Decree No. 177/2025/NĐ-CP amends and supplements Decrees in the field of international agreements and addresses certain issues related to organizing two-tier local administration and restructuring organizational structures in the field of international agreements.

DECREE

Amending and supplementing Decrees in the field of international agreements; handling some issues related to organizing two-level local administration and restructuring organizational structures in the field of international agreements

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Pursuant to the Government Organization Law on February 18, 2025;

Pursuant to the Law on Organization ofLocal Administration dated June 16, 2025;

Pursuant to the International Agreement Law dated November 13, 2020;

At the proposal of the Minister of Foreign Affairs;

The Government promulgates Decree amending and supplementing Decrees in the field of international agreements; handling some issues related to organizing two-level local administration and restructuring organizational structures in the field of international agreements.

Article 1. Amend, supplement, and abolish certain provisions stipulated in Government Decree No. 64/2021/NĐ-CP dated June 30, 2021 regarding signing and implementing international agreements on behalf of general administrations under ministries, agencies at the ministerial level, specialized agencies under provincial People's Committees; People's Committees at district level; People's Committees at commune level in border areas; provincial-level agencies of organizations

1. Amend and supplement the name of Government Decree No. 64/2021/NĐ-CP dated June 30, 2021 as follows:

"Decree on signing and implementing international agreements on behalf of general administrations under ministries, agencies at the ministerial level, specialized agencies under provincial People's Committees; People's Committees at commune level in border areas; provincial-level agencies of organizations".

Article 3. Information Technology System

"1. This Decree shall apply to the signing and implementation of international agreements on behalf of the following agencies and organizations:

a) Departments under ministries, agencies at the ministerial level (hereinafter referred to as agency at the departmental level);

b) Provincial People's Committees, centrally governed cities (hereinafter referred to as provincial People's Committees);

c) Specialized agencies under provincial People's Committees, centrally governed cities (hereinafter referred to as agency at the bureau level);

d) Commune People's Committees, wards, special zones in border areas according to the laws on border areas (hereinafter referred to as commune People's Committees in border areas);

d) Provincial-level agencies of political-social organizations, political-social-professional organizations, social organizations, social-professional organizations (hereinafter referred to as provincial-level agencies of organizations)."

3. Amending and supplementing Article 7 as follows:

"Article 7. Procedures and formalities for signing international agreements on behalf of People's Committees at commune level in border areas

1. Before proceeding to sign an international agreement, the Border Commune People's Committee shall submit a file seeking written opinions from the provincial external affairs agency.

2. In cases where necessary, the provincial external affairs agency shall provide written opinions within seven working days from the date they receive complete files as stipulated in Article 11 of this Decree.

3. The People's Committee at commune level in border areas shall explain, adopt opinions, and submit the proposal file for signing international agreements to the provincial foreign affairs agency within five working days from the date of receipt of the opinion request document as stipulated in Clause 2 of this Article.

4. In case the provincial foreign affairs agency does not provide the opinion as stipulated in Clause 2 of this Article, the provincial foreign affairs agency shall seek written opinions from the provincial Public Security Agency, the provincial Military Command, relevant provincial departments directly involved, and other relevant agencies within three working days from the date of receipt of the complete file as prescribed in Article 11 of this Decree.

5. Agencies and units requested to provide opinions as stipulated in Clause 4 of this Article shall reply in writing within seven working days from the date of receipt of the opinion request document from the provincial foreign affairs agency regarding the proposal for signing international agreements on behalf of People's Committees at commune level in border areas.

6. The Chairman of the provincial People's Committee shall decide in writing on the signing of international agreements on behalf of People's Committees at commune level in border areas within five working days from the date of receipt of the complete submission file from the provincial foreign affairs agency as stipulated in Article 12 of this Decree.

7. The Chairman of the Border Commune People's Committee shall proceed to sign the agreement or authorize in writing another person to sign the international agreement.

8. After signing the international agreement, the People's Committee at commune level in border areas shall report in writing to the Chairman of the provincial People's Committee and simultaneously send a copy of the international agreement to the provincial foreign affairs agency within fifteen days from the date of signing the international agreement."

4. Amending and supplementing Clause 3 of Article 13 as follows:

"3. The People's Committee at commune level in border areas shall report in writing to the Chairman of the provincial People's Committee and notify in writing the provincial foreign affairs agency about the amendment, supplementation, extension of international agreements within fifteen days from the date these actions take effect."

