Notable documents of Vietnam in the previous week (from December 16 – December 22, 2024)

21 Resolutions approved by National Assembly of Vietnam at 8th meeting 

On November 30, 2024, the National Assembly of Vietnam approved Resolution No. 174/2024/QH15 on the 8th meeting of the 15th National Assembly of Vietnam. 

According to the Resolution, 21 Resolutions approved by the National Assembly of Vietnam at the 8th meeting include:  

- Resolution on dismissal of the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam for the 2021-2026 term; 

- Resolution on election of the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam for the 2021-2026 term; 

- Resolution on dismissal of the General Secretary of the National Assembly of Vietnam and deputies of the Standing Committees of the National Assembly of Vietnam and dismissal from duties as deputies of the 15th National Assembly of Vietnam;

- Resolution on the election of deputies of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly of Vietnam and the General Secretary of the National Assembly of Vietnam for the 2021-2026 term; 

- Resolution on approval for the suggestion of the Prime Minister of Vietnam on the dismissal of the Minister of Finance of Vietnam and the Minister of Transport of Vietnam for the 2021-2026 term; 

- Resolution on approval for the suggestion of the Prime Minister of Vietnam on the appointment of the Minister of Finance of Vietnam and the Minister of Transport of Vietnam for the 2021-2026 term; 

- Resolution on approval for the suggestion of the Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court of Vietnam on the appointment of judges of the Supreme People’s Court of Vietnam; 

- Resolution on the socio-economic development plan 2025; 

- Resolution on the state budget estimate for 2025; 

- Resolution on central budget distribution for 2025; 

- Resolution on pilot handling of material evidence and property during the investigation, prosecution, and trial of criminal cases;

- Resolution on pilot implementation of projects on commercial housing through agreements on receipt of land use rights or with land use rights;

- Resolution on specific mechanisms and policies to resolve difficulties for projects and land in conclusions of inspections and judgments in Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang City, and Khanh Hoa province; 

- Resolution on the organization of the urban government in Hai Phong City;

- Resolution on the establishment of centrally affiliated Hue City;

- Resolution on approval for the investment guidelines of the National Objective Program on Cultural Development during 2025-2035;

- Resolution on approval for the investment guidelines of the National Objective Program on Prevention and Combat against Narcotics by 2030; 

- Resolution on investment guidelines of the Project on High-Speed Railway on the North-South Axis; 

- Resolution on continuation of the improvement of the effectiveness and efficiency of the implementation of policies and laws on the management of the real estate market and social housing development; 

- Resolution on questioning activities at the 8th meeting of the 15th National Assembly of Vietnam;

- Resolution on the 8th meeting of the 15th National Assembly of Vietnam.

See more details in Resolution No. 174/2024/QH15, approved on November 30, 2024. 

Vietnam's amendments to standards of mandatory physical facilities for classrooms of high schools

On December 16, 2024), the Minister of Education and Training of Vietnam promulgated Circular No. 23/2024/TT-BGDDT on amendments to regulations on standards of physical facilities of preschools, primary schools, lower secondary schools, high schools, and general schools with many study levels enclosed with Circular No. 13/2020/TT-BGDDT. 

According to the Circular, the standards of mandatory physical facilities for classrooms of high schools amended by the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam in Circular No. 23/2024/TT-BGDDT are as follows: 

- Regarding classrooms: at least 0,6 rooms per class; fully equipped with students’ desks and chairs as per regulation; teachers’ desks and chairs; whiteboards; lighting systems according to the National Technical Regulation on lighting – permissible levels of lighting in the workplace; fan systems (air conditioners may be equipped according to actual conditions); 

- Regarding subject classrooms: at least 5 subject classrooms according to regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam for Music, Fine Arts, Technology, Informatics, Foreign Languages, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Economic and Legal Education, History, and Geography.  

Based on the actual conditions, combine a number of subject classrooms according to the principles of the assurance of the adequate functions of subject classrooms with similar functions and sufficient devices for each subject, arrangement of time and space for teaching and educational activities by each function, and plans and teaching hour norms based on the scale of students for subjects. 

