Law on Surveying and Mapping No. 27/2018/QH14

LAW

SURVEYING AND MAPPING

 

On the basis of The Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam;

The National Assembly enacts the Surveying and Mapping Law.

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Law regulates basic surveying and mapping activities; specialized surveying and mapping activities; quality of surveying and mapping products; surveying infrastructure works; information, data, and surveying and mapping products; national spatial data infrastructure; conditions for operating surveying and mapping services; rights and obligations of organizations and individuals engaged in surveying and mapping activities; state management of surveying and mapping.

Article 2. Applicability

This Law applies to agencies, organizations, and individuals conducting surveying and mapping activities; exploiting and using surveying and mapping information, data, and products; or engaging in other activities related to surveying and mapping within the territory of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Article 3. Explanation of Terms

In this Law, the following terms shall be understood as follows:

1. Geographic object is a real-world entity or phenomenon, or a description of an entity or phenomenon that does not exist in the real world at a specific geographic location on land, underground, on water, underwater, at the bottom of water, or in space.

2. Surveying is the act of collecting and processing information and data to determine the position, shape, size, and attribute information of geographic objects.

3. Map is a generalized model representing geographic objects at a certain scale, according to mathematical rules, using a system of standardized symbols based on the results of surveying information and data processing.

4. Surveying and mapping activity includes surveying geographic objects; constructing and operating surveying infrastructure works, geographic databases; establishing maps, producing other surveying and mapping products. Surveying and mapping activities include basic surveying and mapping activities and specialized surveying and mapping activities.

5. Surveying marker is a fixed marker constructed on the ground according to technical standards used to indicate the position of surveying points. Surveying markers include national surveying markers and specialized surveying markers.

6. National coordinate system is a mathematical coordinate system in space and on the plane established at a specific time point and uniformly used throughout the country to represent surveying and mapping results.

7. International coordinate system is a mathematical coordinate system in space and on the plane established at a specific time point and widely used around the world to represent surveying and mapping results.

8. National height system is a height system established at a specific time point and uniformly used throughout the country to determine the height value of geographic objects.

9. National gravity system is a gravity system established at a specific time point and uniformly used throughout the country to determine Earth's gravitational values on the territory of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

10. Satellite positioning station is a fixed station on the ground used to receive satellite positioning signals, process, and communicate information to serve surveying and mapping activities.

11. Protective zone for surveying infrastructure works is the airspace, land area, underground area, underwater area necessary to ensure that surveying infrastructure works operate in compliance with technical standards and regulations during construction.

12. Topographic map is a map showing topographic features, terrain objects, and place names according to coordinate systems, height systems, at a specified scale.

13. National topographic map system is a set of topographic maps on mainland, islands, archipelagos, and seabed topographic maps built according to national technical standards and specifications, prescribed scales, in the national coordinate system and national height system for uniform use throughout the country.

14. Geospatial data is data about the geographic location and attributes of geographic objects.

15. Base geospatial data is geospatial data serving as a basis for building other geospatial data.

16. Geographic database is a collection of organized geospatial data.

17. Place name is the name of a geographic object, which is a real-world entity associated with a specific geographic location.

18. Border map is a map showing the national border on land, sea, underground, and in the air determined according to international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a party or as provided by Vietnamese law.

19. Administrative map is a map showing territorial division according to administrative units.

20. Standard national border map is a border map established in the national coordinate system and national height system.

21. Nautical chart is a map showing seabed depth, terrain objects, place names, and information related to maritime activities and other activities at sea.

22. Civil aviation map is a map showing terrain, terrain objects, place names, and information related to civil aviation activities.

23. Underground works map is a map showing planning, zoning, current status of underground and underwater works.

24. Published map product is a map published or another publication product using map images in any form.

Article 4. Basic principles in surveying and mapping activities

1. Ensuring national sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity, national defense, security, social order and safety; meeting international integration requirements; being consistent with international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a member; promptly applying scientific and technological progress.

2. Surveying and mapping information, data, and products must be updated, provided fully, accurately, and timely, meeting requirements for socio-economic development, national defense, security, natural resource management and environmental protection, disaster prevention and mitigation, rescue operations, response to climate change, and enhancing public awareness.

3. Surveying infrastructure, information, data, and surveying and mapping products shall be managed and protected in accordance with this Law and other relevant laws; surveying infrastructure, information, data, and surveying and mapping products constructed using state budget funds are public assets and must be inherited and used collectively.

4. Specialized surveying and mapping activities must utilize information, data, and products from basic surveying and mapping activities.

5. The basic surveying and mapping database must serve as the foundation for the national geographic spatial data.

Article 5. State policy on surveying and mapping

1. Investment in developing surveying and mapping activities to meet state management requirements, socio-economic development, ensuring national defense and security.

2. Prioritizing investment in surveying and mapping activities serving disaster prevention and mitigation, rescue operations, environmental incident remediation, response to climate change; developing and applying national geographic spatial data infrastructure; researching, applying, and developing advanced and modern surveying and mapping technologies.

3. Encouraging organizations and individuals to invest in research and application of high-tech, advanced, and new technologies; training and developing high-level human resources in the field of surveying and mapping.

4. Creating favorable conditions for organizations and individuals to access, exploit, and use surveying and mapping information, data, products, and national geographic spatial data infrastructure; participating in surveying and mapping activities.

Article 6. Prohibited acts in surveying and mapping activities

1. Forgery, distortion of surveying and mapping data and results.

2. Destruction, damage to surveying infrastructure; violation of the protective zone around surveying infrastructure.

3. Conducting surveying and mapping activities without meeting the conditions stipulated by law.

4. Publishing and circulating surveying and mapping products, map publications related to national territorial sovereignty without reflecting or incorrectly reflecting national sovereignty and borders.

5. Obstructing legitimate surveying and mapping activities of agencies, organizations, and individuals.

6. Exploiting surveying and mapping activities to infringe upon national and ethnic interests, lawful rights and interests of organizations and individuals.

7. Disseminating or leaking surveying and mapping information, data, and products listed in the state secrets directory.

Article 7. Scientific and technological activities in surveying and mapping

1. Scientific and technological activities in surveying and mapping shall be carried out in accordance with this Law and laws on science and technology.

2. Priority scientific and technological activities in surveying and mapping include:

a) Researching the scientific basis to improve the institutional and legal framework for surveying and mapping;

b) Researching and developing, applying, and transferring high-tech, advanced, and new technologies in basic surveying and mapping activities; specialized surveying and mapping activities serving national defense, security, disaster prevention and mitigation, rescue operations, environmental incident remediation, response to climate change;

c) Researching and developing national geographic spatial data infrastructure;

d) Fundamental research on Earth using advanced and modern surveying and mapping methods.

3. Encouraging and creating favorable conditions for organizations and individuals to carry out scientific and technological activities as stipulated in Clause 2 of this Article.

