry paid from the state budget;

- Prices for national strategic reserves related to political security and social order;

i) Ministers shall prescribe specific prices for national strategic reserves, public utility products and services, and public services, goods and services ordered or planned for use from the state budget within their respective jurisdictions where the Ministry of Finance has prescribed price ranges, maximum prices, or minimum prices; rental and lease-purchase prices for social housing and civil servant housing built with state funds; sale or rental prices for state-owned housing as prescribed by laws on housing;

k) Ministers shall prescribe prices for other goods and services as prescribed by relevant specialized laws.

3. Heads of agencies and units with pricing authority shall implement specific prices for goods and services that the State has prescribed price ranges, maximum prices, or minimum prices as prescribed in this Decree and related laws.

4. Provincial People's Committees shall prescribe:

a) Land prices;

b) Land and water surface rental prices;

c) Forest prices including production forests, protective forests, and special-use forests owned by the entire people represented by the State;

d) Rental and lease-purchase prices for social housing and official housing constructed with state budget funds; sale or rental prices for state-owned housing according to laws on housing;

đ) Clean water supply prices for domestic use;

e) Rental prices for state-owned assets that are infrastructure projects funded from the local state budget;

g) Prices for public goods and services, and public service products and goods and services ordered, planned for production and operation using the local state budget according to the law;

h) Education and training service prices applicable to public kindergartens, primary and secondary schools within the province;

i) Medical examination and treatment service prices for state-run medical facilities under local management;

k) Subsidy levels for freight subsidies for goods in the subsidized freight subsidy list funded from local and central budgets; retail prices or price ranges for subsidized goods; freight rates for essential goods and services in the subsidized freight subsidy list serving mountainous areas, remote regions, and islands;

l) Prices for other goods and services as prescribed by relevant specialized laws.

5. In cases where there is a change in the pricing authority prescribed in Clauses 2, 3, and 4 of this Article, the Minister of Finance shall submit to the Government for consideration and decision.

Article 9. Procedures and Time Limits for Determining Prices

1. Submission and Review of Pricing Proposals

a) Goods and services under the pricing authority of the Government or the Prime Minister shall be submitted with pricing proposals by the relevant ministries after receiving written reviews from the Ministry of Finance.

b) Goods and services under the pricing authority of the Minister of Finance shall have their pricing proposals developed by the direct management agencies of production and business establishments or by such establishments themselves, which then submit them to the relevant ministries for review. Thereafter, the relevant ministries shall request the Ministry of Finance to make a decision through a written proposal.

c) Goods and services under the pricing authority of ministries shall be subject to procedures, reviews, and price decisions as prescribed by the respective ministers, who must also send copies to the Ministry of Finance for monitoring and supervision.

d) Goods and services under the pricing authority of provincial People's Committees shall follow procedures, reviews, and price decisions as prescribed by such committees. In cases where pricing proposals are submitted by sectoral management departments, production and business units to the provincial People's Committee for consideration and decision, they must include written reviews from the provincial Department of Finance.

2. Time Limits for Reviewing Pricing Proposals and Making Price Decisions

a) The agencies or units responsible for reviewing pricing proposals as stipulated in Clause 1 of this Article must provide written reviews on the content of the pricing proposals within a maximum of 15 working days from the date of receipt of complete pricing proposal files as prescribed.

b) From the date of receipt of pricing proposals with related agency opinions and written reviews from authorized agencies, the time limits for making price decisions at various levels are as follows:

- A maximum of 15 working days for prices determined by the Government or the Prime Minister;

- A maximum of 10 working days for prices determined by ministries or provincial People's Committees.

c) If it is necessary to extend the time for reviewing pricing proposals or making price decisions, the agencies or units responsible for reviewing pricing proposals or those with authority to make price decisions must notify in writing the reasons for the extension to the submitting agencies; the extended period shall not exceed 15 working days.

3. The Ministry of Finance shall specify the requirements for pricing proposal files.

Article 10. Adjustment of State-Determined Prices

1. When domestic and international factors affecting the formation of prices impact production and living standards, the state authorities with pricing authority as specified in Article 8 of this Decree shall promptly consider and adjust prices.

2. Organizations and individuals have the right to request state authorities with pricing authority as specified in Article 8 of this Decree to adjust prices according to the law. When organizations and individuals producing and trading goods and services subject to state pricing request adjustments, they must clearly state the reasons and basis for determining the proposed adjusted price.

3. The procedures and time limits for adjusting prices shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of Article 9 of this Decree.