(Previously, according to Clause 2 Article 18 of Circular No. 13/2020/TT-BGDDT, regulations on the standards of mandatory physical facilities for classrooms of high schools were as follows: 

Classroom: at least 0.6 rooms/class; fully equipped with proper student tables, chairs with adequate seats for students; teacher tables and chairs; boards; lighting and fan systems;

- Music classroom: at least 1;

- Fine Arts classroom: at least 1;

- Home economics classroom: at least 1;

- Computer classroom: at least 1;

- Foreign language classroom: at least 1;

- Multipurpose room: at least 1;

- Physics classroom: at least 1;

- Chemistry classroom: at least 1;

- Biology classroom: at least 1.

See more details in Circular No. 23/2024/TT-BGDDT, effective as of January 31, 2025. 

Government of Vietnam’s feedback on 6 law development suggestions and 1 ordinance project 

On December 17, 2024, the Government of Vietnam promulgated Resolution No. 240/NQ-CP on the thematic meeting on law development in November 2024. 

In Resolution No. 240/NQ-CP, the Government of Vietnam has provided feedback on 6 law development suggestions, including: 

(1) Suggestion on the development of the Law on amendments to the Law on Economical and Efficient Use of Energy

(2) Suggestion on the development of the Law on Atomic Energy (amended) 

(3) Suggestion on the Law on Temporary Detention, Custody, and Prohibition from Leaving Residence,

(4) Suggestion on the development of the Law on Amendments to the Law on Criminal Judgment Enforcement

(5) Suggestion on the development of the Law on Local Government Organization (amended), 

(6) Suggestion on the development of the Law on Government Organization (amended)

- 1 ordinance project: 

Project on the Ordinance on the Management and Protection of Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum 

In Resolution No. 240/NQ-CP, the Government of Vietnam assigns Ministers, Directors of ministerial agencies, and Presidents of People’s Committees of provinces and centrally affiliated cities to: 

- Focus on directing, promptly drafting, requesting promulgation, or promulgating under their jurisdiction documents elaborating and guiding the implementation of Laws and Ordinances approved by the National Assembly of Vietnam at the 7th and 8th meetings, preventing document debts. 

- Continue to review laws and legislative documents, promptly detect difficulties and obsolescence compared to reality or issues arising in reality not prescribed by the law to propose the completion of the legal system; 

- Direct the development of legislative documents of fields and provinces under their management; focus on investing in resources, physical facilities, people, leadership, directive, and effective implementation; proactively detect bottlenecks and difficulties in law enforcement and establish resolution schemes.

See more details in Resolution No. 240/NQ-CP, promulgated on December 17, 2024. 

Combined payment of pensions and social insurance allowances in January and February 2025 before Lunar New Year in Vietnam 

On December 18, 2024, the Prime Minister of Vietnam promulgated Directive No. 45/CT-TTg on intensifying measures to ensure a joyful, healthy, safe, and economical Lunar New Year 2025, which stipulates the time of payment of pensions and social insurance allowances. 

Specifically, the Prime Minister of Vietnam requests Vietnam Social Security to successfully carry out the settlement and payment of benefits concerning social insurance and unemployment insurance, ensuring sufficiency and timeliness for beneficiaries; carry out the combined payment of two months of pensions and social insurance allowances (January and February 2025) at the payment period in January 2025 to enable beneficiaries to enjoy policies on spring and Tet holidays. 

Additionally, to be fully prepared for conditions for people to have a joyful, healthy, safe, and economical Lunar New Year, the Prime Minister of Vietnam requests the Ministry of Labor – War Invalids and Social Affairs of Vietnam to take charge and cooperate with ministries and central and local authorities in focusing on reviewing and grasping the living situations of policy beneficiaries and people with difficult circumstances (poor households, near-poor households, or local people suffering from damage caused by natural disasters and epidemics living in remote areas, border areas, islands, ethnic group areas, workers, laborers, and people who lost their job, etc.) to provide care and promptly issue appropriate support policies. 

Organize visits and provide gifts for eligible beneficiaries under proper regulations in a public and transparent manner, avoiding overlapping to prevent policy abuse and ensure that policy beneficiaries have gifts and receive them before Tet. 

Monitor and grasp the labor situations at industrial parks, processing zones, and economic zones, especially provinces with a large concentration of workers, creating favorable conditions for workers to have Tet holidays and return to work after Tet; provide care and support for workers who suffer from income reduction or employment loss or shortage due to natural disasters, epidemics, or reduction of trading and manufacturing by enterprises. 

See more details in Directive No. 45/CT-TTg dated December 18, 2024. 

>> CLICK HERE TO READ THIS ARTICLE IN VIETNAMESE