Article 8. International Cooperation on Surveying and Mapping

1. Principles in international cooperation on surveying and mapping include:

a) Respecting independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity;

b) Adhering to international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a member and Vietnamese law;

c) Equality and mutual benefit.

2. Basic contents in international cooperation on surveying and mapping include:

a) Signing and implementing international treaties and agreements on surveying and mapping;

b) Implementing international cooperation programs and projects;

c) Exchanging experts; training and developing human resources for surveying and mapping;

d) Researching science, applying and transferring surveying and mapping technology;

đ) Exchanging information, data, and surveying and mapping products;

e) Participating in and organizing international conferences, seminars, and discussions.

Article 9. Financial Resources for Surveying and Mapping Activities

1. The central budget ensures financial requirements for state management organized and implemented by Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and government agencies for surveying and mapping activities, and for building and developing the national geographic information infrastructure.

2. Local budgets ensure financial requirements for state management organized and implemented by People's Committees at all levels for surveying and mapping activities, and for building and developing the national geographic information infrastructure within their jurisdiction.

3. Organizations and individuals ensure funding for surveying and mapping activities serving their own needs.

Chapter II

BASIC SURVEYING AND MAPPING ACTIVITIES

Article 10. Contents of Basic Surveying and Mapping Activities

1. Establishing the national surveying base data system, national coordinate system, national height system, and national gravity system.

2. Establishing the national surveying network data system.

3. Building the aerial imagery data system and remote sensing imagery data system.

4. Building, operating, and updating the national geographic database foundation; establishing and updating the national topographic map system.

5. Surveying and mapping of national borders.

6. Surveying and mapping of administrative boundaries.

7. Standardizing place names.

8. Building and operating basic surveying infrastructure works.

Article 11. National Surveying Base Data System, National Coordinate System, National Height System, and National Gravity System

1. The national surveying base data system includes base data of the national coordinate system, national height system, national gravity system, and national depth system, determined uniformly throughout the country according to national technical standards. Each national surveying base data is associated with a fixed, long-term marked point called the national surveying base point.

2. The national coordinate system, national height system, national gravity system, and national depth system are used to represent surveying and mapping results on the territory of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

3. The use of international coordinate systems is carried out in accordance with the provisions of international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a member.

4. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment establishes, organizes the construction, and submits

Article 12. National Surveying Network Data System

1. The national surveying network data system includes data from the national coordinate network, national height network, national gravity network, and national satellite positioning station network established and used to implement surveying and mapping activities nationwide.

2. The national surveying network data system is established according to national technical standards. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is responsible for establishing and announcing national surveying network data for uniform use throughout the country.

3. The Government shall provide detailed regulations on this Article.

Article 13. Aerial Image Data

1. Aerial image data shall be collected from aircraft. The collection of aerial image data must be approved by a Ministry, an agency at the level of a Ministry, a government agency, or a provincial People's Committee within their respective authority before implementation to ensure no overlap; aerial image data shall not be collected if suitable data already exists.

2. Civil aviation activities for the purpose of collecting aerial image data shall be managed in accordance with the provisions of civil aviation laws.

3. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall develop and implement plans for aerial photography within its jurisdiction; establish a national database of aerial images.

4. The Ministry of National Defense shall develop and implement plans for aerial photography for defense and security purposes and other purposes assigned by the Government.

5. Ministries, agencies at the level of a Ministry, government agencies, and provincial People's Committees shall develop and implement plans for aerial photography after coordinating with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment; provide the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment with a set of copies of the aerial image data within fifteen days from the completion date of the aerial photography plan.

Article 14. Remote Sensing Image Data

1. Remote sensing image data shall be collected from remote sensing satellites through Vietnam's remote sensing data receiving stations and satellite control stations, and from foreign sources; stored, processed, and provided to meet common exploitation and usage requirements.

2. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall take the lead in organizing the collection, storage, processing, and provision of remote sensing image data; establish a national remote sensing image database.

3. Ministries, agencies at the level of a Ministry, government agencies, and provincial People's Committees shall propose needs for using remote sensing image data and submit them to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment for coordination on collection.

4. The Government shall provide detailed regulations on this matter.

Article 15. National Geospatial Database and National Topographic Map System

1. The national geospatial database and national topographic map system shall be developed uniformly and consistently throughout the country.

2. The national geospatial database and national topographic map system shall be defined as follows:

a) The national geospatial database and large-scale topographic maps including scales of 1:2,000, 1:5,000, and 1:10,000;

b) The national geospatial database and medium-scale topographic maps including scales of 1:25,000, 1:50,000, and 1:100,000;

c) The national geospatial database and small-scale topographic maps including scales of 1:250,000, 1:500,000, and 1:1,000,000.

3. The national geospatial database and topographic maps at scales of 1:2,000 and 1:5,000 shall be established for urban areas, urban development zones, special function zones, areas requiring district planning and rural planning; the national geospatial database and topographic maps at scales of 1:10,000 and smaller shall cover all mainland territory of Vietnam.

4. The national geospatial database, national topographic maps, and large-scale seabed topographic maps shall be established for island areas, archipelagos, river mouths, and seaports. The national geospatial database and medium-scale seabed topographic maps shall cover internal waters and territorial seas. The national geospatial database and small-scale seabed topographic maps shall cover the entire maritime area of Vietnam.

Article 16. Construction, operation, and updating of the national geographic base database and establishment and updating of the national topographic map system

1. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall have the following responsibilities:

a) Constructing and updating the national geographic base database on land at scales of 1:10,000 and smaller;

b) Establishing and updating the national topographic map system on land at scales of 1:10,000 and smaller;

c) Constructing and updating the national topographic map database and maps for island areas, archipelagos, and seabed topographic maps at scales of 1:10,000 and smaller;

d) Operating the national geographic base database within its management scope.

2. Provincial People's Committees shall have the following responsibilities:

a) Constructing and updating the national geographic base database at scales of 1:2,000 and 1:5,000 for land areas, island areas, archipelagos, river mouths, and seaports within their management scope;

b) Establishing and updating the national topographic maps at scales of 1:2,000 and 1:5,000 for land areas, island areas, archipelagos, river mouths, and seaports within their management scope;

c) Operating the national geographic base database within their management scope;

d) Submitting to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment for review regarding the necessity, scope, technical solutions, and tasks for constructing the national geographic base database and establishing the national topographic maps as stipulated in points a and b of this clause before implementation;

đ) Submitting a set of the national geographic base database and national topographic maps as stipulated in points a and b of this clause to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

3. The national geographic base database and the national topographic map system must be fully, accurately, and timely updated in accordance with the Government's regulations.

Article 17. Surveying and mapping activities related to the national border

1. Surveying and mapping activities related to the national border are surveying and mapping activities serving the planning, demarcation, marking, and management of the national border in accordance with the laws on the national border.