4. In cases where requests for price adjustments are deemed unreasonable, the pricing authority must respond in writing to the requesting organizations and individuals.

5. Adjustments to national reserve commodity prices shall be implemented in accordance with the laws on national reserves.

Section 3

PRICE NEGOTIATION

Article 11. Participants in price negotiation

The participants in the price negotiation for goods and services include: the agency organizing the price negotiation as stipulated in Article 24 of the Price Law; representatives of the buyer and seller; representatives of specialized management agencies and related agencies as required by the agency organizing the price negotiation.

Article 12. Implementation of price negotiation

1. In cases where price negotiation is organized, the authority and responsibility for organizing the price negotiation and the results of the price negotiation shall be implemented in accordance with the provisions of Articles 23, 24, and 25 of the Price Law.

2. The procedure for organizing price negotiation shall be carried out as follows:

a) The buyer or seller, or both, submit the Price Negotiation File in accordance with the law;

b) The agency organizing the price negotiation shall notify in writing to the participating parties about the time of the price negotiation organization; if the Price Negotiation File does not comply with the regulations, the agency organizing the price negotiation shall notify in writing to the participating parties to complete it in accordance with the regulations;

c) If the buyer or seller, or both, request price negotiation, they have the right to withdraw the Price Negotiation File to negotiate the purchase and sale prices of goods and services themselves before the competent authority organizes the price negotiation and must report the agreed price and the implementation period to the competent authority organizing the price negotiation.

3. The Ministry of Finance shall provide detailed guidance on the implementation of price negotiation.

Section 4

INSPECTION OF PRICE FORMING FACTORS

Article 13. Organization of inspection of price forming factors

1. In cases of inspecting price forming factors, the authority and responsibility for inspecting price forming factors shall be implemented in accordance with the provisions of Articles 26 and 27 of the Price Law.

2. Procedure for inspecting price forming factors:

a) The competent state agency inspecting price forming factors shall issue a written request for inspection of price forming factors and send it to the organizations and individuals requested to inspect the price forming factors;

b) The competent state agency inspecting price forming factors shall issue a written request for organizations and individuals to provide necessary documents to serve the inspection of price forming factors;

c) Conduct inspection of price forming factors;

d) Notify the conclusion of the inspection of price forming factors.

3. Time limit for inspecting price forming factors:

a) The maximum duration for one inspection is 30 working days from the date the competent authority issues the decision to inspect price forming factors. If it is necessary to extend the inspection period, the competent authority must notify in writing and specify the reasons for the extension to the inspected organizations and individuals; the extended inspection period shall not exceed 15 working days;

b) Within a maximum of 15 working days from the end of the inspection of price forming factors, the competent authority shall be responsible for issuing and sending a written notification of the inspection conclusion to the organizations and individuals and relevant agencies.

4. The Ministry of Finance shall guide the implementation of this provision.

Article 14. Measures for handling violations

1. Based on the inspection results, the competent state agency shall handle the violation acts according to the Government's regulations on administrative penalties in the field of pricing.

2. In cases where the violation act has signs of criminal law violation, the inspection agency shall transfer the file to the competent authority for handling in accordance with the law.

Chapter III

PRICE DECLARATION AND DISPLAY

Section 1

PRICE DECLARATION

Article 15. Goods and Services Subject to Price Declaration

1. Goods and services subject to price declaration include:

a) Goods and services listed in the Catalogue of Goods and Services Implementing Price Stabilization Measures as stipulated in Article 3 of this Decree during the period when the State does not apply price registration measures;

b) Cement, construction steel;

c) Coal;

d) Feed for livestock, poultry, and aquatic animals; disinfectants, antiseptics, decontaminants, and medicines for livestock, poultry, and aquatic animals;

đ) Printing paper, writing paper (in roll form), domestically produced newspaper printing paper;

e) Port service fees at seaports; air service fees at airports;

g) Passenger fares for hard-seat railway travel;

h) Textbooks;

i) Domestic flight ticket prices not included in the State's regulated price range;

k) Medical examination and treatment services for patients at private medical facilities; medical examination and treatment services on demand at state-owned medical facilities;

l) Fixed-route passenger transport fares by road; passenger transport fares by taxi;

m) Functional foods for children under six years old as prescribed by the Ministry of Health;

n) Other goods and services as prescribed by specialized laws.

2. Based on actual conditions, the Ministry of Finance shall take the lead in coordinating with relevant ministries and sectors to submit to the Prime Minister for decision on adjusting the list of goods and services subject to price declaration, except those specified in point a, Clause 1 of this Article.

