Decree No. 24/CP provides detailed regulations for the implementation of the Ordinance on Exploitation and Protection of Hydro-meteorological Works.

DECREE OF THE GOVERNMENT

Detailed regulations on the implementation of the Ordinance on Exploitation and Protection of Meteorological and Hydrological Works

 

THE GOVERNMENT

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

Pursuant to the Ordinance on Exploitation and Protection of Hydro-Meteorological Works dated December 2, 1994;

At the proposal of the Director General of the National Centre for Hydro-meteorology

 

DECREE:

PART I
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Clause 4 of Article 6Basic meteorological and hydrological works funded by the State and directly managed, exploited, and protected by the National Centre for Hydro-meteorology are constructed.

Specialized meteorological and hydrological works are built, managed, exploited, and protected by Ministries, sectors, localities, economic organizations, national defense, security entities, and individuals to meet specialized needs. Such works may operate for a certain period or long-term based on their construction purposes and approved economic-technical justifications.

12/2025/TT-BNNMT dated June 19, 2025 issued by the Minister of Agriculture and EnvironmentMeteorological and hydrological works include:

1. Meteorological and hydrological stations:

a. Regional meteorological and hydrological stations;

b. Upper air meteorological stations;

The list of regional meteorological and hydrological stations and upper air meteorological stations is attached to this Decree.

2. Meteorological and hydrological observation stations.

a. Surface meteorological observation stations;

b. Upper air meteorological observation stations;

c. Agricultural meteorological observation stations;

d. Marine meteorological observation stations;

đ. Hydrological observation stations;

e. Air pollution monitoring stations;

g. Water pollution monitoring stations;

h. Provincial meteorological and hydrological service stations;

i. Rainfall measurement stations.

Specialized equipment, machinery, auxiliary works, dedicated land areas, protective systems, technical safety corridors, and meteorological and hydrological data also fall under the meteorological and hydrological works defined in this Article.

Article 3. Special meteorological and hydrological works as specified in Clause 1, Article 11 of the Ordinance on Exploitation and Protection of Meteorological and Hydrological Works are considered basic works but have particular importance in terms of professional meteorological and hydrological technology and international information exchange or significant implications for national economic, social activities, national defense, and security.

The list of special meteorological and hydrological works is attached to this Decree.

Article 4. Meteorological and hydrological data as specified in Clause 6, Article 2 of the Ordinance on Exploitation and Protection of Meteorological and Hydrological Works includes:

1. Basic investigation documents and data on meteorology, hydrology, air, and water environments recorded on paper or other media.

2. Various types of charts, maps, satellite images, films, and photographs related to meteorological and hydrological research objects.

3. Technical parameters of specialized equipment used in meteorological and hydrological operations; documents on the location, symbols, and elevation values of meteorological and hydrological survey works.

4. Results of research projects and other publications issued internally by the meteorological and hydrological sector.

Article 5.The Director General of the National Centre for Hydro-meteorology approves or submits to the Prime Minister for approval planning schemes, plans, and economic-technical justifications for reconstructing, repairing, maintaining, and upgrading basic meteorological and hydrological works according to State policies and laws on investment management and construction.

Annually, the Director General of the National Centre for Hydro-meteorology submits to the Prime Minister for decision the budget investment level and other necessary conditions to ensure the stable and long-term exploitation and protection of basic meteorological and hydrological works, gradually modernizing them.

Article 6.The Director General of the National Centre for Hydro-meteorology is responsible for organizing the unified storage and use of basic meteorological and hydrological data and coordinating with relevant agencies in managing specialized meteorological and hydrological data.

Article 7.

1. The technical safety corridor for each type of meteorological and hydrological work as stipulated in Article 10 of the Ordinance on Exploitation and Protection of Meteorological and Hydrological Works is defined as follows:

a. For surface meteorological stations, upper air meteorological stations, and agricultural meteorological stations located within cities, towns, and townships, it is the surrounding area around the station with a width equal to ten times the height of the obstruction, measured from the installation point of the measuring equipment at the station to the obstruction.

b. For surface meteorological stations, marine meteorological stations on islands, upper air meteorological stations, and agricultural meteorological stations outside cities, towns, and townships, it is the surrounding area around the station with a width equal to ten times the height of individual obstructions and twenty times the height of clustered obstructions, measured from the installation point of the measuring equipment at the station to the obstruction.

c. For marine meteorological stations on the sea, it is the water area with a radius of 500 meters from the installation point of the measuring equipment at the station.

d. For hydrological stations measuring river flow, it is the section of the river with a length equal to three times the average width of the main riverbed, but not exceeding 500 meters downstream and upstream from the flow measurement line.

