Law on Vietnam Coast Guard No. 33/2018/QH14

LAW

VIETNAM COAST GUARD

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

       The National Assembly promulgates the Law on the Vietnam Coast Guard.

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

       Article 1. Scope of Regulation

       This Law stipulates the position, functions, tasks, powers, organization, and activities of the Vietnam Coast Guard; the regime and policies for the Vietnam Coast Guard; the responsibilities of agencies, organizations, and individuals related to it.

       Article 2. Interpretation of Terms

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

       1. Protecting national sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdictional rights in Vietnam's maritime zones involves preventive measures, detection, struggle, and handling of agencies, organizations, and individuals violating laws concerning national sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdictional rights in Vietnam's maritime zones of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

       2. Officers and soldiers of the Vietnam Coast Guard include officers, professional military personnel, non-commissioned officers, privates, workers, and civil servants within the Vietnam Coast Guard's establishment.

       Article 3. Position and Functions of the Vietnam Coast Guard

       1. The Vietnam Coast Guard is a people's armed force, a specialized force of the State, serving as the core in enforcing laws and protecting national security, order, and safety at sea.

       2. The Vietnam Coast Guard has the function of advising the Minister of Defense to issue regulations within their authority or proposing to the Party and State on policies and laws to protect national security, order, and safety at sea; protecting national sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdictional rights in Vietnam's maritime zones; managing security, order, and safety, and ensuring compliance with Vietnamese laws, international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a party, and international agreements within their authority.

       Article 4. Principles of Organization and Operation of the Vietnam Coast Guard

       1. Placed under the absolute leadership in all aspects by the Communist Party of Vietnam, the unified command of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the unified management of the State by the Government, and direct command and control by the Minister of Defense.

       2. Adhering to the Constitution and laws of Vietnam, and international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a party.

       3. Organized centrally and uniformly from the Vietnam Coast Guard Command to grassroots units.

       4. Proactively preventing, detecting, blocking, struggling against, and handling violations of the law.

       5. Combining the mission of protecting national sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdictional rights with managing security, order, and safety at sea and developing the marine economy.

       6. Relying on the people, mobilizing the strength of the people, and being subject to the supervision of the people.

       Article 5. Building the Vietnam Coast Guard

       1. The State builds the Vietnam Coast Guard as a revolutionary, regular, efficient, and modern force; prioritizing resources for the development of the Vietnam Coast Guard.

       2. Agencies, organizations, and Vietnamese citizens have the responsibility to participate in building the Vietnam Coast Guard clean and strong.

       Article 6. Responsibilities and Regime, Policies for Agencies, Organizations, and Individuals Participating, Cooperating, Collaborating, Supporting, and Assisting the Vietnam Coast Guard

       1. Agencies, organizations, and individuals when operating in Vietnam's maritime zones have the responsibility to participate, cooperate, collaborate, support, and assist the Vietnam Coast Guard in performing their functions, tasks, and powers.

       2. Agencies, organizations, and Vietnamese citizens have the responsibility to coordinate with the Vietnam Coast Guard to implement decisions to mobilize manpower, vessels, and technical equipment from authorized agencies to protect national sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdictional rights in Vietnam's maritime zones.

       3. Agencies, organizations, and individuals participating, cooperating, collaborating, supporting, and assisting the Vietnam Coast Guard shall be protected by the State and kept confidential upon request; those with achievements shall be rewarded; those suffering property losses shall be compensated; those suffering damage to reputation and dignity shall be restored; individuals or families of those injured, harmed to health, or life shall enjoy benefits and policies according to the law.

       Article 7. Prohibited acts

       1. Opposing, obstructing the activities of the Vietnam Coast Guard; retaliating, threatening, infringing upon the lives, health, reputation, and dignity of officers and soldiers of the Vietnam Coast Guard while performing official duties or for official reasons.

       2. Bribing or coercing officers and soldiers of the Vietnam Coast Guard to act contrary to their responsibilities, tasks, and powers.

       3. Impersonating officers and soldiers of the Vietnam Coast Guard; forging vessels and equipment of the Vietnam Coast Guard; counterfeiting, buying, selling, or illegally using uniforms, seals, and documents of the Vietnam Coast Guard.

       4. Abusing positions, powers, and job positions of officers and soldiers of the Vietnam Coast Guard to violate the law; infringing upon the rights and legitimate interests of agencies, organizations, and individuals.