3. Based on actual conditions at the local level, the Department of Finance shall take the lead in coordinating with competent agencies to submit to the People's Committee of the province for supplementary special goods and services to be subject to price declaration at the local level (if applicable).

Article 16. Implementation of Price Declaration

1. Organizations and individuals producing and trading goods and services subject to price declaration shall declare prices by submitting a notification of declared prices to the competent state agency before pricing or adjusting prices, at least five days in advance. Specifically, as follows:

a) In cases where organizations and individuals only engage in wholesale sales, they shall declare wholesale prices;

b) In cases where organizations and individuals engage in both wholesale and retail sales, they shall declare both wholesale and retail prices;

c) In cases where organizations and individuals are importers and exclusive distributors, they shall declare wholesale and expected retail prices (if applicable);

d) In cases where organizations and individuals are exclusive distributors, they shall declare wholesale and retail prices or expected retail prices; general agents who have the authority to set and adjust prices shall declare wholesale and retail prices or expected retail prices; agents who have the authority to set and adjust prices shall declare retail prices.

2. Competent state agencies receiving price declaration documents:

a) At the central level:

- The Ministry of Finance shall receive price declaration documents for goods and services specified in points b, c, d, đ, e, g, h, i, and m of Clause 1 of Article 15 of this Decree;

- The Ministry of Health shall receive price declaration documents for medical examination and treatment services for patients at private medical facilities; medical examination and treatment services on demand at state-owned medical facilities as specified in point k of Clause 1 of Article 15 of this Decree;

b) At the local level, it is the Department of Finance and sectoral Departments; the People's Committee of the district assigned by the People's Committee of the province shall receive price declaration documents for goods and services specified in points b, c, d, đ, e, g, h, i, k, l, and m of Clause 1 of Article 15 of this Decree within their jurisdiction;

c) For goods and services subject to price declaration as specified in point a of Clause 1 of Article 15 of this Decree, the competent agency responsible for receiving and reviewing the registration form for prices as stipulated in Clause 2 of Article 6 of this Decree shall receive price declaration documents.

3. During the period when the State applies price registration measures to stabilize prices, organizations and individuals producing and trading goods and services listed in the Price Stabilization List shall not declare prices but instead register prices according to the provisions of Article 6 of this Decree. After the State ceases applying price registration measures, before adjusting prices, organizations and individuals producing and trading goods and services listed in the Price Stabilization List shall continue to declare prices according to the regulations.

4. The Ministry of Finance shall notify organizations and individuals engaged in central-level price declaration; specify the format of the price declaration document and the process for receiving and reviewing such documents; the People's Committee of the province shall notify organizations and individuals engaged in local-level price declaration for those not listed in the central-level price declaration list. For medical examination and treatment services for patients at private medical facilities; medical examination and treatment services on demand at state-owned medical facilities, the price declaration shall be carried out according to the guidelines of the Ministry of Health.

5. Other goods and services that specialized laws prescribe regarding price declaration shall be implemented according to the provisions of those laws.

Section 2

PRICE DISPLAY

Article 17. Place for Price Display

1. Production and business establishments (with transaction counters and product sales).

2. Supermarkets, trade centers, markets regulated by law, shops, stores, kiosks, stalls, transaction places that sell goods and provide services.

3. Trade fairs and exhibitions selling goods and providing services.

4. Other places as prescribed by law.

Article 18. Methods of Price Display

1. Organizations and individuals engaged in production and business shall display prices in appropriate, clear, and non-misleading ways to customers regarding purchase and sale prices of goods and services by printing, pasting, or writing prices on boards, paper, or packaging of goods or by other means at transaction places or where goods and services are offered for sale to facilitate customer observation and recognition, and for the convenience of authorized state agencies. For goods and services priced by the State, organizations and individuals engaged in production and business must display prices as prescribed by authorized state agencies and buy and sell at the displayed prices. For goods and services not included in the list of goods and services priced by the State, they shall display prices set by organizations and individuals engaged in production and business and shall not sell at higher or buy at lower prices than the displayed prices.

2. The currency for price display shall be the Vietnamese Dong except where otherwise provided by law.

3. The displayed price includes all types of taxes, fees, and charges applicable to the goods and services (if any).

Chapter IV

STATE MANAGEMENT IN THE FIELD OF PRICES

Section 1

AUTHORITY FOR STATE MANAGEMENT IN THE FIELD OF PRICES

Article 19. Authority for State Management in the Field of Prices of the Government and the Prime Minister

The authority for State management in the field of prices of the Government and the Prime Minister shall be implemented according to the provisions of the Law on Prices and related laws.

