Joint Circular No. 84/TTLB guiding the implementation of the Regulation on managing the activities of foreign press and information in Vietnam for foreign press correspondents and organizations.

Guidelines for Implementing the Regulation on Managing Activities of Foreign Press and Information in Vietnam,

agencies, organizations from foreign countries in Vietnam

_____________________

Pursuant to Decree No. 67/CP dated October 31, 1996 of the Government promulgating the Regulation on Managing Activities of Foreign Press and Information in Vietnam for foreign press correspondents, agencies, and organizations from foreign countries in Vietnam;

The Ministry of Culture and Information and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued Circulars providing additional guidance on certain specific points as follows:

I. FUNCTIONS OF MANAGEMENT AND LICENSE ISSUANCE BY THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND INFORMATION AND THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

The Ministry of Culture and Information and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam have been authorized by the Government to perform management functions and issue licenses for foreign press activities in Vietnam according to the following division of responsibilities:

1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall perform management functions and issue licenses for the press activities of foreign correspondents and foreign press offices permanently stationed in Vietnam as stipulated in Clause 1, Article 1 and Clause 1, Article 2 of the Regulation, including foreign correspondents accompanying foreign delegations visiting Vietnam as stipulated in Clause 4 and Clause 5, Article 2 of the Regulation, which include the following tasks:

- Reviewing and issuing permits for foreign correspondents to enter Vietnam for press activities;

- Reviewing and issuing permits for foreign news agencies and press organizations to establish permanent offices in Vietnam;

- Managing and guiding press activities and resolving technical requirements serving the press activities of foreign correspondents and foreign press offices permanently stationed in Vietnam such as hiring Vietnamese staff, importing technical equipment and press products...

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will coordinate with the Ministry of Culture and Information in handling requests for information and press activities of diplomatic missions, consular offices, international governmental organizations mentioned in Clause 2, Article 1 and Clause 2, Article 2 of the Regulation, and press activities of foreign delegations visiting Vietnam at the invitation of state leaders, the Government, or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as stipulated in Clause 4, Article 2 of the Regulation.

2. The Ministry of Culture and Information shall perform management functions and issue licenses for publication and circulation of bulletins, materials in Vietnamese or other languages, press conferences, seminars, information booths, film screenings, exhibitions, speeches or articles published on Vietnamese mass media, and other related activities involving information and press activities of diplomatic missions, consular offices, international governmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, economic, cultural, scientific, advisory foreign organizations; foreign companies and enterprises in Vietnam, and press activities of foreign delegations visiting Vietnam as stipulated in Clause 4 and Clause 5, Article 2 of the Regulation.

II. FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS, FOREIGN PRESS OFFICES PERMANENTLY STATIONED IN VIETNAM

A. FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS

1. Foreign correspondents referred to in this Regulation are professional journalists working for a news agency or various types of media such as radio, print, television, photography, online news, or freelance journalists who request entry into Vietnam to conduct press activities such as filming, photographing, collecting data, interviewing, recording audio and video, traveling to localities and institutions to gather news, write articles, produce reports... about situations and events occurring on Vietnamese territory.

2. Foreign individuals entering Vietnam for purposes other than journalism, such as tourism, visiting relatives, business, professional exchange, technical cooperation, working for Vietnamese media organizations in Vietnam... and those who are not journalists shall not be permitted to conduct press activities as foreign correspondents. In special cases, permission must be sought and approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

B. FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS CONDUCTING SHORT-TERM PRESS ACTIVITIES IN VIETNAM

1. The brief biographies of foreign correspondents wishing (or invited by Vietnamese agencies and organizations) to conduct short-term press activities in Vietnam as stipulated in Article 6 of the Regulation should clearly state their full name, date of birth, nationality, passport number, and the mass media organization they work for.

In cases where foreign correspondents hold passports exempted from visa requirements under agreements between their countries and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, they do not need to go through the visa application process but still must submit an application for press activity as described above.

