Decree No. 26/2017/NĐ-CP on the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

DECREE

Regulations on functions, tasks, powers

and organizational structure of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

______________

Pursuant to the Law on Government Organization dated June 19, 2015;

Pursuant to DecreeNo. 123/2016/NĐ-CP dated September 1, 2016, issued by the Government, stipulates the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of ministries and ministerial-level agencies.of the Government stipulating functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Home Affairsu t, amended and supplemented by Decree No. 109/2025/NĐ-CP and Decree No. 193/2025/NĐ-CP The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is a government agency responsible for state management in foreign affairs, including diplomatic work, border issues, national territory, work with overseas Vietnamese communities, signing and implementing international treaties and agreements, managing Vietnamese representative offices abroad (hereinafter referred to as Vietnamese representative offices abroad) and activities of foreign representative offices in Vietnam; state management of public services within the scope of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' state management as prescribed by law.

At the proposal of the Minister of Foreign Affairs;

The Government promulgates this Decree stipulating the functions, duties, powers and organizational structure of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Article 1. Position and Functions

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs performs its tasks and powers as stipulated in Decree No. 123/2016/NĐ-CP dated September 1, 2016, issued by the Government, which stipulates the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of ministries and ministerial-level agencies, and the following specific tasks and powers:

b) Draft five-year and annual socio-economic development plans for the province; major economic and social balances for the province; draft five-year and annual plans, programs, projects, measures to organize and implement tasks related to socio-economic development, finance-budget, planning-investment, and other tasks within the scope of state management of the Department of Finance as prescribed by law;

1. Submit to the Government draft laws, draft resolutions of the National Assembly, draft ordinances, draft resolutions of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly, and draft decrees of the Government according to the annual legislative program and plan of the Government, and other resolutions, projects, and programs assigned by the Government and the Prime Minister.

2. Submit to the Government and the Prime Minister strategies, plans, long-term, medium-term, and annual development plans, important projects, and programs of national targets in fields under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' state management.

5. Direct, guide, inspect, and organize the implementation of regulatory legal documents, strategies, plans, and national target programs under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' state management after approval; organize information dissemination, legal education, and monitoring of law enforcement in fields under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' state management.

3. Submitting draft decisions, directives, and other documents concerning sectors and fields under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' jurisdiction or as assigned by the Government and Prime Minister to the Prime Minister.

4. Issuing circulars and other documents on state management over sectors and fields under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' jurisdiction.

a) Take the lead and coordinate with ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and related agencies to develop national foreign affairs activity plans; compile foreign affairs activity plans of ministries, ministerial-level agencies, related agencies, and localities; guide the organization of implementation and require ministries, ministerial-level agencies, related agencies, and localities to report periodically and urgently on the implementation of foreign affairs activities.

a) Taking the lead and coordinating with ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and related agencies to develop national foreign affairs activity plans; compiling foreign affairs activity plans of ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and related agencies and localities; guiding the organization of implementation and requiring ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and related agencies and localities to report periodically and urgently on the implementation of foreign affairs activities;

c) Take the lead and coordinate with related agencies to direct, inspect, and urge ministries, ministerial-level agencies, related agencies, and localities to implement policies and legal provisions to ensure unified management of foreign affairs activities.

c) Taking the lead and coordinating with relevant agencies to direct, inspect, and urge ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and related agencies and localities to implement policies and regulations of the law to ensure unified management of foreign affairs activities.

8. Take the lead and coordinate with ministries, ministerial-level agencies, related agencies, and localities to protect the sovereignty and interests of the State, and the legitimate rights and interests of organizations and citizens of Vietnam abroad in accordance with Vietnamese law and international law.

8. Taking the lead and coordinating with ministries, ministerial-level agencies, related agencies, and localities to protect the sovereignty and interests of the State, and the legitimate rights and interests of organizations and Vietnamese citizens abroad in accordance with Vietnamese law and international law.

b) Take the lead in researching, compiling, and proposing strategic and predictive issues related to the world situation, international relations, international law, Vietnam's political, economic, cultural relations, and other areas under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' state management.