2. The content of surveying and mapping activities related to the national border includes:

a) Establishing topographic maps for planning, demarcating, and marking the national border;

b) Surveying and transferring the results of demarcation and marking onto topographic maps;

c) Constructing and updating the surveying and mapping database for the national border;

d) Surveying, establishing, and updating the standard national border map set;

đ) Surveying and mapping activities serving the management of the national border.

3. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Public Security, and the provincial People's Committee where the national border is located to organize surveying and mapping activities related to the national border.

Article 18. Representation of the national border and territorial sovereignty

1. The national border and territorial sovereignty must be accurately represented on surveying and mapping products and map publications.

2. Organizations and individuals must use the standard national border map or the national border map provided by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment for areas without a standard national border map to accurately represent the national border and territorial sovereignty on surveying and mapping products and map publications.

3. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall have the following responsibilities:

a) Taking the lead and coordinating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National Defense to submit

b) Guiding the representation of the national border and territorial sovereignty on surveying and mapping products and map publications.

4. In cases where the national border has not been delineated, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall have the responsibility to take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Ministry of National Defense to submit to the competent state agency for decision-making on the representation of the national border on various types of maps.

Article 19. Surveying and Maps for Administrative Boundaries

1. Surveying and maps for administrative boundaries are activities of surveying and mapping to serve the establishment, dissolution, merger, division, adjustment of administrative unit boundaries, resolution of disputes related to administrative unit boundaries, and determination of administrative boundaries.

2. The contents of surveying and maps for administrative boundaries include:

a) Surveying and creating maps to serve the preparation of administrative boundary files at all levels;

b) Surveying, updating, and supplementing administrative boundary maps according to the Resolutions of the National Assembly and the Standing Committee of the National Assembly on the establishment, dissolution, merger, division, and adjustment of administrative unit boundaries; surveying and adjusting administrative unit boundaries due to natural impacts and economic and social development processes;

c) Building and updating databases for surveying and mapping of administrative boundaries;

d) Surveying to serve the resolution of disputes related to administrative unit boundaries at all levels.

3. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Home Affairs and provincial People's Committees to organize the implementation of the following contents:

a) The contents stipulated in points b and d, Clause 2 of this Article for provincial administrative units;

b) The contents stipulated in point c, Clause 2 of this Article.

4. Provincial People's Committees shall organize the implementation of the following contents:

a) The contents stipulated in point a, Clause 2 of this Article;

b) The contents stipulated in points b and d, Clause 2 of this Article for district and commune-level administrative units.

Article 20. Requirements, Principles, and Cases for Standardizing Place Names

1. Standardizing place names involves verifying and unifying the pronunciation and spelling of place names in Vietnamese.

2. Vietnamese place names and international place names must be standardized for uniform use.

3. The principles of standardizing place names include:

a) Each geographic object is only associated with one place name;

b) Ensuring continuity, universality, integration, respect for beliefs, customs, and compliance with linguistic rules;

c) Being consistent with place names prescribed by law or place names used in international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a party.

4. The cases requiring standardization of place names include:

a) A geographic location having multiple names with different pronunciations and spellings;

b) The appearance or change of a geographic object leading to changes in place names.

5. Standardized place names must be built into a database, updated, and published for use.

Article 21. Responsibilities for Standardizing Place Names and Using Standardized Place Names

1. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall take the lead and coordinate with ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated agencies, and provincial People's Committees to implement the standardization of place names, unify and promulgate lists of standardized place names; build, update, and publish databases of standardized place names.

2. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and provincial People's Committees shall propose requirements for standardizing place names, provide information about place names within their jurisdiction to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

3. For standardized place names, organizations and individuals must use them accurately and consistently in surveying and mapping activities, ensuring they are appropriate for each historical period.

Chapter III

PROFESSIONAL SURVEYING AND MAPPING ACTIVITIES

Article 22. Contents of specialized surveying and mapping activities

1. Establishing the data system for specialized basic surveying networks.

2. Surveying and military maps.

3. Surveying and establishing cadastral maps.

4. Establishing administrative boundary maps.

5. Surveying and establishing nautical charts.

6. Surveying and establishing civil aviation maps.

7. Surveying and establishing underground construction maps.

8. Surveying and establishing maps for disaster prevention and control, rescue operations, environmental remediation, and climate change adaptation.

9. Establishing sets of maps; surveying and establishing specialized maps not covered by Clauses 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 of this Article.

10. Constructing and operating specialized surveying infrastructure projects.

Article 23. Data System for Specialized Basic Surveying Networks

1. The data system for specialized basic surveying networks shall be established based on the requirements of specialized surveying and mapping activities.

2. The data system for specialized basic surveying networks must be established within the national coordinate system, national height system, national gravity system, based on national surveying networks, and in accordance with technical standards issued by Ministries and equivalent agencies.

Article 24. Surveying and Military Maps

1. The contents of surveying and military maps include:

a) Establishing, managing, and utilizing military coordinate systems; military coordinate point systems, military elevation point systems; navigation positioning systems, aerial imagery data systems, remote sensing data systems for military purposes;

b) Establishing various types of specialized maps for military use; geographic databases serving military and defense purposes;

c) Surveying, researching, and studying the sea to serve military purposes;

d) Other surveying and mapping activities ensuring military tasks and defense responsibilities as assigned by the Government.

2. The Ministry of National Defense is responsible for organizing and implementing military surveying and mapping activities.

Article 25. Surveying and Establishing Cadastral Maps

1. A cadastral map is a map depicting land parcels and related geographic objects, established according to commune-level administrative units recognized by competent state authorities; where there are no commune-level administrative units, it is established according to district-level administrative units.

2. The contents of surveying and establishing cadastral maps include:

a) Surveying and determining the boundaries of land parcels and related geographic objects;

b) Collecting information and data about land parcels and related geographic objects;

c) Establishing cadastral maps;

d) Updating changes in cadastral maps;

e) Building and updating cadastral databases.

3. Surveying and establishing cadastral maps, building and updating cadastral databases shall be carried out in accordance with laws on land.

Article 26. Establishing Administrative Boundary Maps

1. Administrative boundary maps include:

a) Vietnam's administrative boundary map;

b) Provincial administrative boundary maps;

c) District administrative boundary maps.

2. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment issues national technical standards for establishing administrative boundary maps; organizes the establishment and updating of Vietnam's administrative boundary map when there are changes related to administrative units.

3. Provincial People's Committees organize the establishment and updating of provincial and district administrative boundary maps under their jurisdiction when there are changes related to administrative units; submit one copy of digital data and one set of printed provincial and district administrative boundary maps on paper to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment within fifteen days from the date of issuance.

4. The establishment of administrative boundary maps must comply with national technical standards.

Article 27. Surveying and Establishing Nautical Charts

1. Nautical charts shall be established for port waters and maritime routes, sea areas.

2. The content of surveying and establishing nautical charts includes:

a) Surveying and updating coordinates, seabed depths, geographic objects on the surface, within, and at the bottom of the sea;

b) Collecting and updating information and data about geographic objects on the surface, within, and at the bottom of the sea;

c) Establishing and updating nautical charts;

d) Building and updating nautical chart databases.