If the request for press activity is approved, the foreign correspondent will be issued an entry-exit visa by the Vietnamese diplomatic mission abroad (if a visa is required) or notified of approval by the Department of Information and Press of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Vietnamese diplomatic mission abroad (if visa-free entry is applicable). The foreign correspondent may be issued a single-entry or multiple-entry visa and may be extended according to Vietnam's regulations on entry and exit.

2. The competent Vietnamese agency guiding foreign correspondents conducting short-term press activities in Vietnam as stipulated in Article 7 of the Regulation is an agency recognized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The foreign correspondent bears all costs related to implementing the program.

C. FOREIGN PRESS OFFICES, PERMANENTLY STATIONED FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS

1. A foreign press office permanently stationed in Vietnam is a representative office of foreign news agencies, newspapers, and television stations permitted to establish headquarters in Hanoi to conduct press activities in Vietnam.

2. Permanently stationed foreign correspondents in Vietnam are journalists officially and regularly employed at a foreign press office permanently stationed in Vietnam.

3. Applications for establishing a foreign press office permanently stationed in Vietnam as stipulated in Article 8 of the Regulation should be submitted to the Department of Information and Press of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or through Vietnamese diplomatic missions abroad. The head of the relevant news agency or press organization may authorize a responsible person to sign the application. The Department of Information and Press of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will respond within 60 days from the date of receipt of the application.

4. The permanent foreign press office must ensure continuous and regular operation. If the Office does not have a resident correspondent for a consecutive period of 180 days, the permit to establish the Office will automatically become invalid.

5. Regarding the replacement or change in the number of correspondents as stipulated in Article 10 of the Regulation, if there is a need for a replacement correspondent or a temporary reinforcement for the Office, the Office must submit an application to the Department of Press and Information under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Department of Press and Information under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will consider and resolve each specific case.

6. The foreign correspondent card mentioned in Article 12 of the Regulation shall be issued in accordance with the validity period of the entry-exit visa of the correspondent. Resident correspondents are granted a multiple-entry Vietnam entry-exit visa valid for six months, which can be extended if they continue to work as resident correspondents in Vietnam. At least fifteen days before the expiration of the entry-exit visa, the correspondent must complete the extension procedures if they intend to continue working as a resident correspondent in Vietnam. In the event of loss of the foreign correspondent card, the correspondent must immediately notify the Department of Press and Information under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and apply for a new card.

7. When carrying out journalistic activities as specified in Article 13 of the Regulation, correspondents must carry their foreign correspondent card and press activity permit and present them to authorities when necessary. When visiting locations outside Hanoi, correspondents must contact local consular agencies before conducting any journalistic activities.

Urgent requests for journalistic activities by correspondents will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Department of Press and Information under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

For any journalistic activities that arise outside the scope of the permitted content, correspondents must comply with regulations and instructions from local authorities.

8. The Foreign Press Guidance Center under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the sole entity authorized to introduce and sign contracts to provide interpreters and assistants for the offices of foreign permanent press offices as stipulated in Article 14 of the Regulation. Interpreters and assistants of these offices do not enjoy the status of correspondents and are not permitted to conduct journalistic activities as representatives of the office.

9. Permanent foreign press offices requiring a separate seal for their operations must submit an application to the Department of Press and Information under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to introduce it to relevant Vietnamese agencies to process the necessary procedures in accordance with Vietnamese regulations.

D. FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS ACCOMPANYING DELEGATIONS VISITING VIETNAM AT THE INVITATION OF PARTY LEADERSHIP, STATE LEADERSHIP OR THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS; FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS ACCOMPANYING FOREIGN DELEGATIONS VISITING OR WORKING IN VIETNAM AT THE INVITATION OF OTHER VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES

1. Foreign correspondents accompanying delegations visiting Vietnam at the invitation of Party leadership, State leadership, or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to report on the visit are considered unofficial members of the delegation. The Vietnamese host agency will handle necessary entry-exit procedures and inform the Department of Press and Information under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for coordination in managing the correspondent during their stay in Vietnam.

2. For foreign correspondents accompanying foreign delegations visiting or working with Vietnamese agencies to report on the visit, the Vietnamese host agency must process the necessary procedures with the Department of Press and Information under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as for short-term foreign correspondents engaged in journalistic activities in Vietnam.