5. Amend and supplement Clause 3 of Article 14 as follows:

"3. The People's Committee at commune level in border areas shall report in writing to the Chairman of the provincial People's Committee and notify in writing the provincial foreign affairs agency about the termination of effectiveness, withdrawal, temporary suspension of implementation of international agreements within fifteen days from the date these actions take effect."

6. Amend and supplement Point c Clause 1 Article 16 as follows:

"c) The People's Committee at commune level in border areas shall submit reports to the provincial foreign affairs agency."

7. Replace the phrase "Ministry of Planning and Investment" with the phrase "Ministry of Finance" in Clause 3 Article 9; replace the phrase "Clause 5 Article 7" with the phrase "Clause 6 Article 7" in Article 12; replace the phrase "Clause 4 Article 7" with the phrase "Clause 5 Article 7" in Clause 2 Article 12.

8. Delete the phrases "general administration," and "People's Committee at district level" in Article 1; the phrase "General Administration Director" in Clause 4 Article 4; the phrase "Clause 1 Article 6" in Clauses 1, 2, and 3 Article 9; the phrase "Clause 2 Article 6" in Article 11 and Clause 2 Article 12; the phrase "Clause 3 Article 6" in Article 12; the phrase "Article 6" in Clause 1 Article 13 and Clause 1 Article 14; the phrase "People's Committee at district level" in Clause 2 Article 13, Clause 2 Article 14, and Clause 1 Article 17; the phrase "Chairman of the People's Committee at district level" in Article 19.

9. Repeal Article 6.

Article 2. Repeal certain provisions stipulated in Decree No. 65/2021/NĐ-CP dated June 30, 2021 of the Government on management and use of state budget funds to ensure international treaty work and international agreement work.

Delete the phrase "general department" at Point a Clause 1 Article 4; the phrase "People's Committee of district level" at Clause 2 Article 4.

Article 3. Handling of international agreements concluded in the name of People's Committee of district level before July 1, 2025

1. The responsibility of the People's Committee of province level to succeed international agreements concluded in the name of People's Committee of district level before July 1, 2025 (hereinafter referred to as "the succeeded international agreement"):

a) Perform the functions, tasks, and powers of the agency proposing to conclude and the main implementing agency of the international agreement according to the International Agreement Law 2020 and guiding documents.

b) Update and adjust the new name of administrative units in inherited international agreements.

2. Authority of the Chairman of the People's Committee of the province in inheriting international agreements:

a) Decide on amending, supplementing, terminating the effectiveness, withdrawing from, and temporarily suspending the implementation of inherited international agreements.

b) Decide to conclude a new international agreement in the name of the People's Committee of province level to replace the succeeded international agreement when necessary, based on exchange and consensus with the foreign signatory.

c) Decide on applying necessary measures to protect the rights and interests of the Vietnamese signatory in cases where inherited international agreements are violated.

3. Responsibilities of the provincial foreign affairs agency:

a) Advise the People's Committee of the province to update and adjust the new name of administrative units in inherited international agreements.

b) Assist and advise the People's Committee of the province in exchanging and reaching consensus with foreign signatories regarding changes to the main implementing agency of inherited international agreements.

c) Notify the foreign signatory about the succession of the entire or part of the succeeded international agreement.

d) Advise the Chairman of the People's Committee of the province to decide on amending, supplementing, terminating the effectiveness, withdrawing from, and temporarily suspending the implementation of inherited international agreements.

đ) Advise the Chairman of the People's Committee of province level to decide to conclude a new international agreement in the name of the People's Committee of province level to replace the succeeded international agreement when necessary, based on exchange and consensus with the foreign signatory.

e) Advise the Chairman of the People's Committee of the province to decide on applying necessary measures to protect the rights and interests of the Vietnamese signatory in cases where international agreements are violated.

4. Procedures and formalities for amending, supplementing, terminating the effectiveness, withdrawing from, and temporarily suspending the implementation of inherited international agreements:

a) Before amending, supplementing, terminating the effect, withdrawing from, or temporarily suspending the implementation of the succeeded international agreement, the provincial external affairs agency must seek written opinions from relevant specialized agencies under the People's Committee of province level directly related to the international agreement and other relevant agencies.

b) Agencies receiving requests for opinions must respond in writing within seven working days from the date of receipt of the request for opinions.

c) The provincial foreign affairs agency must compile, explain, incorporate opinions, complete the dossier, and submit it to the Chairman of the People's Committee of the province for consideration and decision.

d) The Chairman of the People's Committee of province level decides in writing on the amendment, supplementation, termination of effect, withdrawal from, or temporary suspension of the implementation of the international agreement within five working days from the date of receiving the dossier submitted by the provincial external affairs agency.