       5. Officers and soldiers of the Vietnam Coast Guard extorting, causing difficulties for agencies, organizations, and individuals legally operating at sea.

       6. Other acts violating the provisions of this Law.

Chapter II

TASKS AND POWERS OF THE VIETNAM COAST GUARD

       Article 8. Tasks of the Vietnam Coast Guard

       1. Collecting information, analyzing, evaluating, forecasting situations to propose policies, solutions, plans for protecting national security and enforcing laws at sea; researching, analyzing, forecasting, advising competent authorities on issuing policies and laws regarding the protection of national sovereignty, sovereign rights, jurisdiction, national security in Vietnam's maritime zones, ensuring order, safety, and combating crimes and violations of law at sea.

       2. Protecting national sovereignty, sovereign rights, jurisdiction, national security, interests, marine resources, environment; protecting assets, legitimate rights and interests of agencies, organizations, individuals at sea.

       3. Combating crimes and violations of law, maintaining security, order, and safety at sea; searching, rescuing, and participating in environmental remediation at sea.

       4. Participating in building defense and security systems and handling defense and security situations at sea.

       5. Implementing propaganda, dissemination, and legal education.

       6. Receiving and utilizing civilian manpower, vessels, and equipment mobilized to protect national sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction in Vietnam's maritime zones.

       7. Implementing international cooperation based on international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a member and international agreements related to the functions, tasks, and powers of the Vietnam Coast Guard.

       Article 9. Powers of the Vietnam Coast Guard

       1. Patrolling, inspecting, and controlling persons, vessels, goods, and luggage in Vietnam's maritime zones according to this Law and other relevant laws.

       2. Using weapons, explosives, and support tools as stipulated in Article 14 of this Law.

       3. Using technical equipment and means as stipulated in Article 15 of this Law and other relevant laws.

       4. Handle administrative violations according to the law on handling administrative violations.

       5. Conducting certain criminal investigation activities as prescribed by laws on criminal investigation organization and criminal procedure.

       6. Pursuing vessels violating laws at sea.

       7. Mobilizing personnel, vessels, and technical equipment from agencies, organizations, and citizens of Vietnam in emergencies.

       8. Requesting foreign organizations and individuals operating in Vietnam's maritime zones to provide assistance and help in emergencies.

       9. Seizing ships according to the law.

       10. Applying work measures as stipulated in Article 12 of this Law.

       Article 10. Duties and Responsibilities of Vietnam Coast Guard Officers and Soldiers

       1. Being absolutely loyal to the country, people, Party, and State; strictly implementing the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's laws, directives, and orders from superiors.

       2. Resolutely protecting national sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction in Vietnam's maritime zones; combating crimes and violations of law, ensuring social security, maintaining peace, stability, and development in Vietnam's maritime zones.

       3. Remaining vigilant, keeping state secrets and work secrets; strictly implementing the Vietnam Coast Guard's work measures.

       4. Adhering to international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a member and international agreements related to the functions, tasks, and powers of the Vietnam Coast Guard.

       5. Continuously studying to enhance political resolve, legal knowledge, professional expertise, organizational discipline awareness, and physical training.

       6. Bearing responsibility under the law and to superiors for their decisions and actions when performing tasks.

Chapter III

ACTIVITIES OF THE VIETNAM COAST GUARD

Section 1

SCOPE OF ACTIVITY AND WORK MEASURES

OF THE VIETNAM COAST GUARD

Article 11. Scope of Activities of the Vietnam Coast Guard

       1. The Vietnam Coast Guard operates within Vietnam's maritime zones to perform its functions, tasks, and powers as prescribed by this Law.

       2. In cases where humanitarian purposes, peacekeeping, crime prevention, and law enforcement are involved, the Vietnam Coast Guard may operate outside Vietnam's maritime zones; when operating, it must comply with Vietnamese laws, international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a party, and relevant international agreements concerning the functions, tasks, and powers of the Vietnam Coast Guard.

       Article 12. Measures for Operations of the Vietnam Coast Guard

       1. The Vietnam Coast Guard implements measures such as mass mobilization, legal education, diplomacy, economics, science and technology, professional operations, and armed forces to safeguard national security and ensure maritime order and safety in accordance with the law.

       2. The Commander of the Vietnam Coast Guard decides on the use of operational measures as stipulated in Clause 1 of this Article and is responsible before the law and superiors for his decisions.