3. Surveying and establishing nautical charts shall be carried out in accordance with national technical standards and norms and international standards.

4. The Ministry of National Defense shall organize the surveying and establishment of nautical charts for Vietnam's sea areas and adjacent areas.

5. The Ministry of Transport shall organize the surveying and establishment of nautical charts for port waters and maritime routes.

6. Ministries and ministerial-level agencies related to the matter shall participate in surveying and establishing nautical charts according to the division of labor by the Government.

Article 28. Surveying and Establishing Civil Aviation Maps

1. Civil aviation maps shall be established for airspace areas, airport skies, air routes.

2. The content of surveying and establishing civil aviation maps includes:

a) Surveying and updating coordinates, heights of geographic objects on land and in the air;

b) Collecting and updating information and data about geographic objects on land and in the air;

c) Establishing and updating civil aviation maps;

d) Building and updating civil aviation map databases.

3. Surveying and establishing civil aviation maps shall be carried out in accordance with national technical standards and norms and international standards.

4. The Ministry of Transport shall take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense and relevant ministries to develop and promulgate national technical standards for surveying and establishing civil aviation maps; organizing the surveying and establishment of civil aviation maps.

Article 29. Surveying and Establishing Underground Construction Maps

1. The content of surveying and establishing underground construction maps includes:

a) Surveying and establishing, updating current status maps of underground constructions;

b) Surveying and establishing maps serving underground space planning;

c) Building and updating underground construction map databases.

2. Surveying and establishing underground construction maps must comply with national technical standards.

3. The Ministry of Construction shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries to develop and promulgate national technical standards for surveying and establishing underground construction maps.

4. When implementing underground construction projects, project sponsors must simultaneously conduct surveying and establish maps of underground constructions and submit a set of digital current status maps of underground constructions to the provincial People's Committee within the following deadlines:

a) Within ninety days from the completion date of the underground construction project;

b) Annually for underground constructions serving mineral exploitation over multiple years.

5. Provincial People's Committees shall be responsible for organizing activities of surveying and establishing underground construction maps to serve management work.

Article 30. Surveying and Establishing Maps for Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Rescue, Environmental Incident Response, and Climate Change Adaptation

1. Surveying and establishing maps for disaster prevention and mitigation, rescue, environmental incident response, and climate change adaptation must be promptly carried out when required by competent state authorities.

2. Surveying and establishing maps for forecasting, warning, disaster prevention and mitigation, and climate change adaptation shall be conducted according to programs and plans of the Government, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and provincial People's Committees.

3. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government agencies, and provincial People's Committees shall be responsible for promptly providing information, data, survey products, and maps when requested by competent state authorities to establish maps for disaster prevention and mitigation, rescue, environmental incident response, and climate change adaptation.

4. Organizations and individuals shall promptly provide information, data, survey products, and maps to serve rescue operations, disaster aftermath recovery, environmental incident response, and climate change adaptation when requested by competent state authorities.

Article 31. Establishment of map sets; surveying and establishing specialized maps

1. A map set is a collection of maps, diagrams, images established according to unified principles and layout reflecting the natural conditions and socio-economic aspects of localities, regions, the country, and sectors at different stages of development.

2. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall organize the establishment of national map sets.

3. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, provincial People's Committees shall organize the establishment of map sets for localities, regions, and sectors; conduct surveys and establish various types of specialized maps serving state management.

4. Surveying and establishing specialized maps as stipulated in Clause 9, Article 22 of this Law shall be carried out according to the requirements, contents, standards, technical regulations of each specialized field, and other relevant legal provisions.

5. Organizations and individuals may establish map sets for localities, regions, the country, and sectors; conduct surveys and establish various types of specialized maps as stipulated in Clause 9, Article 22 of this Law.

Chapter IV

QUALITY OF SURVEYING PRODUCTS AND MAPS

Article 32. Technical standards for surveying and mapping

The construction, publication, issuance, and application of national standards, national technical regulations, and local technical regulations on surveying and mapping shall be implemented in accordance with the laws on standards and technical regulations, ensuring consistency, uniformity, and compatibility with technological development trends.

Article 33. Calibration, verification, testing of measuring instruments used in surveying and mapping activities

1. Measuring instruments used in surveying and mapping activities must be calibrated, verified, and tested in accordance with the laws on measurement; national technical standards and regulations on surveying and mapping; and official documentation from the instrument manufacturer.

2. Organizations and individuals conducting calibration, verification, and testing of measuring instruments used in surveying and mapping activities must meet the conditions and capabilities as prescribed by the laws on measurement.

3. The Minister of Science and Technology shall issue a list of measuring instruments used in surveying and mapping activities that require calibration based on the proposal of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

Article 34. Quality Management of Surveying Products and Maps

1. Quality management of surveying products and maps shall be carried out in accordance with this Law and the laws on product quality.

2. Quality inspection of surveying products and maps during production shall be conducted in accordance with technical standards and regulations on surveying and mapping and approved technical designs.

3. Domestic-produced and imported surveying products and maps circulating in the market must ensure quality in compliance with published standards, technical regulations, and legal provisions.

4. Responsibilities of organizations and individuals regarding the quality of surveying products and maps are as follows:

a) Organizations and individuals are responsible for the quality of surveying products and maps they produce;

b) Organizations and individuals are responsible for the results of quality monitoring, inspection, and acceptance of surveying products and maps;

c) Project and program initiators for surveying and mapping are responsible for the quality of products under their management.

5. Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, and heads of government agencies shall issue regulations and criteria on the quality of surveying products and maps within their jurisdiction.

6. The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment shall stipulate procedures for inspecting, reviewing, and accepting the quality of surveying products and maps.

Chapter V

SURVEYING INFRASTRUCTURE

Article 35. Types of geodetic infrastructure works

1. Geodetic infrastructure works include basic geodetic infrastructure works and specialized geodetic infrastructure works.

2. Basic geodetic infrastructure works include:

a) National geodetic origin points;

b) National geodetic markers;

c) National satellite positioning stations;

d) National remote sensing data receiving stations.

3. Specialized geodetic infrastructure works include:

a) Specialized sectoral geodetic markers;

b) Specialized sectoral satellite positioning stations;

c) Specialized sectoral remote sensing data receiving stations.

Article 36. Construction, operation, maintenance of geodetic infrastructure works

1. The construction of geodetic infrastructure works using state budget funds must be carried out according to plans and tasks approved by competent state agencies and in accordance with the provisions of the law.

2. The State allocates land or leases land for organizations and individuals to construct geodetic infrastructure works in accordance with the provisions of the law on land.

3. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall organize the construction, operation, and maintenance of the works specified in points a, b, and c, Clause 2, Article 35 of this Law; construction, operation, and maintenance of the work specified in point d, Clause 2, Article 35 of this Law after obtaining approval.

4. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government agencies, provincial People's Committees shall organize the construction, operation, and maintenance of the works specified in points a and b, Clause 3, Article 35 of this Law after reaching consensus with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

5. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government agencies shall organize the construction, operation, and maintenance of the works specified in point c, Clause 3, Article 35 of this Law after obtaining approval.

6. Organizations and individuals may participate in investment, construction, management, operation, exploitation, and maintenance of geodetic infrastructure works in accordance with the provisions of this Law and other relevant laws.

7. After completing the construction of geodetic markers, the project investor must prepare a handover record of the current status of the geodetic markers along with a map showing their location on-site for the People's Committee of the commune where the markers are located, in the presence of the land users; hand over a list along with the marker location file to the People's Committee of the province.

8. The Government shall provide detailed regulations on this matter.

Article 37. Use of geodetic markers

1. Before using geodetic markers, organizations and individuals must report to the People's Committee of the commune where the markers are located; during the use of geodetic markers, they must maintain, protect, and not damage the markers.

2. Land users and owners of property where geodetic markers are located may not obstruct organizations and individuals from using geodetic markers when conducting lawful surveying activities.

Article 38. Protection of geodetic infrastructure works

1. Organizations and individuals have the responsibility to maintain and protect geodetic infrastructure works, promptly reporting to local authorities or competent agencies, organizations, or individuals when discovering damage, destruction, or potential damage or destruction of geodetic infrastructure works.

2. A protective zone is established around geodetic infrastructure works, and the right to use land within the protective zone is implemented in accordance with the provisions of the law on land. Within the protective zone of geodetic infrastructure works, when constructing new buildings, repairing, or renovating structures that affect geodetic infrastructure works, the owner of the structure or land user must report to the competent state agency.

3. Relocation or demolition of geodetic infrastructure works due to economic and social development, national defense, and security needs must be approved by the management agency of geodetic infrastructure works, and the organization or individual requesting relocation or demolition must compensate for losses in accordance with the law.

4. Responsibilities for protecting geodetic infrastructure works are as follows:

a) The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall organize the protection of geodetic infrastructure works specified in points a, c, and d, Clause 2, Article 35 of this Law;

b) Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government agencies shall organize the protection of specialized geodetic infrastructure works under their jurisdiction;

c) Provincial People's Committees shall organize the protection of geodetic infrastructure works under their jurisdiction and those specified in point b, Clause 2, Article 35 of this Law; coordinate in protecting other geodetic infrastructure works in their area;

d) Organizations and individuals shall organize the protection of geodetic infrastructure works under their management.

5. The Government shall provide detailed regulations on this matter.

Chapter VI

INFORMATION, DATA, SURVEYING PRODUCTS AND MAPS; NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE

Section 1

INFORMATION, DATA, SURVEYING PRODUCTS AND MAPS

Article 39. Information System, Data, Surveying and Mapping Products

1. The information system, data, surveying and mapping products include:

a) Information, data, and products from basic surveying and mapping activities;

b) Information, data, and products from specialized surveying and mapping activities;

c) Research results and technological development outcomes on surveying and mapping;

d) Legal normative documents on surveying and mapping;

đ) Technical standards and specifications on surveying and mapping.

2. Information, data, and products from basic surveying and mapping activities include:

a) Information, data about national primary survey points, national survey networks;

b) Aerial image data systems and remote sensing image data systems;

c) National geographic base data; national topographic map data and products;

d) Data and products on national border surveying and mapping;

đ) Data and products on administrative boundary surveying and mapping;

e) Geographical name data and lists.

3. Information, data, and products from specialized surveying and mapping activities include:

a) Information, data, and products from specialized basic surveying networks;

b) Surveying and mapping information, data, and products for national defense;

c) Information, data, and products for land registration surveying and mapping;

d) Information, data, and products for administrative mapping;

đ) Information, data, and products for hydrographic surveying and mapping;

e) Information, data, and products for civil aviation surveying and mapping;

g) Information, data, and products for underground construction surveying and mapping;

h) Information, data, and products for surveying and mapping to serve disaster prevention, rescue, environmental remediation, and climate change response;

i) Information, data, and products of atlas sets; other specialized surveying and mapping information, data, and products.

Article 40. Surveying and Mapping Database

1. The national surveying and mapping database includes the basic surveying and mapping database and the specialized surveying and mapping database, which are uniformly constructed, updated throughout the country, and connected to the Vietnam Geographic Information Portal.

2. The basic surveying and mapping database is constructed from the information, data, and products specified in Clause 2 of Article 39 of this Law.

3. The specialized surveying and mapping database is constructed from the information, data, and products specified in Clause 3 of Article 39 of this Law.

4. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall be responsible for constructing, operating, updating the national surveying and mapping database and performing the following tasks:

a) Constructing, operating, and updating the basic surveying and mapping database and the specialized surveying and mapping databases within its management scope;

b) Integrating specialized surveying and mapping databases of ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government agencies, and provincial people's committees.

5. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government agencies, and provincial people's committees shall construct, operate, update specialized surveying and mapping databases within their management scope and provide them to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment for integration into the national surveying and mapping database.

Article 41. Archiving, Securing, Providing, Exchanging, Exploiting, and Using Surveying and Mapping Information, Data, and Products

1. The archiving of surveying and mapping information, data, and products shall be carried out in accordance with the laws on archiving. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government agencies, and provincial people's committees shall organize the archiving of surveying and mapping information, data, and products within their management scope.

2. Surveying and mapping information, data, and products listed in the state secrets directory must be secured and ensured for security and safety in accordance with the law.

3. The provision of surveying and mapping information, data, and products shall be carried out as follows:

a) Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government agencies, and provincial people's committees shall provide surveying and mapping information, data, and products that are public assets within their management scope;

b) Organizations and individuals providing surveying and mapping information, data, and products they themselves ensure funding for implementation;

c) Agencies, organizations, and individuals shall bear legal responsibility for the origin and accuracy of the surveying and mapping information, data, and products they provide;

d) Agencies, organizations, and individuals must certify copies of digital surveying and mapping information, data, and products they provide. Certified copies of digital surveying and mapping information, data, and products have the same value as originals;

đ) Widely provided surveying and mapping information, data, and products include directories of surveying and mapping information, data, and products; notes on surveying marks; standard border maps; administrative boundary, hydrological, transportation, population, vegetation cover, geographical name, administrative map data, and other surveying and mapping information, data, and products not listed in the state secrets directory.

4. The provision and exchange of surveying and mapping information, data, and products with international organizations, foreign organizations, and individuals shall be carried out as follows:

a) Surveying and mapping information, data, and products not listed in the state secrets directory can be provided and exchanged with international organizations, foreign organizations, and individuals;

b) Surveying and mapping information, data, and products listed in the state secrets directory can be provided and exchanged with international organizations, foreign organizations, and individuals according to international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a member or when permitted by competent state authorities.