9. Regarding research and strategic advisory work:

a) Provide timely information and advice to the Government and the Prime Minister on issues related to the world situation and Vietnam's international relations;

c) Recommend the Prime Minister to submit to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly for approval the nomination and removal of ambassadors; recommend the Prime Minister to submit to the President for decision on dispatching and recalling ambassadors, permanent representatives of Vietnam to the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, and representatives of the President at international organizations.

10. Regarding representation in state foreign affairs activities:

a) Represent the State in diplomatic relations with countries and intergovernmental international organizations; conduct state foreign affairs activities as prescribed by law;

d) Appoint and recall permanent representatives of Vietnam to international organizations, except as provided in point c of this clause; heads of Vietnamese consular offices abroad; decide on the appointment and removal of honorary consuls abroad.

a) Implement state management over diplomatic protocol and diplomatic privileges and immunities as prescribed by law; guide and manage the implementation of diplomatic privileges and immunities and diplomatic protocol for foreign representative offices in Vietnam and Vietnamese representative offices abroad in accordance with Vietnamese law, international law, and international practice.

b) Research, forecast, and provide information on international economic issues and international economic relations; coordinate in advising and building policies to serve economic development and international economic integration; handle issues arising from foreign economic relations as assigned by the Government and the Prime Minister; take the lead and coordinate in political and diplomatic efforts to support foreign economic activities.

11. Regarding state protocol work:

d) Take the lead and coordinate with ministries, ministerial-level agencies, related agencies, and localities to enhance the effectiveness of Vietnam's participation in international and regional economic cooperation mechanisms and forums as assigned by the Government and the Prime Minister.

b) Implement the approval of diplomatic representatives of countries and international organizations in Vietnam and Vietnamese diplomatic representatives abroad;

c) Preparing and serving state delegations visiting other countries or attending international conferences; organizing receptions for high-level delegations from other countries and international organizations visiting Vietnam in accordance with the provisions of the law.

12. Regarding economic diplomacy work:

a) Establish bilateral and multilateral political relations and legal frameworks aimed at promoting Vietnam's foreign economic activities and international economic integration;

d) Manage and grant permission for foreign press activities in Vietnam and accompanying foreign delegations visiting Vietnam within the scope of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' authority and as prescribed by law.

c) Take the lead and coordinate with ministries, equivalent agencies, relevant agencies, and localities in building and implementing policies, programs, and economic diplomacy activities;

b) Implement consular legalization, consular certification, judicial delegation, civil status, nationality, entry, and exit procedures for Vietnamese citizens and foreigners under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' jurisdiction as prescribed by law.

13. Regarding cultural diplomacy work:

a) Develop the legal basis and policies for cultural diplomacy; advise on handling issues related to cultural diplomacy as assigned by the Government and the Prime Minister;

b) Take the lead and coordinate with ministries, equivalent agencies, localities, and relevant agencies in managing and implementing cultural diplomacy work;

c) Perform the duties of Chairman and Secretariat of the National Committee for UNESCO of Vietnam; act as the permanent body of the National Committee for UNESCO of Vietnam;

14. Regarding external information work:

a) Take the lead in implementing overseas external information activities;

b) Lead the monitoring, research, and compilation of foreign media opinions to serve foreign information work;

c) Announce Vietnam's official stance and viewpoints on international and external issues; organize international press conferences within the scope of authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and as prescribed by law;

c) Manage and direct consular work of provincial and centrally-administered city foreign affairs agencies in accordance with the law.

đ) Manage the electronic information portal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Vietnamese representative offices abroad serving external information work;

15. Regarding consular work:

a) Protect the interests of the State, the rights and legitimate interests of Vietnamese citizens and legal entities abroad in accordance with Vietnamese law and international law;

b) Carry out consular legalization work, consular certification, judicial commission, civil status, nationality, exit and entry for Vietnamese citizens and foreign nationals under the management of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as provided by law;

c) Manage and direct consular work of provincial and centrally-administered city diplomatic agencies in accordance with the provisions of law;

d) Perform other consular tasks as prescribed by law, as assigned by the Government and the Prime Minister, and in accordance with international treaties to which Vietnam is a party;

a) Develop policies and measures to promote legal, safe, and orderly international migration consistent with Vietnam's conditions and international practice;