3. Correspondents must comply with guidance from the Foreign Press Guidance Center under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the welcoming agency if approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

E. EXPORT AND IMPORT OF EQUIPMENT FOR JOURNALISTIC ACTIVITIES AND JOURNALISTIC PRODUCTS OF PERMANENT FOREIGN PRESS OFFICES AND FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS

1. In addition to the provisions in Article 18 of the Regulation, permanent foreign press offices wishing to import, install, and use direct satellite news gathering equipment must submit a request to the Department of Press and Information under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for referral to the Ministry of Culture and Information for permission.

2. For other types of products not covered in Article 19, correspondents must process export and import procedures with relevant Vietnamese agencies.

III. JOURNALISTIC ACTIVITIES OF FOREIGN AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS IN VIETNAM

A. PUBLISHING AND DISTRIBUTION OF NEWSLETTERS, DOCUMENTS, PRINTED MATERIALS

The publication and distribution of newsletters, printed materials by entities mentioned in this provision must be conducted in compliance with the Press Law, Publishing Law, and current regulations of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

1. "Foreign representative offices" wishing to publish and distribute documents, books, photographs, newsletters, supplements to newsletters, audio recordings, video recordings, software programs... containing information and journalism in Vietnamese or other languages must submit an application to the Ministry of Culture and Information (Press Department), and simultaneously notify the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Department of Press and Information). The application must clearly state: purpose, content, title, periodicity or non-periodicity, language, format, printing location, quantity, and recipients.

2. "Foreign organizations" wishing to publish and distribute documents, books, photographs, newsletters, supplements to newsletters, audio recordings, video recordings, software programs... containing information and journalism in Vietnamese or other languages must submit an application to the Ministry of Culture and Information (Press Department). The application must clearly state the purpose, content, title, periodicity or non-periodicity, format, printing location, quantity, and recipients.

The publication and distribution of such documents and printed materials by entities specified in Clause 1 and 2 of this Article may only proceed after obtaining permission from the Ministry of Culture and Information.

B. PRESS CONFERENCES INVOLVING PARTICIPATION BY VIETNAMESE CITIZENS

A press conference is understood as:

Agencies, organizations, delegations, individuals from foreign countries invite representatives of the press, Vietnamese journalists, or Vietnamese citizens to meet or gather to announce, explain, or declare an issue within their jurisdiction, related to their mission and interests.

1. "Foreign representative agency" wishing to organize press conferences must notify in writing the Ministry of Culture and Information, simultaneously notifying the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the content, time, location, participants, host, and other relevant details such as displaying materials, exhibits, film screenings, cultural performances...

In cases where "foreign representative agencies" have offices outside of Hanoi, they must notify in writing the People's Committee of the province or centrally governed city (Department of Culture and Information), simultaneously notifying the Department of Foreign Affairs.

2. "Foreign agencies" and foreign individuals wishing to organize press conferences in any territorial area must register in writing with the People's Committee of the province or centrally governed city (Department of Culture and Information) at least 48 hours prior.

After 24 hours from receiving the notification letter, if the Ministry of Culture and Information or the People's Committee of the province or centrally governed city (Department of Culture and Information) does not provide comments, the press conference shall be deemed approved.

The Ministry of Culture and Information and the People's Committee of the province or centrally governed city have the right to refuse approval or terminate the press conference if there are signs of violation of the Press Law, Decree 133/HĐBT dated April 20, 1992, the Regulations issued together with Decree 67/CP dated October 31, 1996, and this Circular.

3. Press conferences of foreign delegations visiting Vietnam at the invitation of the Party, State, Government, National Assembly, or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall be conducted according to the delegation's program. The responsible Vietnamese agency has the duty to notify the Ministry of Culture and Information for coordination and management.

For press conferences organized by foreign delegations visiting Vietnam at the invitation of other Vietnamese agencies: the responsible Vietnamese agency has the duty to notify in writing the Ministry of Culture and Information or the Department of Culture and Information authorized.