đ. For all hydrological stations and marine meteorological stations with measuring equipment or structures built directly on riverbanks, lake shores, or coastal areas, in addition to the standards mentioned in Point b, c, d of Clause 1 of this Article, the technical safety corridor also includes the land area around the measuring equipment or structure with a radius of 30 meters from the installation point of the equipment or structure.

2. Depending on the nature and usage requirements, the investor of specialized meteorological and hydrological works can define different technical safety corridors for their managed works, but they must not exceed the limits set out in Clause 1 of this Article and must notify the National Centre for Hydro-meteorology in writing.

 

PART II
EXPLOITATION OF METEOROLOGICAL AND HYDROLOGICAL WORKS

Article 8. The observation and collection of meteorological and hydrological elements and phenomena, air and water environmental factors must be carried out according to meteorological and hydrological procedures, norms, and technical standards.

The Director General of the National Centre for Hydro-meteorology is responsible for drafting, promulgating, guiding, and supervising the implementation of technical procedures, norms, and standards for the exploitation of meteorological and hydrological works.

Article 9. Within the technical safety corridor of meteorological and hydrological works, activities that affect the works, measuring equipment, obstruct the observation of meteorological and hydrological factors, or alter the natural characteristics of the technical safety corridor shall not be conducted.

Temporary activities or those that do not directly impact meteorological and hydrological works within the technical safety corridor of such works may only be carried out with the consent of the direct manager of the relevant meteorological and hydrological works.

Article 10.The collection and dissemination of meteorological and hydrological information through all means shall be given special priority and must ensure completeness, accuracy, and timeliness to meet essential needs for forecasting, serving typhoon and flood prevention, disaster response, and other national requirements.

The General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology shall develop plans and guide the content of collecting and disseminating meteorological and hydrological information for relevant ministries and sectors to coordinate in implementation.

Article 11. The relocation of meteorological and hydrological works is regulated as follows:

1. Relocation of meteorological and hydrological works is only permitted in cases of genuine necessity to meet technical requirements or particularly important socio-economic requirements.

2. The Prime Minister decides on the relocation of special category meteorological and hydrological works and those included in the international reporting network.

3. The Director of the General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology decides on the relocation of other basic meteorological and hydrological works. When relocating basic meteorological and hydrological works related to national defense and security, opinions from the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security should be sought.

During the relocation of meteorological and hydrological works, simultaneous observations must be conducted at both the old and new locations according to the guidance of the General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology to ensure the uniformity and continuity of meteorological and hydrological data.

4. The project investor of specialized meteorological and hydrological works decides on the relocation of their own specialized works and simultaneously notifies the General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology within one month from the date the work at the old location ceases operation.

Article 12.Meteorological and hydrological data are classified based on the value and level of confidentiality of the data.

The confidentiality regime for meteorological and hydrological data is implemented in accordance with the provisions of the State Secrets Protection Ordinance dated October 28, 1991, and Decision No. 196/TTg dated April 28, 1994 of the Prime Minister regarding the list of state secrets in the meteorological and hydrological sector.

Article 13.

1. Original data collected from basic meteorological and hydrological works are managed and stored at storage facilities under the General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology. Copies of meteorological and hydrological data from the original are managed and stored at regional meteorological and hydrological stations under the General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology. These copies, if confirmed by the competent authority, have the same validity as the original.

2. The project investor of specialized meteorological and hydrological works is responsible for managing, storing, and using the data collected from their own works in accordance with this Decree and other current regulations. The project investor of specialized meteorological and hydrological works may negotiate with storage units under the General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology regarding the storage, utilization, and use of these types of data.

Article 14. Data collected from basic meteorological and hydrological works are registered and evaluated for quality at the General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology.

The General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology promulgates standards for evaluating data quality, organizes registration and evaluation of meteorological and hydrological data quality.

The State encourages the registration and evaluation of quality for data from specialized meteorological and hydrological works. Data from specialized meteorological and hydrological works registered and evaluated by the General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology are protected by the State regarding their legal value.

Article 15. State agencies, economic organizations, social organizations, and individuals have the right to utilize registered and quality-evaluated meteorological and hydrological data. Those who exploit and use meteorological and hydrological data not exempted from payment fees as stipulated in Article 15 of the Ordinance on Exploitation and Protection of Meteorological and Hydrological Works must pay fees.