Section 2

ENFORCEMENT OF LAW AT SEA BY

VIETNAM COAST GUARD

       Article 13. Patrols, Inspections, and Control

       1. The Vietnam Coast Guard conducts patrols, inspections, and controls over persons, vessels, goods, and luggage to detect, prevent, and handle violations of law at sea.

       2. Situations requiring stopping vessels for inspection and control include:

       a) Directly discovering acts of violating the law or signs of such violations;

       b) Discovering and recording acts of violating the law or signs of such violations through technical means and equipment;

       c) Receiving reports, accusations, or information about crimes or violations of the law;

       d) Having written requests from competent authorities regarding pursuit, arrest of persons, vessels, and means that violate the law;

       e) Offenders voluntarily reporting their acts of violating the law.

       3. When conducting patrols, inspections, and controls, the Vietnam Coast Guard must display the colors of vessels, aircraft, and other means; flags, insignia, identification marks, and uniforms as prescribed in Articles 29 and 31 of this Law.

       4. Organizations, individuals operating in Vietnam's maritime zones have the responsibility to comply with inspections and controls by the Vietnam Coast Guard.

       5. The Minister of National Defense shall prescribe the procedures for patrols, inspections, and controls by the Vietnam Coast Guard.

       Article 14. Use of Weapons, Explosives, and Support Tools

       1. When performing duties, officers and soldiers of the Vietnam Coast Guard use military weapons, explosives, support tools, and are authorized to fire military weapons according to the provisions of the Law on Management and Use of Weapons, Explosives, and Support Tools.

       2. Besides firing military weapons as prescribed by the Law on Management and Use of Weapons, Explosives, and Support Tools, when performing duties to combat crime and law violations and ensure security, order, and safety, officers and soldiers of the Vietnam Coast Guard are authorized to fire at vessels at sea, except those belonging to diplomatic agencies, consular offices of foreign countries, representative offices of international organizations, or vessels carrying people or hostages, to stop vessels under the following circumstances:

       a) The perpetrator controlling the vessel attacks or directly threatens the lives of law enforcement personnel or others;

       b) Knowing that the vessel controlled by the criminal intentionally flees;

       c) Knowing that the vessel carries criminals or illegal weapons, explosives, subversive materials, state secrets, narcotics, or national treasures and intentionally flees;

       d) Knowing that the vessel has perpetrators who have committed acts of piracy or armed robbery as defined by international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a party or by criminal law and intentionally flees.

       3. In cases of firing as prescribed in Clause 2 of this Article, officers and soldiers of the Vietnam Coast Guard must warn by actions, commands, verbal instructions, or firing in the air before firing at vessels; they must follow orders from authorized persons when performing organized tasks.

Article 15. Use of technical equipment and means

       1. The Vietnam Coast Guard shall use technical equipment and means and the results collected to analyze, assess, and forecast situations related to protecting national sovereignty, sovereign rights, jurisdiction, security, and national interests on the sea; detecting, apprehending, investigating, and handling crimes and violations of laws according to regulations on national security protection, administrative violation handling, and criminal procedure law.

       2. Technical equipment and means of the Vietnam Coast Guard must be inspected, calibrated, tested, and operated in accordance with procedures ensuring safety as prescribed by law before being put into use.

       3. The Government shall stipulate the management, use, and list of technical equipment and means of the Vietnam Coast Guard.

       Article 16. Mobilization of personnel, vessels, and civil technical equipment and means

       1. In urgent cases for apprehending persons, vessels, and means violating the law; search and rescue operations; responding to and mitigating serious marine environmental incidents, officers and soldiers of the Vietnam Coast Guard may mobilize personnel, vessels, and civil technical equipment and means from agencies, organizations, and Vietnamese citizens.

       2. Mobilization pursuant to Clause 1 of this Article must be consistent with the actual capacity of the personnel, vessels, and civil technical equipment and means mobilized and must be returned immediately when the emergency situation ends. If the mobilized personnel and property suffer damage while performing their tasks, they shall enjoy benefits, policies, and compensation as provided for in Clause 3 of Article 6 of this Law; units with mobilized officers and soldiers shall be responsible for resolving compensation matters in accordance with the law.

       3. Agencies, organizations, and Vietnamese citizens have the responsibility to implement mobilizations by the Vietnam Coast Guard.

