Decision No. 210/1999/QĐ-TTg On Certain Policies for Overseas Vietnamese

Pursuant to …;

On certain policiesregarding overseas Vietnamese people

PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Government Organization Law dated September 30, 1992;

Pursuant to the Nationality Law of May 20, 1998;

To create favorable conditions and encourage overseas Vietnamese to maintain close ties with their homeland and actively contribute to the country's construction efforts;

At the proposal of the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

DECISION:

Article 1.

1. Vietnamese citizens residing abroad holding valid Vietnamese passports shall not need visas when entering or exiting Vietnam.

Vietnamese citizens residing abroad who are relatives or personal servants accompanying or visiting foreigners working at diplomatic agencies, consular agencies of foreign countries, and representative offices of international organizations in Vietnam shall follow the temporary residence registration procedures as guided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Article 2.

1. When returning to the country, Vietnamese citizens residing abroad holding Vietnamese passports; overseas Vietnamese holding foreign passports who have contributed to the national liberation cause and the construction of the country (with confirmation from Vietnamese agencies abroad or the Committee on Overseas Vietnamese) shall be exempted from visa fees and shall enjoy service prices and travel ticket prices on various means of transportation as applied to Vietnamese citizens residing within the country.

2. Ministries, central management agencies, and provincial People's Committees directly under the Central Government shall regularly report lists of overseas Vietnamese holding foreign passports, as stipulated in Clause 1 of this Article, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Article 3.

1. Diplomatic agencies and Consular agencies of Vietnam in host countries shall be responsible for issuing passports to Vietnamese citizens abroad who still hold Vietnamese citizenship according to Vietnamese law upon request.

2. Vietnamese citizens abroad without passports or with invalid passports, if they submit a passport application and a declaration regarding the reasons for not having a passport or having an invalid one, shall be considered for issuance of a passport by Vietnamese diplomatic and consular agencies in host countries after coordination with relevant domestic agencies to verify and ensure compliance with legal regulations.

Article 4.

Article 5.

The Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, and Heads of government agencies shall, within their respective functions and responsibilities, coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and related agencies to study and propose to the Government for issuance or issuance within their authority, in the second quarter of 2000, policies for overseas Vietnamese to facilitate and encourage closer ties with their homeland and contribute positively to the country's development.

In the short term, in the first quarter of 2000:

1. The Ministry of Construction shall take the lead, coordinating with the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and related agencies to study and propose to the Government for consideration and decision on housing policies for Vietnamese citizens residing abroad.

2. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall take the lead, coordinating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to organize cultural activities for Vietnamese communities abroad, primarily in areas with large concentrations of Vietnamese residents.

3. The State Price Control Agency shall take the lead, coordinating with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the General Post Office, the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam, and related agencies to study and propose to the Government for consideration and decision on subsidizing shipping costs for films, books, cultural products, and propaganda materials for overseas Vietnamese communities and airfare for artistic groups introduced by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to perform for overseas Vietnamese communities.

4. The Ministry of Education and Training shall take the lead, coordinating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and related agencies to study the organization of Vietnamese language teaching for overseas Vietnamese communities based on compliance with host country laws.

5. Vietnam Radio, Vietnam Television shall take the lead, coordinating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and related agencies to study cooperation with relevant organizations in other countries to expand the broadcasting of Vietnamese radio and television programs abroad to serve overseas Vietnamese communities.

6. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall take the lead, coordinating with relevant ministries and sectors to intensify information dissemination and propaganda through the internet, press, cultural products, and propaganda materials to serve overseas Vietnamese communities.

Article 6. This Decision shall take effect fifteen days after its signing. All previous provisions contrary to this Decision shall be abolished.

The Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of government agencies, Chairmen of provincial People's Committees under the central government are responsible for implementing this Decision.