The Ministry of Finance and the General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology shall specify the fee rates for using meteorological and hydrological data, provide guidelines for the collection, submission, and use of these fees.

Foreign organizations and individuals may exploit and use meteorological and hydrological data pursuant to permits issued by the Director of the General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology.

Only the storage facilities mentioned in Article 13 of this Decree have the right to provide meteorological and hydrological data to organizations and individuals requiring its use.

Article 16. When establishing, reviewing, and implementing comprehensive planning projects for various sectors and localities and constructing works funded by any source, the meteorological and hydrological data used in design projects must be registered and evaluated for quality in accordance with Article 14 of this Decree.

Any person who uses unregistered and unevaluated meteorological and hydrological data in the aforementioned projects and works causing damage shall bear responsibility as prescribed by law.

Article 17. The General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology and data management and storage facilities within their jurisdiction are responsible for meeting the demand for exploitation and use of meteorological and hydrological data and shall be liable for the data provided.

Article 18.Services for exploiting, analyzing, and processing meteorological and hydrological data according to users' requirements are carried out through contracts between authorized meteorological and hydrological agencies or investors of specialized meteorological and hydrological works and users in accordance with the law on contracts.

Article 19.The person provided with meteorological and hydrological data may transfer the right to use such data to another person only upon the consent of the competent meteorological and hydrological agency or the investor who has supplied such data for the specialized meteorological and hydrological works.

 

CHAPTER III
PROTECTION OF METEOROLOGICAL AND HYDROLOGICAL WORKS

Article 20. The Director General of the National Centre for Hydro-meteorology shall be responsible for:

1. Directly directing the implementation of the protection of basic meteorological and hydrological works in accordance with Article 16 of the Ordinance on Exploitation and Protection of Meteorological and Hydrological Works;

2. Developing plans and specific measures to prevent all acts of damaging meteorological and hydrological works, to prevent and mitigate losses caused by natural disasters, fires, and other risks;

3. Conducting technical inspections of meteorological and hydrological works before and after the flood and typhoon seasons each year to promptly take measures to repair and protect the works;

4. Implementing necessary measures to ensure the safety of basic meteorological and hydrological data. In case such data is damaged or at risk of losing information, they must coordinate with the State Archives Agency to develop plans to restore such data;

5. Establishing planning for the network of basic meteorological and hydrological works for each province and centrally-run city and notifying the People's Committees of those provinces and cities; establishing land files and building boundary lines for special-use lands required for meteorological and hydrological works in accordance with the Law on Land.

Article 21.The direct managers of meteorological and hydrological works are responsible for protecting the works in accordance with Article 16 of the Ordinance on Exploitation and Protection of Meteorological and Hydrological Works and the provisions of this Article.

In cases where the works are damaged or incidents occur, the direct manager must mobilize forces within the unit to quickly address the consequences, while reporting to the local People's Committee and the higher-level management authority to coordinate in resolving the issue.

For meteorological and hydrological works that are continuously monitoring typhoons, floods, and inundations and are damaged or incidents occur, the local People's Committee is responsible for proactively mobilizing necessary forces to quickly address the consequences, maintaining the monitoring, measurement, and transmission of meteorological and hydrological information.

Article 22.The prohibited acts stipulated in Clauses 1, 2, and 3 of Article 19 of the Ordinance on Exploitation and Protection of Meteorological and Hydrological Works include:

1. Damaging meteorological and hydrological works such as stealing equipment, destroying or colliding with devices and structures, moving height markers, mooring water transport means to the works, or obstructing the measurement of meteorological and hydrological factors and other damaging acts;

2. Encroaching on land within the scope of the works, violating the technical safety zone regulations of the works such as building houses, planting trees, constructing dams, building drainage culverts, setting up fishing stakes, digging riverbeds or banks within the technical safety zone of meteorological and hydrological works, obstructing monitoring, measurement, or altering the natural state of the measured meteorological and hydrological factors.

3. Obstructing the exploitation and use of meteorological and hydrological works.

Article 23. The People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities are responsible for coordinating with the National Centre for Hydro-meteorology in handling violations of meteorological and hydrological works according to the following principles:

1. Violations of meteorological and hydrological works from December 10, 1994 onwards must be considered and handled in accordance with current laws;

2. Violations of meteorological and hydrological works prior to December 10, 1994 must be resolved gradually to ensure both technical requirements for measuring meteorological and hydrological factors and practical conditions;

3. Handling violations related to important works with many difficulties and complexities requires the Chairman of the People's Committee of the province or centrally-run city and the Director General of the National Centre for Hydro-meteorology to propose solutions for the Prime Minister's consideration and decision.