       4. In urgent cases for apprehending persons, vessels, and means violating the law; search and rescue operations; responding to and mitigating serious marine environmental incidents, officers and soldiers of the Vietnam Coast Guard may request assistance and support from foreign organizations and individuals operating in Vietnamese waters.

       Article 17. Exercise of the right to pursue vessels at sea

       1. The Vietnam Coast Guard shall exercise the right to pursue vessels at sea in the following cases:

       a) Violation of national sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction;

       b) Failure to comply with signals and orders to stop vessels issued by the Vietnam Coast Guard as provided for in Clause 2 of Article 13 of this Law;

       c) Implementation of international cooperation in pursuit activities.

       d) Other cases as prescribed by law.

       2. The scope, authority, and procedures for pursuing vessels at sea by the Vietnam Coast Guard shall be carried out in accordance with Vietnamese law and international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a member.

       Article 18. Announcement, Notification, and Change of Maritime Security Level

       The Command of the Vietnam Coast Guard shall announce or change the maritime security level and notify competent authorities; receive and process maritime security information; and notify appropriate maritime security measures to be applied to vessels operating in Vietnamese waters.

Section 3

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION OF THE VIETNAM COAST GUARD

       Article 19. Principles of International Cooperation

       1. Implement international cooperation on the basis of complying with Vietnamese law, international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a member, and international agreements within the scope of authority; respecting fundamental principles of international law; ensuring independence, sovereignty, sovereign rights, and national jurisdiction; protecting national interests, ethnic interests, and legitimate rights and interests of agencies, organizations, and individuals at sea.

       2. Leverage internal strength and support and assistance from the international community to ensure the enforcement of laws at sea.

       Article 20. Contents of International Cooperation

       1. Preventing and combating piracy and armed robbery against ships.

       2. Preventing and combating drug-related crimes, human trafficking, illegal arms trafficking, terrorism, illegal entry and exit, smuggling and illegal transportation of goods across borders, illegal fishing activities, and other criminal acts and violations of law at sea within the scope of duties and powers of the Vietnam Coast Guard.

       3. Preventing and combating marine environmental pollution; preventing, responding to, and mitigating environmental incidents; controlling the conservation of marine resources; protecting marine biodiversity and ecosystems; preventing and warning about natural disasters; providing humanitarian aid and disaster response; search and rescue operations at sea within the scope of duties and powers of the Vietnam Coast Guard.

       4. Training, capacity building, professional training, exchanging experiences, transferring equipment, science, and technology to enhance the capabilities of the Vietnam Coast Guard.

       5. Other contents of international cooperation as prescribed by Vietnamese law, international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a member, and relevant international agreements concerning the duties and powers of the Vietnam Coast Guard.

       Article 21. Forms of International Cooperation

       1. Exchanging information on maritime security, order, and safety.

       2. Organizing or participating in international conferences and seminars on maritime security, order, safety, and law enforcement.

       3. Participating in signing international agreements with functional forces of other countries and international organizations as prescribed by law.

       4. Coordinating patrols, inspections, and controls to maintain maritime security, order, safety, and compliance with laws at sea.

       5. Participating in exercises and training; organizing visits and exchanges with law enforcement forces of countries in the region and around the world.

       6. Carrying out activities of the permanent agency and liaison agency of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam as prescribed by Vietnamese law, international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a member, and international agreements.

       7. Other forms of international cooperation as prescribed by Vietnamese law, international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a member, and international agreements.

Chapter IV

COORDINATION OF ACTIVITIES BETWEEN THE VIETNAM COAST GUARD AND FUNCTIONAL AGENCIES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND FORCES

TO AUTHORITIES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND FUNCTIONAL FORCES

       Article 22. Scope of Coordination

       1. The Vietnam Coast Guard shall take the lead and coordinate with agencies, organizations, and functional forces under Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and provincial People's Committees to perform the duties and powers of the Vietnam Coast Guard as prescribed by this Law and other relevant laws.

       2. The Minister of National Defense shall prescribe the coordination between the Vietnam Coast Guard and forces under the Ministry of National Defense.

       Article 23. Principles of Coordination

       1. Coordination must be based on the tasks and authorities of agencies, organizations, and functional forces under the Ministry, ministerial-level agencies, and provincial People's Committees as prescribed by law; it shall not hinder the lawful activities of agencies, organizations, and individuals at sea.