a) Take the lead and coordinate with relevant agencies in developing policies on international migration issues that are suitable to Vietnam's conditions and international practices;

b) Take the lead and coordinate with relevant agencies in guiding and inspecting work related to the migration activities of Vietnamese citizens abroad;

a) Study, compile situations, propose and implement policies, laws concerning Vietnamese people abroad;

a) Take the lead and coordinate with relevant agencies and organizations in researching, compiling situations, proposing, and implementing policies towards Vietnamese citizens abroad;

b) Take the lead and coordinate with relevant agencies and organizations in guiding and inspecting the implementation of work towards Vietnamese citizens abroad;

c) Organize, support, and guide Vietnamese organizations and individuals abroad in their connections with the domestic country and vice versa, contributing to national development;

d) Support and create favorable conditions for Vietnamese citizens abroad to stabilize their lives, integrate into the social life of the host country, and preserve the national cultural identity of Vietnam;

18. Regarding borders and national territory:

a) To take the lead and coordinate with ministries, ministerial-level agencies, relevant agencies, and localities to conduct research, synthesis, inspection, evaluation of the situation regarding border management, national territory, airspace, maritime zones, islands, and the continental shelf of Vietnam; resolve disputes, struggle to protect borders, territorial integrity, sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction of Vietnam on land, airspace, maritime zones, islands, and the continental shelf; propose policies and appropriate management measures;

b) To take the lead and coordinate with ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and relevant agencies to advise on determining the national borders, maritime zones, and the continental shelf of Vietnam; determine the scope of sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction of Vietnam on land, airspace, maritime zones, islands, and the continental shelf;

c) To take the lead and coordinate with ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and relevant localities to develop plans for delineating national borders; determine the limits of the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf of Vietnam with neighboring countries;

d) To take the lead and coordinate with ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and relevant localities to implement international legal documents concerning borders; delimit and mark national boundaries based on international treaties on border demarcation signed between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and neighboring countries; direct, guide the organization of implementation, and require ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and relevant localities to report periodically or urgently on border management and protection work;

đ) To submit to the Prime Minister for handling or guiding handling within their authority issues arising from the activities of ministries, ministerial-level agencies, agencies, and localities related to the sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction of Vietnam on land, airspace, maritime zones, islands, and the continental shelf;

19. Regarding the management of Vietnamese representative offices abroad:

a) To be responsible before the Government for state management over Vietnamese representative offices abroad; direct and inspect the implementation of the State's foreign policy and the functions and duties of Vietnamese representative offices abroad and members of such offices according to the provisions of the law;

b) Organize the implementation of legal provisions on the organization and staffing of Vietnamese representative offices abroad;

c) Appoint, relieve from office, dispatch, and recall members of Vietnamese representative offices abroad as prescribed by law;

d) Guide and organize the management and use of assets, material infrastructure, technology, and funds of Vietnamese agencies abroad as prescribed by law;

20. Regarding the management of external activities of representatives of agencies and organizations of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam abroad (hereinafter referred to collectively as Vietnamese agencies and organizations abroad), and Vietnamese delegations sent abroad for official duties:

a) To guide and inspect the implementation of the State's policies, tasks, and authorities of Vietnamese agencies and organizations abroad, and Vietnamese delegations sent abroad for official duties according to the provisions of the law;

b) To take the lead and coordinate with ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and relevant agencies to support and create conditions for Vietnamese agencies and organizations abroad to perform their functions, tasks, and authorities according to the laws of Vietnam, the receiving country, and international law;

21. To manage the activities of diplomatic representative offices, consular representative offices, honorary consulates of foreign countries, and representative offices of intergovernmental international organizations located in Vietnam according to the laws of Vietnam and international law;

22. Manage foreign non-governmental organizations in Vietnam; issue, extend, amend, supplement, and revoke registration certificates of foreign non-governmental organizations in Vietnam according to the provisions of law;

23. Regarding treaty and international agreement work:

a) Implement state management over treaty and international agreement work;

b) Review proposals for signing and joining international treaties submitted by ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and related agencies before submitting them to the Government;

c) Chair and coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Public Security, and related agencies to propose negotiations on international treaties related to war, peace, and national sovereignty;

d) To take the lead and coordinate with ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and relevant agencies to assess the compatibility of draft laws, ordinances, decrees with relevant international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a party;

đ) To take the lead and coordinate with relevant agencies and organizations to build and operate a database on international treaties of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam;

24. Chair and coordinate with related agencies to develop and implement policies of Vietnam at multilateral forums on the development of international law.

