Regulations on spokesperson activities and information provision to the press for administrative state agencies

 

DECREE

REGULATIONS ON SPEAKING OUT AND PROVIDING INFORMATION TO THE PRESS BY STATE ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANIZATIONS

Pursuant to the Law on Government Organization No. 63/2025/QH15;

Pursuant to the Law on Local Administration Organization No. 72/2025/QH15;

Pursuant to the Press Law No. 126/2025/QH15;

At the proposal of the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism;

The Government promulgates this Decree to provide detailed regulations on speaking out and providing information to the press by state administrative organizations.

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Decree provides detailed regulations on Clause 5, Article 31 of the Press Law regarding spokespersons, speaking out systems, and providing information to the press by state administrative organizations.

Article 2. Applicability

This Decree applies to:

1. State administrative organizations include:

a) The Government, ministries, and agencies at the ministerial level; People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities (hereinafter referred to collectively as provincial-level People's Committees);

b) Departments and equivalent bodies under ministries and agencies at the ministerial level (hereinafter referred to collectively as departments), provincial-level organizations under ministries and agencies at the ministerial level organized vertically and located in localities and regions;

c) Departments and inspection bodies under provincial-level People's Committees; district-level agencies and equivalents under departments located in localities and regions (hereinafter referred to collectively as district-level agencies);

d) People's Committees of communes, wards, and special zones (hereinafter referred to collectively as commune-level People's Committees).

2. Press organizations, journalists, reporters, and other organizations and individuals participating in press activities in Vietnam.

Article 3. Spokesperson

1. A spokesperson is a representative who speaks on behalf of state administrative organizations to provide information to the press for the purpose of officially announcing the views of state administrative organizations through forms prescribed in Article 5 of this Decree.

2. Spokespersons include:

a) Heads of state administrative organizations;

b) Persons assigned by the head of a state administrative organization to be regular spokespersons;

c) Persons with responsibilities within state administrative organizations authorized by the head to perform spokesperson duties (hereinafter referred to collectively as authorized spokespersons) on specific issues assigned to them.

3. The name, position, telephone number, and official email address of the spokesperson specified in point b, Clause 2 of this Article must be published on the official website or electronic portal of the state administrative organization within 24 hours from the date of the decision assigning the spokesperson task.

Ministries and agencies at the ministerial level are responsible for publishing, publicly disclosing, and updating the list of spokespersons of their own organizations, departments, and provincial-level organizations under ministries and agencies at the ministerial level organized vertically and located in localities and regions, and district-level agencies when there are changes.

Provincial-level People's Committees are responsible for publishing, publicly disclosing, and updating the list of spokespersons of provincial-level People's Committees, departments, and inspections under provincial-level People's Committees, and commune-level People's Committees when there are changes.

4. If the spokesperson specified in point b, Clause 2 of this Article cannot perform speaking out and providing information to the press, they must report to the head of the state administrative organization to authorize a person with responsibility within their organization to perform the spokesperson duties.

5. The authorization for spokesperson duties specified in point c, Clause 2 of this Article shall be carried out in writing, applied to specific cases, and have a definite time limit.

6. The spokespersons specified in points b and c, Clause 2 of this Article may not delegate further to others.

7. Information provided by individuals from state administrative organizations who are not spokespersons as specified in Clause 2 of this Article is not considered the official view of the state administrative organization.

Individuals from state administrative organizations who are not spokespersons as specified in Clause 2 of this Article bear legal responsibility for the content of the information they provide to the press.

Article 4. Rights and responsibilities of spokespersons

1. The head of state administrative agencies may directly speak out or assign tasks or delegate authority to perform speaking out and providing information to the press in accordance with point b and point c, Clause 2, Article 3 of this Decree.

2. Spokespersons have the right to request units and individuals under the administrative agency to provide information, collect information for speaking out, regularly and urgently provide information to the press in accordance with Articles 6 and 7 of this Decree; to respond to reflections, suggestions, criticisms, complaints, and denunciations from organizations and citizens transferred by the press or published on the press in accordance with the law.