       2. The Vietnam Coast Guard and agencies, organizations, and functional forces under the Ministry, ministerial-level agencies, and provincial People's Committees shall directly coordinate to promptly resolve incidents and support each other in performing tasks and authorities as prescribed by law.

       3. Ensure centralized, unified leadership, confidentiality of information related to national defense and security, and operational methods of agencies, organizations, and functional forces during the coordination process.

       4. Ensure proactivity, flexibility, specificity, and effectiveness, linked with the responsibility of the head of the leading agency in coordination.

       5. In the same maritime area, when discovering violations of law related to the tasks and authorities of multiple agencies, organizations, and forces, the agency, organization, or force that discovers first must handle according to its jurisdiction as prescribed by law; if the incident does not fall within its jurisdiction, it must transfer the case file, persons, contraband items, vessels, and means of violation to the competent agency, organization, or force for primary resolution. The receiving agency, organization, or force has the responsibility to inform the transferring agency, organization, or force about the investigation and handling results.

       Article 24. Contents of Coordination

       1. Exchange of information and materials; proposal for drafting regulatory legal documents.

       2. Protection of national security, sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdictional rights of the State over the sea.

       3. Protection of marine resources and environment; protection of state assets, organizational, and individual properties; lives, health, dignity, and personal integrity of individuals engaged in lawful activities at sea.

       4. Patrol, inspection, and control to maintain maritime security, order, and safety; prevention, detection, obstruction, and struggle against crime and law violations; struggle and prevention of piracy and armed robbery against ships.

       5. Prevention and response to natural disasters; search and rescue operations and environmental emergency response and remediation at sea.

       6. Training, instruction, and capacity building for officers and soldiers of the Vietnam Coast Guard; dissemination, popularization, and education of laws to the people.

       7. Implementation of international cooperation.

       8. Implementation of other relevant coordinated activities.

       Article 25. Responsibilities of the Minister, Head of a Ministerial-Level Agency, and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee in coordinating activities with the Vietnam Coast Guard

       Within their respective tasks and authorities, the Minister, Head of a Ministerial-Level Agency, and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee have the responsibility to coordinate with the Minister of National Defense regarding the activities of the Vietnam Coast Guard as prescribed by the Government.

Chapter V

ORGANIZATION OF THE VIETNAM COAST GUARD

       Article 26. Organizational System of the Vietnam Coast Guard

       1. The organizational system of the Vietnam Coast Guard includes:

       a) The Command of the Vietnam Coast Guard;

       b) The Regional Coast Guard Command and subordinate units of the Vietnam Coast Guard Command;

       c) Basic-level units.

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

       Article 27. Traditional Day of the Vietnam Coast Guard

       August 28th of each year is the Traditional Day of the Vietnam Coast Guard.

       Article 28. Name of International Transactions

       The name of international transactions of the Vietnam Coast Guard is Vietnam Coast Guard.

       Article 29. Color, Flag, Emblem, and Identification Marks of the Vietnam Coast Guard's Means of Transport

       1. Ships, aircraft, and other means of transport of the Vietnam Coast Guard have their own colors, flags, emblems, and identification marks. When on duty, ships must fly the national flag of Vietnam and the flag of the Vietnam Coast Guard.

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

       Article 30. Seal of the Vietnam Coast Guard

       The Vietnam Coast Guard uses a seal with the National Emblem when performing its functions, tasks, and powers.

       Article 31. Uniforms of the Vietnam Coast Guard

       The insignia, rank insignia, emblems, duty uniforms, and ceremonial uniforms of officers and soldiers of the Vietnam Coast Guard shall be regulated by the Government.

Chapter VI

ENSURING OPERATIONS AND REGIME, POLICIES

FOR THE VIETNAM COAST GUARD

       Article 32. Budget and Material Basis for Ensuring the Operations of the Vietnam Coast Guard

       1. The State ensures the budget and material basis, land, headquarters, and facilities for the operations of the Vietnam Coast Guard.

       2. The State prioritizes investment in modern equipment, research, and application of scientific and technological achievements for the Vietnam Coast Guard.

       Article 33. Equipment of the Vietnam Coast Guard

       1. The Vietnam Coast Guard is equipped with ships, aircraft, and other means of transport; various types of weapons, explosives, support tools, and technical devices necessary to perform its assigned functions, tasks, and powers.