25. To manage organizational structures, staffing of officials, civil servants, public officials, and employees under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' jurisdiction according to the provisions of the law; implement salary systems and other policies for officials, civil servants, public officials, and employees under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' jurisdiction according to the provisions of the law;

26. To inspect and check the implementation of legal provisions in areas under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' state management; organize citizen reception, handle complaints and denunciations; prevent and combat corruption, waste, and handle violations of the law in areas under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' state management according to the provisions of the law;

27. Manage and utilize financial resources, assets, material infrastructure, technical equipment, and allocated budget in accordance with the provisions of the law.

28. To decide and direct the implementation of administrative reform programs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs according to goals and programs, plans for state administrative reform approved by the Government and the Prime Minister;

29. Implement public service activities in areas under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' administrative jurisdiction according to the provisions of law;

30. Perform other tasks and powers assigned by the Government or the Prime Minister, or as prescribed by law;

Article 3. Organizational Structure

1. Department of ASEAN.

2. Department of Europe.

3. Department of America.

4. Department of Northeast Asia.

5. Department of Southeast Asia - South Asia - South Pacific.

6. Department of the Middle East - Africa.

7. Department of Foreign Policy.

8. Department of International Organizations.

9. Department of Law and International Treaties.

10. Department of Multilateral Economic Cooperation;

11. Department of Economic Synthesis.

12. Department of Cultural Diplomacy and UNESCO.

13. Department of Information and Press.

14. Department of Awards and Merit Promotion and Diplomatic Tradition.

15. Cadre and Civil Servant Management Department.

16. Office of the Ministry.

17. Inspectorate of the Ministry.

18. Cryptographic Bureau.

19. Consular Bureau.

20. Consular Service Bureau.

21. State Reception Bureau.

22. Administrative Financial Management Bureau;

23. Ho Chi Minh City Department of Foreign Affairs;

24. State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese.

25. National Border Commission.

26. Diplomatic Academy;

27. World and Vietnam Newspaper;

28. The Center for Foreign Press Guidance.

29. National Translation and Interpretation Center.

30. Information Center.

31. Vietnamese representative offices abroad.

Organizations specified from Clause 1 to Clause 25 of this Article are organizations assisting the Minister of Foreign Affairs in performing state management functions; organizations specified from Clause 26 to Clause 30 of this Article are public service units under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;

The organizations specified in Clause 31 of this Article are Vietnamese representative offices abroad established by the Government and directly managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Departments: Europe, Cadre Organization shall be organized into 06 rooms; Department of Law and International Treaties shall be organized into 04 rooms; Departments: Americas, Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia - South Asia - South Pacific, Middle East - Africa shall be organized into 03 rooms; Inspectorate of the Ministry shall be organized into 02 rooms; Office of the Ministry shall be organized into 09 rooms;

The Consular Service Bureau has nine divisions; the Administrative and Financial Management Bureau has eight divisions; the Consular Bureau of Ho Chi Minh City has six divisions; the Cryptographic Bureau and the State Reception Bureau have four divisions each; the Consular Bureau has three divisions.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs shall submit to the Prime Minister for regulations on the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the National Committee for Overseas Vietnamese, the National Border Commission, the Diplomatic Academy; submit to the Prime Minister for issuance of the list of other public service units directly under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;

The Minister of Foreign Affairs shall regulate the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of subordinate organizations, except for organizations specified from Clause 24 to Clause 26 of this Article;

Article 4. Effective date

1. This Decree takes effect from the date of issuance.

2. This Decree replaces Decree No. 58/2013/NĐ-CP dated June 11, 2013, of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Article 5. Responsibilities for Implementation

Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government agencies, Chairpersons of provincial and centrally-administered city People's Committees, and relevant agencies and organizations are responsible for implementing this Decree./.