đ) The Chairman of the People's Committee of province level proceeds to sign or authorize in writing another person to sign the document for amending, supplementing, terminating the effect, withdrawing from, or temporarily suspending the implementation of the international agreement with the foreign signatory.

Article 4. Handling of international agreements concluded on behalf of agencies at the Bureau level affected by state administrative organization restructuring

1. Responsibilities of the agency receiving the functions, tasks, and powers of the provincial-level Bureau that is currently performing functions, tasks, and powers related to concluding and implementing international agreements in the name of the provincial-level Bureau:

a) Perform the functions, tasks, and powers of the agency proposing to conclude and the main implementing agency of the international agreement in the name of the provincial-level Bureau according to the International Agreement Law 2020 and guiding documents.

b) Reviewing the provisions of international agreements affected by state administrative organization restructuring.

c) Notifying, exchanging, and agreeing with foreign partners on the necessity to amend provisions related to the name of the agency specified in international agreements (if applicable).

d) Notify the foreign partner about the succession of the entire or part of the international agreement in the name of the transferred agency and proactively carry out procedures to amend the provisions of the affected international agreement (if any).

2. Procedures and formalities for amending, supplementing, extending, terminating the effect, withdrawing from, or temporarily suspending the implementation of international agreements in the name of the provincial-level Bureau affected by organizational restructuring shall be carried out in accordance with current laws.

3. In cases where the amendment of international agreements in the name of the provincial-level Bureau affected by organizational restructuring only relates to the name of the Vietnamese signatory, the provincial-level Bureau shall submit to the Minister or Head of a ministerial-level agency for a written decision on amending the international agreement without seeking written opinions from the agencies stipulated in Clause 1 Article 4 of Decree No. 64/2021/NĐ-CP dated June 30, 2021 of the Government.

Article 5. Handling of international agreements concluded on behalf of provincial-level state agencies affected by administrative unit restructuring at various levels

1. Responsibilities of the agency receiving the functions, tasks, and powers of the provincial-level government agency that is currently performing functions, tasks, and powers related to concluding and implementing international agreements in the name of the provincial-level government agency:

a) Perform the functions, tasks, and powers of the agency proposing to conclude and the main implementing agency of the international agreement according to the International Agreement Law 2020 and guiding documents.

b) Reviewing the provisions of international agreements affected by administrative unit restructuring at various levels, including reviewing changes in rights and obligations of the Vietnamese signatory.

c) Notifying, exchanging, and agreeing with foreign partners on the necessity to amend provisions related to the name of the agency specified in international agreements and other provisions (if applicable).

d) Notify the foreign partner about the succession of the entire or part of the international agreement in the name of the transferred agency and proactively carry out procedures to amend the provisions of the affected international agreement (if any).

2. Responsibilities of the provincial-level foreign affairs agency:

a) Advise the People's Committee of province level to perform the functions, tasks, and powers of the agency proposing to conclude and the main implementing agency of the international agreement in the name of the People's Committee of province level according to the International Agreement Law 2020 and guiding documents.

b) Advise the People's Committee of province level to review the provisions of the international agreement in the name of the People's Committee of province level affected by administrative restructuring at various levels, including reviewing changes in rights and obligations of the Vietnamese signatory.

c) Advising the Provincial People's Committee to adjust and update the new names of administrative units in international agreements concluded on behalf of the Provincial People's Committee.

d) Carry out notifications and exchanges with foreign partners regarding the necessity to amend provisions related to the name of the agency specified in the international agreement and other provisions (if any) according to the classification requirements, please refer to the following direct translation:

đ) Advising the Provincial People's Committee to agree on the necessity to amend provisions related to the name of the agency specified in international agreements and other provisions (if applicable).

e) Advising the Provincial People's Committee to notify foreign partners about the succession of all or part of the international agreement concluded on behalf of the transferring agency.

3. Procedures and formalities for amending, supplementing, extending, terminating the effect, withdrawing from, or temporarily suspending the implementation of international agreements in the name of the provincial-level government agency affected by administrative restructuring at various levels shall be carried out in accordance with current laws.

4. In cases where the amendment of international agreements in the name of the provincial-level government agency affected by administrative restructuring at various levels only relates to the name of the Vietnamese signatory, the provincial-level government agency shall proactively carry out procedures to amend the international agreement without seeking written opinions from the agencies stipulated in Clause 1 Article 19 of the International Agreement Law 2020.