       2. The Minister of Defense shall provide detailed regulations for this Article.

       Article 34. Rank, Military Rank, Position, Service System, Policy Regime, and Benefits of Officers and Soldiers of the Vietnam Coast Guard

       1. The appointment, dismissal, removal from office, promotion, demotion, revocation of rank and military rank, salary increase, reduction in pay grade, training, development, recruitment, service system, termination of service, policy regime, benefits, and other regulations concerning officers and soldiers of the Vietnam Coast Guard shall be implemented according to the provisions of the Law on Officers of the People's Army of Vietnam, the Law on Professional Military Personnel, Defense Workers, and Civil Servants, the Law on Military Service, and other relevant laws.

       2. Officers and soldiers of the Vietnam Coast Guard serving on active duty enjoy preferential treatment appropriate to the nature of their tasks and operational areas as prescribed by the Government.

       Article 35. Conditions and Standards for Selecting Citizens into the Vietnam Coast Guard

       1. Vietnamese citizens aged 18 years or older, regardless of gender, who have clear political qualities, morals, health, background, and voluntarily serve long-term in the Vietnam Coast Guard.

       2. Possessing professional technical certificates, vocational qualifications, and skills suitable for the requirements of the Vietnam Coast Guard's tasks.

       3. The Minister of National Defense shall provide detailed regulations on this matter.

       Article 36. Training and Development of Officers and Soldiers of the Vietnam Coast Guard

       Officers and soldiers of the Vietnam Coast Guard are trained and developed in politics, specialized knowledge, vocational skills, law, foreign languages, and other necessary knowledge consistent with their assigned tasks and powers; encouraged to develop talents to serve long-term in the Vietnam Coast Guard.

Chapter VII

STATE MANAGEMENT AND RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MINISTRY,

AGENCIES OF THE SAME RANK AS MINISTRIES, AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES

FOR THE VIETNAM COAST GUARD

       Article 37. Contents of State Management over the Vietnam Coast Guard

       1. Issuing, submitting to competent authorities for issuance, and organizing the implementation of regulatory legal documents on the Vietnam Coast Guard.

       2. Organizing and directing activities of the Vietnam Coast Guard.

       3. Training and enhancing cadres and soldiers of the Vietnam Coast Guard.

       4. Implementing systems and policies for the Vietnam Coast Guard.

       5. Inspecting, auditing, resolving complaints and denunciations; summarizing, concluding, rewarding, and handling violations of law in the activities of the Vietnam Coast Guard.

       6. Propaganda, dissemination, and legal education.

       7. International cooperation of the Vietnam Coast Guard.

       Article 38. Responsibilities for State Management over the Vietnam Coast Guard

       1. The Government exercises unified state management over the Vietnam Coast Guard.

       2. The Minister of National Defense is responsible before the Government for implementing state management over the Vietnam Coast Guard. The Commander of the Vietnam Coast Guard is responsible before the Minister of National Defense for organizing, managing, commanding, and directing the activities of the Vietnam Coast Guard.

       3. Ministers and Heads of ministerial-level agencies, within their respective duties and powers, have the responsibility to coordinate with the Minister of National Defense in implementing state management over the Vietnam Coast Guard.

       Article 39. Responsibilities of People's Councils and People's Committees at all levels

       People's Councils and People's Committees at all levels, within their respective duties and powers, create conditions for the Vietnam Coast Guard to use land funds in localities for constructing headquarters, berthing ships and boats, warehouses, and wharfs; propaganda, dissemination, and legal education on the Vietnam Coast Guard; implement social housing policies for cadres and soldiers of the Vietnam Coast Guard in accordance with the provisions of the law.

       Article 40. Responsibilities of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and its member organizations

       The Vietnam Fatherland Front and its member organizations, within their respective duties and powers, have the responsibility to cooperate with relevant agencies and organizations in propaganda and mobilizing the people to comply with laws on the Vietnam Coast Guard; supervise the activities of the Vietnam Coast Guard in accordance with the provisions of the law.

Chapter VIII

IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

       Article 41. Effective Date

       Article 1. Effective Date of this Law

       1. This Law shall take effect from July 1, 2019.

2. The Ordinance on the Vietnam Coast Guard Force No. 03/2008/PL-UBTVQH12 shall cease to be effective from the date this Law takes effect.