5. The exploitation and use of surveying and mapping information, data, and products shall be carried out as follows:

a) Organizations and individuals exploiting and using surveying and mapping information, data, and products must comply with the law;

b) Surveying and mapping information, data, and products used in economic and social development programs, plans, and projects must have clear origins;

c) Organizations and individuals exploiting and using surveying and mapping information, data, and products that are public assets must pay costs in accordance with the law; in cases serving national defense, security, disaster prevention, they may be exempted or reduced according to the law.

6. Encourage organizations and individuals to provide updated information, data, surveying products, and maps back to agencies, organizations, and individuals who have provided them during the process of exploitation and utilization.

7. The Government shall provide detailed regulations on this matter.

Article 42. Intellectual Property Rights for Information, Data, Surveying Products, and Maps

1. Information, data, surveying products, and maps implemented with state budget funds belong to the entire people, represented by the State.

2. Copyrights for information, data, surveying products, and maps shall be governed by laws on intellectual property rights.

Section 2

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE

Article 43. General Provisions on National Geographic Information Infrastructure

1. The national geographic information infrastructure is a set of policies, institutions, standards, technologies, data, and resources aimed at sharing and effectively utilizing geographic information data throughout the country.

2. The national geographic information infrastructure must ensure that geographic information data is standardized and fully collected from ministries, sectors, localities, organizations, and individuals; regularly updated to meet management requirements, economic and social development, national defense and security; disaster prevention and response, rescue operations, environmental remediation, climate change adaptation; enhancing public awareness; facilitating the provision of public services; ensuring connectivity and interoperability with geographic information infrastructures of countries in the region and internationally.

3. The provision, exchange, exploitation, and use of geographic information data must not infringe upon national interests, ethnic benefits, or the legitimate rights and interests of organizations and individuals.

Article 44. Construction of National Geographic Information Infrastructure

1. The content of constructing the national geographic information infrastructure includes:

a) Developing strategies for development and implementation plans for the national geographic information infrastructure;

b) Establishing mechanisms, policies, and resources to organize the implementation of development strategies and implementation plans for the national geographic information infrastructure;

c) Selecting and developing technology, establishing technical standards and specifications for the national geographic information infrastructure;

d) Building and integrating geographic information data;

e) Building and operating the Vietnam Geospatial Information Portal and geospatial data applications and services.

2. The Prime Minister directs and coordinates the construction of the national geographic information infrastructure.

3. Responsibilities of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment are as follows:

a) Taking the lead and coordinating with ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated agencies, and provincial People's Committees in developing strategies for development and implementation plans for the national geographic information infrastructure to be submitted to the Government for approval;

b) Taking the lead and coordinating with ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated agencies, and provincial People's Committees in integrating national geographic information data; building and operating the Vietnam Geospatial Information Portal.

4. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated agencies, and provincial People's Committees implement development strategies and implementation plans for the national geographic information infrastructure within their respective authorities.

5. Organizations and individuals participating in the construction and development of geographic information data in accordance with the law.

6. The Government shall provide detailed regulations for this Article.

Article 45. National Geospatial Data

1. National geospatial data includes framework data and thematic data.

2. Framework data is foundational data for building national geospatial data. Framework data includes:

a) Data on the national primary control network and national survey networks;

b) National geographic base data and national topographic map data;

c) Aerial imagery data and remote sensing data;

d) Standard boundary map data;

đ) Administrative boundary map data;

e) Place name data;

g) Other data as specified in Clause 3 of this Article, to be prescribed by the Government.

3. Thematic data is commonly used data. Thematic data includes the following basic groups:

a) Land administration data;

b) Current land use map data;

c) Water resources investigation and assessment map data;

d) Geological and mineral map data;

đ) Soil map data;

e) Current forest status map data;

g) Underground facility current status map data;

h) Civil aviation map data;

i) Port area water chart data and maritime route and sea area charts;

k) Map data on disaster prevention, rescue, environmental remediation, and climate change response;

l) Transportation map data;

m) National-level, regional, provincial, special administrative-economic zone, urban, and rural planning map data;

n) Other thematic map data groups as prescribed by the Government to ensure the synchronization of national geospatial data, meeting state management requirements at different stages.

4. Framework data and thematic data are described through metadata. Metadata includes the following information groups:

a) Scope, time period, organization, and individual constructing, updating, and storing the data;

b) Compliance with corresponding technical standards and specifications;

c) Quality and legal value of the data;

d) Methods of accessing, exchanging, using the data, and geospatial data services.

Article 46. Services Related to National Geospatial Data

1. Services related to national geospatial data include sharing, conversion, analysis, integration, querying, and downloading data.

2. These services related to national geospatial data are implemented through the Vietnam Geospatial Information Portal.

Article 47. Use of National Geospatial Data

1. Agencies, organizations, and individuals must use national geospatial data when utilizing state budget funds for policy formulation, strategy development, planning, programs, projects for economic and social development, national defense, security, and other activities serving state management.

2. Organizations and individuals are encouraged to use national geospatial data for production, business, and other activities.

Article 48. Vietnam Geospatial Information Portal

1. The Vietnam Geospatial Information Portal is an electronic portal allowing access to national geospatial data and providing related information and services on the internet.

2. The Vietnam Geospatial Information Portal must be constructed and operated to ensure that organizations and individuals can easily and conveniently access it; published national geospatial data must be available for use.

3. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government agencies, and provincial People's Committees must connect the national geospatial data specified in Article 45 of this Law to the Vietnam Geospatial Information Portal.

Section 3

PUBLISHING MAPS

Article 49. Requirements for Publishing Maps

1. The publication of maps and products using map images must comply with the provisions of this Law, the Law on Publishing, and other relevant laws.

2. Map publications must accurately reflect national territorial sovereignty, state borders, and administrative boundaries.

Article 50. Activities of Publishing Maps

1. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall organize the publication of the national topographic map system and specialized maps serving state management as prescribed.

2. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government agencies, provincial People's Committees shall organize the publication of various types of maps serving state management as prescribed.

3. Organizations and individuals publishing map products not covered under paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article.

Chapter VII

CONDITIONS FOR OPERATING SURVEYING AND MAPPING SERVICES; RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS ENGAGED IN SURVEYING AND MAPPING

Article 51. Surveying and Mapping Business License

1. A surveying and mapping business license shall be issued to organizations engaged in surveying and mapping services listed in the Catalogue of Surveying and Mapping Activities that require a license, in accordance with the Government's regulations.

2. Each organization shall be granted one surveying and mapping business license for one or several surveying and mapping service activities listed in the Catalogue of Surveying and Mapping Activities that require a license. The surveying and mapping business license is valid nationwide, has a minimum duration of five years, and can be renewed. Licenses issued to foreign contractors must specify the area of operation and have a term corresponding to the duration of the surveying and mapping content in the tender package.