Article 20. Authority for State Management in the Field of Prices of the Ministry of Finance

1. Study, build, submit to the Government for issuance or issue pricing policies and price management measures within its authority.

2. Issue or submit to authorized state agencies for issuance legal regulatory documents in the field of prices.

3. Guide and organize, direct the implementation of pricing policies, measures, and decisions of the Government and the Prime Minister.

4. Set prices for goods and services within its authority.

5. Perform specialized inspection functions in the field of prices.

6. Organize the implementation of state management contents in the field of prices stipulated in Clauses 4, 5, 6, and 7, Article 7 of the Law on Prices and other contents in the field of prices according to assigned tasks and authorities.

Article 21. Authority for State Management of Prices of Ministries

1. Submit to the Government pricing policies and management measures for goods and service prices under their state management for approval.

2. Issue legal regulatory documents on prices within their authority.

3. Organize and direct the implementation of pricing policies, measures, and decisions of the Government, the Prime Minister, and the Ministry of Finance in their respective fields of management.

4. Issue economic-technical norms; decide on prices for goods and services within their authority.

5. Inspect and check compliance with legal regulations on prices and other relevant legal regulations in their respective fields of management; handle violations of price laws within their authority.

Article 22. The State Management Authority on Prices of the Provincial People's Committee

1. Issuing legal normative documents on prices within their authority.

2. Directing the implementation of price policies, measures, and decisions on goods and services issued by the Government, Prime Minister, Ministry of Finance, and relevant sectoral ministries.

3. Pricing goods and services within their authority.

4. Inspecting and supervising the compliance with legal provisions on prices and other related legal provisions at the local level; settling complaints and handling violations of the law on prices within their authority.

Article 23. Specialized Inspection on Prices

1. The Ministry of Finance’s Inspection Agency and the Price Management Department under the Ministry of Finance shall perform specialized inspection functions on prices nationwide. The provincial finance departments' inspection agencies shall perform specialized inspection functions on prices within their respective provinces.

2. Specialized inspection activities on prices shall be carried out in accordance with the laws on inspection.

3. Specialized price inspections shall handle acts violating the law on prices in accordance with the laws on administrative violation handling and the laws on inspection.

Section 2

PRICE DATABASE

Article 24. Subjects Building the Price Database

Central state management agencies on prices include the Ministry of Finance and sectoral ministries; at the local level, it includes provincial finance departments which have the responsibility to build a system of price databases serving state management in their respective sectors and regions.

The Ministry of Finance is responsible for building the national price database center. The price database center serves as the connection point for price database systems of various ministries, sectors, and localities; providing price information for state management tasks and according to the requirements of organizations and individuals as stipulated by law.

Article 25. Content of the Price Database

1. The content of the price database includes:

a) Prices of goods and services set by the State;

b) Prices of goods and services included in the price registration and declaration lists;

c) Market prices of goods and services included in the market price reporting lists as prescribed by the Ministry of Finance;

d) Necessary market prices of goods and services for forecasting and state management of prices;

d) Information on appraised asset prices in accordance with the laws on prices and appraisal.

e) Other information serving price management work as prescribed by law.

2. Sources of information for building the database include:

b) Information purchased from units and individuals providing information by state management agencies on pricing;

c) Information provided by organizations and individuals engaged in production and business in accordance with Clause 7, Article 12 of the Law on Prices and other cases serving state management requirements in the field of prices as prescribed.

c) Information provided by organizations and individuals engaged in production and business operations in accordance with Clause 7, Article 12 of the Law on Prices and other necessary cases to meet state management requirements.

3. The Ministry of Finance shall provide detailed guidance on this Article.

Chapter V

IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 26. Effective date

1. This Decree takes effect from January 1, 2014.

2. Abolishing Decree No. 170/2003/NĐ-CP dated December 25, 2003 of the Government detailing the implementation of certain provisions of the Ordinance on Prices, and Decree No. 75/2008/NĐ-CP dated June 9, 2008 of the Government amending and supplementing certain provisions of Decree No. 170/2003/NĐ-CP dated December 25, 2003 of the Government detailing the implementation of certain provisions of the Ordinance on Prices. All previous regulations that conflict with this Decree are abolished.

Article 27. Responsibility for Implementing the Decree

1. The Ministry of Finance is responsible for guiding and organizing the implementation of this Decree.

2. The Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of government-affiliated agencies, and Chairpersons of provincial People's Committees directly under the central government shall be responsible for implementing this Decree./.