What are conditions for establishment of online newspapers websites in Vietnam?

What are conditions for establishment of online newspapers websites in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 17 of the Law on Press in 2016 (amended by Article 20 of the Law on amendments to some articles concerning planning of 37 Laws in 2018) stipulating conditions for issue of press operation permit in Vietnam as follows:

1. Determining the line agency; subjects to be served, program, time, amount of time, mode of transmission or broadcasting (for talking newspaper and photo newspaper); domain name, place of server and connection service provider (for electronic newspaper).

2. Having the plan for organization and personnel to ensure the activities of the press agency; have the qualified personnel specified in Clause 2, Article 23 of this Law to assume the position of head of press agency.

3. Having the name and form of presentation of name of press agency, name and form of presentation of name of journalistic publications; name andsymbol of radio channel and television channel; name and form of form of presentation of special column of online newspapers.

4. Having the head office and conditions of material facilities, financial plan, technical solutions to guarantee the safety and security of information. For the online newspapers, there must be at least one registered domain name “vn” in line with the name of newspaper and use of server system placed in Vietnam. For talking newspapers and photo newspapers, there must be plans to lease or use the transmission and broadcasting infrastructure.

5. Conform to the planning for developing a network of press agencies, broadcasting and electronic information establishments and publishers that is approved by the Prime Minister.

As regulations above, to establish online newspapers websites in Vietnam, you shall satisfy these following requirements: determine domain name, place of server and connection service provider, have name and form of form of presentation of special column of online newspapers, have at least one registered domain name “vn” in line with the name of newspaper and use of server system placed in Vietnam and shall conform to the planning.

Which bodies have competence in issuance of license for operating electronic newspaper in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 3 of the Circular 41/2020/TT-BTTTT stipulating competence in issuance of licenses for operating print newspaper, print magazine, electronic newspaper or electronic magazine, publishing additional publication, operating two types of news media, opening special page for electronic newspaper or electronic magazine, publishing supplement, publishing paper newsletter and publishing special issue in Vietnam as follows:

1. The Minister of Information and Communications has the power to issue:

a) License for operating print newspaper;

b) License for operating print magazine;

c) License for publishing additional journalistic publication;

d) License for amending regulations written in license for operating print newspaper/ operating print magazine/ publishing additional journalistic publication;

dd) License for operating electronic newspaper;

e) License for operating electronic magazine;

g) License for amending regulations written in license for operating electronic newspaper/ electronic magazine;

h) License for operating print newspaper and electronic newspaper;

i) License for operating print magazine and electronic magazine;

k) License for amending regulations written in license for operating print newspaper and electronic newspaper or print magazine and electronic magazine;

2. The Director General of Authority of Press has the power to issue:

a) License for publishing supplement;

b) License for opening special page for electronic newspaper/ electronic magazine;

c) License for amending regulations written in license for publishing supplement/ opening special page for electronic newspaper/ opening special page for electronic magazine;

d) License for publishing paper newsletter to central regulatory bodies and organizations, foreign representative missions and foreign organizations in Vietnam;

dd) License for publishing special issue.

3. Provincial People’s Committees or heads of provincial specialized agencies may delegate the power to issue the license for publishing paper newsletter to regulatory bodies and organizations in their provinces and central-affiliated cities.

As regulations above, the Minister of Information and Communications of Vietnam shall have competance in issuance of license for operating electronic newspaper, print newspaper and others in Vietnam.

What are regulations on application and procedure for issuance of license for operating electronic newspaper in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 10 of the Circular 41/2020/TT-BTTTT stipulating application and procedure for issuance of license for operating electronic newspaper in Vietnam as follows:

1. The applicant for the license for operating electronic newspapers shall submit 01 application to the Ministry of Information and Communications. The application includes:

a) Application for the license for operating electronic newspapers (made using Form No. 06);

b) Scheme for operation of the electronic newspaper (bearing the signature of the competent person and stamp or digital signature of the applicant) and other documents on necessity and legal grounds; proof of satisfaction of the conditions provided for in Article 17 of the Press Law; main contents and structures of special pages and columns of the electronic newspaper and columns of special pages; domain name suiting the electronic newspaper’s name; ownership of domain name with at least 06 months of validity starting from the time of license application; and procedures for publication and content management;

c) Provisional list of personnel of the electronic newspaper (made using Form No. 03);

d) Curriculum vitae of the provisional chief editor (made using Form No. 04);

dd) Sample layout of homepage of the electronic newspaper must display the information required according to Article 46 of the Press Law and be verified by the applicant.

Sample layout of homepage of the special page must be verified by the applicant. The homepage of the special page must display the information required according to Article 46 of the Press Law, in which, the special page’s name must include the word “chuyên trang” (“special page”) in a size that is at least 1/2 of the font size of the special page’s name, and the font size of the electronic newspaper’s name must be at least half of the font size of the special page’s name.

2. Within 90 days starting from the date of receipt of the complete and valid application, the Ministry of Information and Communications shall issue the license for operating electronic newspaper (using Form No. 17); if the application is rejected, a written explanation must be sent to the applicant.

Application and procedure for issuance of license for operating electronic newspaper in Vietnam shall follow the above regulations. You shall submit 01 application to the Ministry of Information and Communications for the license for operating electronic newspapers in Vietnam.

Best regards!