3. Domestic organizations and foreign contractors shall be granted a surveying and mapping business license by competent state authorities when they meet the conditions stipulated in Article 52 of this Law.

4. Surveying and mapping activities may be added to an already issued surveying and mapping business license when the organization has a need and meets the required conditions.

5. A surveying and mapping business license shall be reissued if lost; exchanged if damaged beyond repair or when the organization requests changes to information recorded in the license.

6. A surveying and mapping business license shall be revoked in any of the following cases:

a) Altering or tampering with the content of the license;

b) Falsifying information in the application dossier for the license;

c) Committing prohibited acts in surveying and mapping activities as provided for in Clauses 1, 4, 6, and 7 of Article 6 of this Law;

d) Failing to meet the conditions stipulated in Article 52 of this Law despite administrative penalties and repeating the violation.

đ) Other cases as prescribed by law.

7. The specialized management agency under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall issue, renew, supplement, reissue, exchange, and revoke surveying and mapping business licenses.

8. The Government shall prescribe the validity period, application dossier, procedures, and processes for issuing, renewing, supplementing, reissuing, exchanging, and revoking surveying and mapping business licenses.

Article 52. Conditions for Issuing a Surveying and Mapping Business License

1. An organization shall be granted a surveying and mapping business license when it meets the following conditions:

a) It is a business enterprise or a public service unit with functions and tasks related to surveying and mapping;

b) The technical manager responsible for surveying and mapping must have a university degree or higher in surveying and mapping; must have at least five years of practical experience relevant to at least one of the proposed surveying and mapping activities or hold a Class I professional certificate for surveying and mapping as stipulated in Article 53 of this Law; and cannot concurrently serve as the technical manager for surveying and mapping in another organization;

c) It must have a sufficient number of trained technical staff to meet the requirements for implementing the proposed surveying and mapping activities according to the Government's regulations;

d) It must have surveying and mapping equipment and technology consistent with economic and technical standards for surveying and mapping to produce one surveying and mapping product in the proposed activity.

2. A foreign contractor shall be granted a surveying and mapping business license by the specialized management agency under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment when it meets the following conditions:

a) It has a tender award decision or selection decision from the project owner, including surveying and mapping activities;

b) It has technical personnel, surveying and mapping equipment, and technology consistent with the tender submission that was awarded or selected.

Article 53. Surveying and Mapping Practice Certificate

1. The surveying and mapping practice certificate is a document confirming the professional capacity, issued by the competent authority to individuals who meet the conditions stipulated in Clause 3 of this Article and is valid nationwide.

2. Each surveying and mapping practice certificate is issued for one or several professional activities according to the List of Surveying and Mapping Practices; Vietnamese citizens practicing surveying and mapping independently must hold a corresponding practice certificate; the certificate has a minimum validity period of five years and can be renewed.

3. Individuals granted a surveying and mapping practice certificate must satisfy the following conditions:

a) Having sufficient civil capacity as prescribed by law;

b) Possessing specialized qualifications obtained through training, experience, and time spent participating in work relevant to the requested practice certificate;

c) Having passed the examination on professional experience and knowledge of laws related to the requested practice certificate.

4. The surveying and mapping practice certificate is divided into two categories as follows:

a) Category I is issued to individuals with a bachelor's degree or higher, having at least five consecutive years of participation in surveying and mapping activities, and meeting the conditions stipulated in Clause 3 of this Article;

b) Category II is issued to individuals with a bachelor's degree or higher, having at least two consecutive years of participation in surveying and mapping activities; individuals with an associate's degree or college level, having at least three consecutive years of participation in surveying and mapping activities, and meeting the conditions stipulated in Clause 3 of this Article.

5. The authority to examine, issue, renew, reissue, exchange, and revoke the surveying and mapping practice certificate is regulated as follows:

a) The specialized management agency for surveying and mapping under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment examines, issues, renews, reissues, exchanges, and revokes Category I surveying and mapping practice certificates;

b) The specialized agency for natural resources and environment under the People's Committee of the province examines, issues, renews, reissues, exchanges, and revokes Category II surveying and mapping practice certificates.

6. Recognition of the surveying and mapping practice certificate between Vietnam and other countries shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of international agreements or treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a party.

7. The surveying and mapping practice certificate is reissued if lost; exchanged if damaged beyond repair or when the individual requests changes to information in the certificate.

8. The surveying and mapping practice certificate will be revoked if the holder commits prohibited acts in surveying and mapping activities as stipulated in Article 6 of this Law.

9. The Government shall promulgate the List of Surveying and Mapping Practices; regulations on professional experience and legal knowledge examinations; and the duration, documents, procedures, and formalities for issuing, renewing, reissuing, exchanging, and revoking the surveying and mapping practice certificate.

Article 54. Information on Organizations and Individuals Participating in Surveying and Mapping Activities

1. Information on organizations granted permission to engage in surveying and mapping activities and individuals granted surveying and mapping practice certificates shall be published on the electronic portal of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

2. Information on organizations granted permission to engage in surveying and mapping activities with headquarters located within the province or centrally governed city, and information on individuals granted surveying and mapping practice certificates by the specialized agency for natural resources and environment under the provincial People's Committee shall be published on the electronic portal of the provincial People's Committee.

3. The Government shall specify the content, timing for publishing information on organizations granted permission to engage in surveying and mapping activities and individuals granted surveying and mapping practice certificates.

Article 55. Rights and Obligations of Organizations Engaging in Surveying and Mapping Activities

1. Organizations engaging in surveying and mapping activities have the following rights:

a) To conduct surveying and mapping activities in accordance with this Law;

b) To participate in formulating policies and laws on surveying and mapping;

c) To cooperate in surveying and mapping with domestic and foreign organizations and individuals in accordance with the provisions of the law;

d) Other rights as prescribed by law.

2. Organizations engaging in surveying and mapping activities have the following obligations:

a) To report in accordance with the Government's regulations;

b) To comply with requests from competent state agencies for inspection and supervision;

c) To abide by the provisions of this Law and other relevant laws.

Article 56. Rights and Obligations of Individuals Engaging Independently in Surveying and Mapping Activities

1. Individuals engaging independently in surveying and mapping activities have the following rights:

a) To engage in surveying and mapping activities in accordance with this Law;

b) To participate in formulating policies and laws on surveying and mapping;

c) To cooperate in surveying and mapping with domestic and foreign organizations and individuals in accordance with the provisions of the law;

d) Other rights as prescribed by law.

2. Individuals engaging independently in surveying and mapping activities have the following obligations:

a) To comply with requests from competent state agencies for inspection and supervision;

b) To abide by the provisions of this Law and other relevant laws.