Article 6. Handling of international agreements concluded on behalf of provincial-level agencies affected by administrative unit restructuring at all levels

1. Responsibilities of the agency receiving the functions, tasks, and powers of the provincial-level Department that is currently performing functions, tasks, and powers related to concluding and implementing international agreements in the name of the provincial-level Department:

a) Perform the functions, tasks, and powers of the agency proposing to conclude and the main implementing agency of the international agreement according to the International Agreement Law 2020 and guiding documents.

b) Review the provisions of the international agreement affected by administrative unit restructuring at all levels.

c) Notifying, exchanging, and agreeing with foreign partners on the necessity to amend provisions related to the name of the agency specified in international agreements (if applicable).

d) Notify the foreign partner about the succession of the entire or part of the international agreement in the name of the transferred agency and proactively carry out procedures to amend the provisions of the affected international agreement (if any).

2. In cases where multiple agencies inherit the functions, duties, and powers of provincial-level departments that are currently performing functions, duties, and powers related to signing and implementing international agreements, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee shall decide on the agency to receive the international agreement based on the advice of the provincial foreign affairs agency.

3. The procedures for amending, supplementing, extending, terminating the effect, withdrawing from, or temporarily suspending the implementation of international agreements on behalf of provincial-level departments affected by administrative unit restructuring shall be carried out in accordance with current laws.

4. In cases where the amendment of international agreements on behalf of provincial-level departments affected by administrative unit restructuring only involves the name of the Vietnamese signatory party, the provincial-level department shall submit the dossier to the provincial foreign affairs agency for the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee to decide in writing on the amendment of the international agreement, without seeking written opinions from the agencies specified in Clause 1, Article 5 of Decree No. 64/2021/NĐ-CP dated June 30, 2021 of the Government.

Article 7. Handling of international agreements concluded on behalf of border commune people's committees affected by administrative unit restructuring at all levels

1. Responsibilities of the agency inheriting the functions, duties, and powers of border commune People's Committees that are currently performing functions, duties, and powers related to signing and implementing international agreements on behalf of border commune People's Committees:

a) Perform the functions, tasks, and powers of the agency proposing to conclude and the main implementing agency of the international agreement according to the International Agreement Law 2020 and guiding documents.

b) Review the provisions of the international agreement affected by administrative unit restructuring at all levels.

c) Notifying, exchanging, and agreeing with foreign partners on the necessity to amend provisions related to the name of the agency specified in international agreements (if applicable).

d) Notify the foreign partner about the succession of the entire or part of the international agreement in the name of the transferred agency and proactively carry out procedures to amend the provisions of the affected international agreement (if any).

2. In cases where multiple agencies inherit the functions, duties, and powers of border commune People's Committees that are currently performing functions, duties, and powers related to signing and implementing international agreements, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee shall decide on the agency to receive the international agreement based on the advice of the provincial foreign affairs agency.

Article 8. Handling of international agreements concluded on behalf of multiple agencies and organizations affected by state organizational restructuring or administrative unit restructuring at all levels

Where the Vietnamese signatories belong to entities subject to state apparatus organization restructuring or administrative unit restructuring at various levels, the agency or organization designated as the lead signatory of international agreements on behalf of multiple agencies or organizations under Article 24 of the International Agreements Law 2020 shall have the following responsibilities:

1. To take the lead and coordinate with other signing agencies and organizations in reviewing the provisions of international agreements on behalf of multiple agencies or organizations affected by state apparatus organization restructuring or administrative unit restructuring at various levels, including reviewing changes in the rights and obligations of the Vietnamese signatory party.

2. Take the lead in exchanging and reaching consensus with other signing agencies and organizations and foreign partners regarding the amendment of provisions of international agreements on behalf of multiple agencies and organizations if necessary.

3. To notify the foreign partner about changes related to the Vietnamese signatory party in international agreements on behalf of multiple agencies or organizations.

Article 9. Implementation responsibilities

1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall be responsible for coordinating with ministries, ministerial-level agencies, agencies under the Government, and supporting local authorities in resolving difficulties and obstacles (if any) during the process of handling inherited international agreements, and reporting to the Government and the Prime Minister on issues arising when implementing this Decree that exceed their authority to resolve.

2. The Ministry of Finance shall be responsible for supporting local authorities in resolving difficulties and obstacles (if any) related to funding for organizing the implementation of inherited international agreements during the implementation of this Decree.

Article 10. Provisions on implementation

This Decree takes effect from July 1, 2025.

2. The provision of Clause 4, Article 5 shall apply from the date this Decree takes effect until February 28, 2027.