 

PART IV
STATE MANAGEMENT OF THE EXPLOITATION AND PROTECTION OF METEOROLOGICAL AND HYDROLOGICAL WORKS

Article 24. The Government prioritizes investment capital for the construction, renovation, exploitation, and protection of meteorological and hydrological works in remote areas and distant islands.

Article 25.The Director General of the National Centre for Hydro-meteorology shall submit to the Prime Minister for issuance of legal regulatory documents on:

1. Management, exploitation, and protection of meteorological and hydrological works;

2. Policies to encourage, protect the legitimate rights and interests of domestic and foreign organizations and individuals in cooperation for investment, scientific research, application of technological progress and technology in the exploitation and protection of meteorological and hydrological works.

Article 26.The Director General of the National Centre for Hydro-meteorology shall issue legal regulatory documents, procedures, norms, and technical standards of the industry regarding the exploitation and protection of meteorological and hydrological works and the evaluation of the quality of meteorological and hydrological data, guiding and supervising the implementation of these documents.

Article 27.The National Centre for Hydro-meteorology shall organize the review of technical standards on meteorology and hydrology for economic and technical justifications for the construction, renovation, expansion, and upgrading of meteorological and hydrological works.

Article 28.The organization of registration, issuance, and revocation of permits for specialized meteorological and hydrological works shall be regulated by the Director General of the National Centre for Hydro-meteorology and must be notified to relevant sectors and localities within six months from the date this Decree takes effect.

Organizations with specialized meteorological and hydrological works must register their works with the National Centre for Hydro-meteorology within six months from the date they receive notification from the National Centre for Hydro-meteorology.

Article 29.The Director General of the National Centre for Hydro-meteorology shall define the functions, tasks, and organizational structure of archives for meteorological and hydrological data under the National Centre for Hydro-meteorology.

Article 30.The State Archives Agency shall be responsible for guiding the National Centre for Hydro-meteorology in implementing the system for managing archival work of meteorological and hydrological data, organizing unified archiving; coordinating in training specialized archivists in meteorology and hydrology.

Article 31. The Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security are responsible for submitting to the Prime Minister for issuance of regulatory documents on the exploitation and protection of specialized meteorological and hydrological works serving national defense and security after consulting the opinions of the General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology.

Article 32.The General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology performs the function of specialized inspection regarding the exploitation and protection of meteorological and hydrological works. The contents, powers, and tasks of specialized meteorological and hydrological inspections are carried out in accordance with the provisions of Articles 26 and 27 of the Ordinance on Exploitation and Protection of Meteorological and Hydrological Works.

The Director of the General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology shall provide detailed regulations on the organization, tasks, powers, procedures, and activities of specialized meteorological and hydrological inspections.

 

CHAPTER V
REWARD AND VIOLATION HANDLING

Article 33. Organizations and individuals who have achievements in the exploitation and protection of meteorological and hydrological works, detecting and preventing acts of infringement against meteorological and hydrological works shall be rewarded according to the general regulations of the State. The Director of the General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology directly reviews and rewards organizations and individuals with such achievements.

Article 34.Persons infringing upon meteorological and hydrological works, violating laws on the exploitation and protection of meteorological and hydrological works shall be subject to administrative handling or criminal prosecution depending on the nature, degree of violation, and consequences caused.

Article 35. Persons assigned the task of managing, exploiting, and protecting meteorological and hydrological works who lack a sense of responsibility causing damage to the works, losing data, or adversely affecting the quality of meteorological and hydrological materials; taking advantage of their positions and powers to cover up for persons committing violations of the law, making decisions contrary to the law or technical regulations on the exploitation and protection of meteorological and hydrological works causing damage to the works, shall be subject to disciplinary action, administrative handling, or criminal prosecution depending on the nature, degree of violation, and consequences arising.

Article 36.Persons committing violations of the law in the management, exploitation, and protection of meteorological and hydrological works causing damage to others' property, health, or life, or causing damage to organizations owning meteorological and hydrological works, in addition to being handled according to the provisions of Articles 34 and 35 above, must also compensate for damages caused by themselves according to the law.

 

Chapter VI
IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 37. This Decree takes effect fifteen days from the date of signature.

The Director of the General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology is responsible for guiding and directing the implementation of this Decree.

Article 38. All previous regulations contrary to this Decree are hereby abolished.

The Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of government agencies, Chairpersons of People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities are responsible for implementing this Decree./.