C. SPEECHES AND PUBLICATIONS ON PUBLIC INFORMATION MEDIA

1. "Foreign representative agencies" wishing to publish or broadcast speeches on central newspapers, radio stations, and television channels must notify in writing along with the content of the article or speech to the Ministry of Culture and Information (Press Department), simultaneously notifying the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Information and Press Department) at least 48 hours prior. The notification must clearly state: purpose, content, speaker, author, media outlet publishing or broadcasting, and time of publication or broadcast. "Foreign representative agencies" publishing or broadcasting speeches on local newspapers, radio stations, and television channels must notify the provincial or centrally governed city People's Committee (Department of Culture and Information), simultaneously notifying the Department of Foreign Affairs.

2. "Foreign agencies" wishing to publish or broadcast speeches on central newspapers, radio stations, and television channels must notify in writing along with the content of the article or speech to the Ministry of Culture and Information (Press Department) at least 48 hours prior. The notification must clearly state: purpose, content, speaker, author, media outlet publishing or broadcasting, and time of publication or broadcast. "Foreign agencies" publishing or broadcasting speeches on local newspapers, radio stations, and television channels must notify the provincial or centrally governed city People's Committee (Department of Culture and Information).

D. DISPLAYING INFORMATION BOOTHS IN FRONT OF HEADQUARTERS

1. "Foreign representative agencies" wishing to install information booths in front of their headquarters must submit a request to the Ministry of Culture and Information, simultaneously notifying the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The request must clearly state: purpose, content, size, and location of the information booth.

In cases where "foreign representative agencies" have headquarters outside of Hanoi, they must notify in writing the provincial or centrally governed city People's Committee (Department of Culture and Information), simultaneously notifying the Department of Foreign Affairs.

2. "Foreign representative agencies" as stipulated in Clause 2, Article 23 of the Regulations wishing to install information booths or signs in front of their headquarters must submit a request to the provincial or centrally governed city People's Committee (Department of Culture and Information).

The request must clearly state: purpose, content, size, and location. Installation of information booths or signs can only be carried out after obtaining permission from the Ministry of Culture and Information or the provincial or centrally governed city People's Committee as prescribed.

Any changes other than those specified in the permit must be approved by the issuing authority.

E. SCREENINGS, EXHIBITIONS, SEMINARS, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES RELATED TO NEWS INFORMATION

1. "Foreign representative agencies" wishing to screen films, hold exhibitions, seminars, and organize other activities related to news information that invite Vietnamese citizens to participate must submit a request to the Ministry of Culture and Information, simultaneously notifying the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The notification must clearly state: content, location, time of organization, and guests.

In cases where "foreign representative agencies" have headquarters outside of Hanoi, they must notify in writing the provincial or centrally governed city People's Committee (Department of Culture and Information), simultaneously notifying the Department of Foreign Affairs.

2. "Foreign agencies" as stipulated in Clause 2, Article 24 of the Regulations wishing to organize film screenings, exhibitions, seminars, and other activities related to information and news that invite Vietnamese citizens to participate must obtain permission from the provincial or centrally governed city People's Committee (Department of Culture and Information) where the event will take place.

The request must clearly state: purpose, content, location, time of organization, and guests.

These activities can only be carried out after obtaining approval from the Ministry of Culture and Information or the provincial or centrally governed city People's Committee (Department of Culture and Information).

The Ministry of Culture and Information and the provincial or centrally governed city People's Committee have the right to refuse approval or terminate all or part of the content if there are signs of violation of the Press Law, Decree 133/HĐBT dated April 20, 1992, Decree 67/CP dated October 31, 1996, and this Circular.

IV. IMPLEMENTATION

1. The Ministry of Culture and Information and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are responsible for disseminating this Circular to relevant entities, and coordinating with central and local relevant agencies to manage implementation and handle violations.

2. Relevant entities are responsible for implementing the contents guided in this Circular accurately. If there are violations, penalties will be imposed according to current Vietnamese laws based on the severity of the offense.

3. This Circular takes effect from the date of issuance. All previous documents of the Ministry of Culture and Information and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that conflict with this Circular are hereby abolished.