Chapter VIII

STATE MANAGEMENT OF SURVEYING AND MAPPING

Article 57. Responsibilities of the Government, Ministries, and Equivalent Agencies

1. The Government shall uniformly manage state administration over surveying and mapping throughout the country.

2. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is the lead agency assisting the Government in managing state administration over surveying and mapping throughout the country and has the following responsibilities:

a) To take the lead and coordinate with ministries and equivalent agencies to develop, submit to competent state agencies for promulgation or promulgate within their authority, and guide the implementation of legal normative documents, strategies, plans, programs, and projects on surveying and mapping;

b) To develop and promulgate national technical standards, economic and technical norms for basic and specialized surveying and mapping within its management scope; to develop national standards for surveying and mapping within its management scope, send them to the Ministry of Science and Technology for review and publication;

c) To disseminate, popularize, and educate the law, monitor the enforcement of laws on surveying and mapping;

d) To organize the implementation of tasks on surveying and mapping in accordance with this Law;

đ) To build, manage, and operate infrastructure for surveying within its management scope;

e) To take the lead in organizing the construction and management of national spatial data infrastructure;

g) To manage the quality of surveying and mapping products; to manage the quality of measuring instruments used in surveying and mapping activities in accordance with the law;

h) To review the necessity, scope, and technical solutions of surveying and mapping content in programs, projects, and tasks using central budget funds organized by ministries, equivalent agencies, and government agencies; to review basic surveying and mapping projects and tasks organized by provincial People's Committees;

i) To manage, store, and provide information, data, and surveying and mapping products;

k) To manage the issuance of surveying and mapping practice certificates and surveying and mapping activity licenses; to manage surveying and mapping activities of organizations and individuals nationwide;

m) To develop and implement training programs and plans, and organize knowledge enhancement in the field of surveying and mapping;

n) To manage research and development activities in surveying and mapping; to train, enhance, and develop human resources in surveying and mapping;

o) To take the lead and coordinate international cooperation activities in surveying and mapping;

p) To annually report to the Government on surveying and mapping activities nationwide.

3. The Ministry of National Defense has the following responsibilities:

a) To take the lead in developing and submitting to the Government for promulgation or promulgating within its authority legal normative documents on defense surveying and mapping;

b) To manage defense surveying and mapping activities;

c) To manage and operate infrastructure for surveying serving defense purposes; to manage and ensure the confidentiality of information, data, and surveying and mapping products to ensure defense and security;

d) To manage and supervise aerial photography and data collection activities for surveying and mapping purposes; to supervise surveying and mapping activities in areas under the Ministry of National Defense's jurisdiction;

đ) To provide information and data to agencies and organizations for socio-economic development in accordance with the law;

e) To perform other surveying and mapping tasks assigned by the Government;

g) To annually report on surveying and mapping activities within its jurisdiction to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment for consolidation and reporting to the Government.

4. Other ministries and equivalent agencies have the following responsibilities:

a) To develop and promulgate national technical standards and economic and technical norms for specialized surveying and mapping within their management scope after reaching consensus with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment; to develop national standards for surveying and mapping within their management scope, send them to the Ministry of Science and Technology for review, publication, and organization of guidance and supervision of implementation;

b) To manage and organize the implementation of specialized surveying and mapping activities within their tasks and powers defined in this Law and other relevant laws;

c) To organize the construction and management of national spatial data infrastructure within their authority;

d) To manage, store, and provide information, data, and surveying and mapping products within their management scope;

đ) To annually report on surveying and mapping activities within their jurisdiction to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment for consolidation and reporting to the Government.

Article 58. Responsibilities of People's Committees at all levels

1. The People's Committee of the province, within the scope of its tasks and powers, shall have the following responsibilities:

a) Implement state management over surveying and mapping activities within its jurisdiction; issue documents within its authority; direct the organization to implement tasks related to surveying and mapping as prescribed by this Law and other relevant laws; disseminate, popularize, and educate on laws; organize guidance, inspection, and monitoring of the implementation of laws on surveying and mapping within its territory;

b) Manage infrastructure for surveying according to the classification level;

c) Organize the implementation of construction and management of national geographic information infrastructure and surveying and mapping data bases within its jurisdiction;

d) Manage the quality of surveying and mapping products within its jurisdiction;

đ) Manage storage, provision, and use of information, data, and surveying and mapping products within its jurisdiction;

e) Manage issuance of surveying and mapping practice certificates; manage organizations and individuals engaged in surveying and mapping activities within its territory;

g) Inspect, check, handle violations of law, and resolve complaints and denunciations regarding surveying and mapping within its authority;

h) Annually report on surveying and mapping activities within its jurisdiction to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment for consolidation and reporting to the Government.

2. The People's Committee of the district, within the scope of its tasks and powers, shall have the following responsibilities:

a) Disseminate, popularize, and educate on laws; monitor the implementation of laws on surveying and mapping within its territory;

b) Inspect, check, handle violations of law, and resolve complaints and denunciations regarding surveying and mapping within its authority;

c) Participate in managing surveying markers according to the classification level of the People's Committee of the province;

d) Implement other state management tasks on surveying and mapping according to the classification level or delegation from higher-level state management agencies.

3. The People's Committee of the commune, within the scope of its tasks and powers, shall have the following responsibilities:

a) Implement the provisions of points a, b, and d of Clause 2 of this Article within its territory;

b) Protect surveying markers according to the classification level of the People's Committee of the province.

Article 59. Inspection and Handling of Violations of Laws on Surveying and Mapping

1. Inspection of surveying and mapping is defined as follows:

b) The objects of inspection on surveying and mapping are organizations and individuals engaged in surveying and mapping activities;

c) Inspection of surveying and mapping is carried out in accordance with this Law, regulations on inspection, and other relevant laws.

2. Handling of violations of laws on surveying and mapping is defined as follows:

a) The Minister, Head of a ministry equivalent to a ministry, and Chairman of the People's Committee of the province organize checks and handling of violations in compliance with legal provisions on conditions for the capacity to engage in surveying and mapping activities according to their authority;

b) Organizations and individuals who violate laws on surveying and mapping shall be subject to administrative penalties, disciplinary actions, or criminal liability, if they cause damage, they must compensate according to the law.

Chapter IX

IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 60. Effective Date

This Law takes effect from January 1, 2019.

Article 61. Transitional Provisions

1. Surveying and mapping operation permits issued before the effective date of this Law shall continue to be used until the expiration date indicated on the permit.

2. Organizations that have been granted surveying and mapping operation permits before the effective date of this Law, if they need to supplement the content of operations or extend the permit, shall apply for a permit in accordance with this Law.

3. Applications for surveying and mapping operation permits submitted to competent authorities for processing under administrative procedures for surveying and mapping before the effective date of this Law shall be considered and processed according to the law at the time of submission.

4. Technical standards and economic-technical norms on surveying and mapping issued before the effective date of this Law and not contrary to this Law shall continue to be applied until they are abolished or replaced.

This Law was adopted by the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the 14th term, fifth session, on June 14, 2018.