Units and individuals are responsible for providing complete, timely, and accurate information according to the requirements of the spokesperson.

3. Spokespersons have the right to refuse to speak out and provide information to the press in cases stipulated in Clause 2, Article 31 of the Press Law; when refusing, they must clearly state the reasons for the press to know.

4. Spokespersons are responsible for speaking out and providing information to the press in accordance with Articles 6 and 7 of this Decree and are accountable under the law, before the head of the state administrative agency (for those assigned tasks or delegated authority to speak out) regarding the content of speaking out and information provided to the press.

Chapter II

PUBLIC STATEMENTS AND PROVISION OF INFORMATION TO THE PRESS

Article 5. Forms of speaking out and providing information to the press

1. Organizing press conferences (in person or online).

2. Publishing speaking out content and providing information on the Government Portal, website, page, channel, account on social networks or official digital platforms of the state administrative agency. Official pages, channels, accounts on social networks of the state administrative agency must be announced on the Government Portal or the website of the state administrative agency.

3. Speaking out directly or answering press interviews.

4. Sending press releases, written responses, or through email.

5. Providing information through direct exchanges or at press briefings organized by the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Vietnam Journalists Association at the central level; Provincial Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Departments, specialized agencies under provincial People's Committees, and provincial journalists associations at the local level upon request.

Article 6. Regular Information Provision

1. The Minister, Head of the Government Office shall take the lead and coordinate with Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Chairmen of provincial People's Committees to organize regular provision of information to the press once a month about the activities and guidance and management work of the Government and Prime Minister through press conferences, sending press releases, answering press interviews, and publishing on the Government Portal.

The Government Information and Communication Agency is responsible for updating current regulations to promptly and accurately provide official information to news agencies nationwide.

2. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, provincial People's Committees shall organize regular provision of information to the press about their operational situation, task implementation results, and issues of public concern within their jurisdiction, as follows:

a) Monthly provision of information to the press and updating information on the agency's Portal or website in accordance with the Government's regulations on information provision and online public services on the agency's website or Portal; pages, channels, accounts on social networks or official digital platforms of the state administrative agency;

b) Organizing press conferences at least once every three months to provide information to the press;

c) Organizing provision of information to the press in writing or through forms prescribed in Article 5 of this Decree;

d) Providing information directly at weekly press briefings organized by the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Vietnam Journalists Association when necessary;

đ) Promptly and accurately providing information for publication and broadcast on the Government Portal in accordance with regulations.

3. State administrative agencies specified in points b, c, and d, Clause 1, Article 2 of this Decree shall organize regular provision of information to the press about their operational situation, task implementation results, and issues of public concern within their jurisdiction, as follows:

a) Providing information to the press and updating information on the agency's Portal or website in accordance with the Government's regulations on information provision and online public services on the agency's website or Portal; pages, channels, accounts on social networks or official digital platforms of the state administrative agency;

b) Appointing spokespersons to provide information at press conferences of ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and provincial People's Committees when requested;

c) Organizing provision of information to the press in writing or through forms prescribed in Article 5 of this Decree;

d) Departments and inspection bodies under provincial People's Committees, provincial organizations under ministries and ministerial-level agencies established vertically in localities, district bureaus, and village People's Committees may provide information directly at press briefings organized by the Provincial Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Departments, Provincial Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism, or Provincial Departments of Culture and Sports and Provincial Journalists Associations;

đ) Promptly and accurately providing information to the Portal, website of ministries, ministerial-level agencies, provincial People's Committees, bureaus in accordance with current regulations and the Government Portal (if necessary).

Article 7. Spontaneous Statements in Emergency Situations

1. In cases where national incidents related to national defense, national security, public order, social safety, community health occur, except for situations declared as a state of emergency, martial law, curfew, and other cases stipulated by specialized laws, the Prime Minister or the Government spokesperson shall immediately issue statements and provide information to the press after the incident occurs and continuously during the handling process.

