If I have informed the Provincial Committee of the photography composition campaigns but have not received a reply, can I still organize in Vietnam?

If I have informed the Provincial Committee of the photography composition campaigns but have not received a reply, can I still organize in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 9 of Decree 72/2016/ND-CP stipulating photography composition campaigns, photography camps, contests and festivals organized in Vietnam as follows:

1. The entity in demand of organizing a photography composition campaign, or photography camp, or contest or festival in Vietnam shall, by hand or by post, send a written announcement to competent authorities referred to in Clause 3 of this Article.

2. The written announcement must include information of the entity organizing the photography composition campaign, or photography camp, or contest or festival, name, topic, contents, period and location of that photography composition campaign, or photography camp, or contest or festival.

3. Announcement-receiving authorities

a) Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall receive written announcements of photography composition campaigns, photography camps, contests and festivals organized in Vietnam by ministries, boards or regulatory bodies affiliated to the central government and foreign entities;

b) Provincial people’s committees shall receive written announcement of photography composition campaigns, photography camps, contests and festivals organized in Vietnam by entities other than those stated in point a of this Clause.

4. Within 07 working days from the receipt of the written announcement, if the competent state authority makes no written response, the entity sending that written announcement may carry out announced activities. If finding that any of acts stated in Article 5 of this Decree is committed, the competent state authority shall not give approval for the photographic activity stated in the written announcement by specifying reasons in writing.

5. If any contents in the written announcement are changed, the entity that organizes the photography composition campaign, or photography camp, or contest or festival in Vietnam must send another written announcement.

Thus, within 07 working days from the receipt of the written announcement, if the competent state authority makes no written response, the organization or individual that sends the written notice shall carry out announced activities to organize photography composition campaigns, photography camps, contests and festivals organized in Vietnam. Therefore, it has been 2 weeks now and your company has not received a written reply, you can conduct a photography composition campaign.

Who has authority to receive written notice of transporting photographic works from Vietnam to foreign countries for attending photography contest? 

According to Article 10 of Decree 72/2016/ND-CP stipulating transporting photographic works from Vietnam to foreign countries for attending photography contest or festival as follows:

1. Entities transporting photographic works from Vietnam to foreign countries for attending photography contests or festivals shall assume liability before the law for the copyright and contents of photographic works which are sent to photography contests or festivals. Entities that commit violations when transporting photographic works from Vietnam to foreign countries for attending photography contests or festivals shall be handled in accordance with prevailing laws.

2. An organization (ministry, board or regulatory body affiliated to the central government) that carries photographic works from Vietnam to a foreign country for attending a photography contest or festival under the guise of representing Vietnam shall, by hand or by post, send a written announcement to competent state authorities referred to in Clause 4 of this Article.

3. The written announcement must include information of the entity organizing the photography contest or festival, name, topic, contents, period and location of that photography contest or festival.

The written announcement is enclosed by the following:

a) The list of photographic works expressed in Vietnamese (including ordinal numbers and names of photographic works, and names of photographers);

b) Photographic works sent to the photography contest or festival must be enclosed with photographic notes. Such photographic works must be printed in papers with the smallest paper size of 13 x 18 cm or recorded in CDs;

c) The invitation letters and rules of the photography contest or festival, which are translated into Vietnamese.

4. Announcement-receiving authorities

Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall receive written announcements submitted by organizations that transport photographic works from Vietnam to foreign countries for attending photography contests or festivals under the guise of representing Vietnam.

5. Within 07 working days from the receipt of the written announcement, if the competent state authority makes no written response, the entity submitting that written announcement may conduct activities stated in that written announcement. If finding that any of acts stated in Article 5 of this Decree is committed, the competent state authority shall not give approval for the activities stated in the written announcement by specifying reasons in writing.

6. If any contents in the written announcement are changed, the organization that carries photographic works from Vietnam to a foreign country for attending a photography contest or festival under the guise of representing Vietnam must submit another written announcement.

7. Entities transporting photographic works from Vietnam to foreign countries for attending photography contests or festivals must send written reports of results of photography contests or festivals to competent authorities that receive their written announcement of attending foreign photography contests or festivals, enclosed with copies of award certificates (if any) to use as the basis for commendation.

According to this Article, the authority to receive written notices for transporting photographic works from Vietnam to foreign countries for attending photography contest or festival belongs to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Best Regards!