2. For incidents involving two or more ministries, sectors, provinces, or cities, the spokespersons of ministries, agencies at the ministerial level, or provincial People's Committees assigned by the Government to lead the handling process shall unify contents with relevant agencies to issue statements and provide information to the press continuously during the handling process.

3. When significant events or issues with substantial impact on society within the administrative management scope of state administrative agencies occur, except for cases stipulated in Clause 1 and Clause 2 of this Article, the spokesperson must issue statements and provide initial information to the press no later than 24 hours from the time the state administrative agency receives and processes the case according to its authority, to promptly warn, guide public opinion, and prevent communication crises and the spread of false or inaccurate information.

4. When there are many inconsistent opinions in public opinion about an issue within the administrative management scope of state administrative agencies, except for cases stipulated in Clause 1 and Clause 2 of this Article, the spokesperson must issue statements and provide initial information to the press no later than 24 hours from the time the state administrative agency determines that the event has an impact or potential impact on public opinion, to promptly warn, guide public opinion, and prevent communication crises and the spread of false or inaccurate information.

5. When the press or the press guidance agency, or the state management agency for the press requests statements or provision of information regarding events or issues of the agency or sector under its management mentioned in the press or those specified in Clause 3 and Clause 4 of this Article.

6. When there is evidence that the press publishes or broadcasts false information about the area or territory under their management, the spokesperson shall respond in writing, clearly stating the basis, requesting corrections and apologies in accordance with the law.

Article 8. Responsibilities of Heads of State Administrative Agencies in Organizing Statements and Providing Information to the Press

1. The head of a state administrative agency is responsible for statements and providing information to the press by the agency, including when assigning tasks or delegating authority to others to make statements and provide information to the press.

2. The head of a state administrative agency shall pay attention and create conditions for individuals assigned to make statements and those delegated to make statements to be trained and developed in communication skills, making statements, and providing information to the press.

3. The head of a state administrative agency shall promulgate and organize the implementation of internal regulations on making statements and providing information to the press; organize directives and inspections of information preparation and the statement system of the agency, ensuring unified, timely, and lawful information provision within the agency; bear responsibility for delays in statements, avoiding information provision, or inconsistent information provision within the management scope.

Article 9. Responsibilities of news agencies, journalists, and reporters

1. News agencies, journalists, and reporters have the responsibility to publish, broadcast, and reflect truthfully, objectively, and fully the content of information provided by spokespersons; when translating into another language, they must accurately use international technical terms and not alter the essence of the original information; at the same time, they must clearly state the name of the spokesperson and the name of the administrative state agency.

2. News agencies that publish or broadcast the correct content of information provided by spokespersons shall not be held responsible for the content of such information.

3. News agencies must publish the feedback opinions of spokespersons and implement corrections and apologies according to the provisions of the law for contents published inaccurately or falsely.

Article 10. Reporting System

1. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and provincial People's Committees have the responsibility to submit reports on spokesperson activities and information provision to the press electronically (according to the form issued together with this Decree) to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for consolidation, reporting to the Government, and implementing the announcement of the results of spokesperson activities and information provision to the press by administrative state agencies before December 20 each year.

2. The reporting data period runs from December 15 of the previous year to December 14 of the reporting year.

Chapter III

IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 11. Effective Date

1. This Decree shall take effect from July 1, 2026.

2. Decree No. 09/2017/NĐ-CP dated February 9, 2017, of the Government detailing the provisions on spokesperson activities and information provision to the press by administrative state agencies ceases to be effective from the date this Decree takes effect.

Article 12. Transitional Provisions

Administrative state agencies that have not yet issued internal regulations on spokesperson activities and information provision to the press shall, within 45 days from the date this Decree takes effect, be responsible for drafting and issuing internal regulations on spokesperson activities and information provision to the press of their agencies.

Article 13. Responsibility for Implementation

1. The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism is responsible for organizing, urging, and inspecting the implementation of this Decree.

2. Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, Chairpersons of provincial People's Committees, and related organizations and individuals are responsible for enforcing this Decree.