Notable documents of Vietnam in the previous week (from December 9 to December 15, 2024)

13 Laws approved at 8th meeting of 15th National Assembly of Vietnam 

13 Laws approved in the 8th meeting of the 15th National Assembly of Vietnam include: 

- Amended Law on Pharmacy 2024, approved on November 21, 2024, effective as of July 1, 2025. 

- Law on Cultural Heritage 2024, approved on November 23, 2024, effective as of July 1, 2025. 

- Law on Notarization 2024, approved on November 26, 2024, effective as of July 1, 2025. 

- Law on Value-Added Tax 2024, approved on November 21, 2024, effective as of July 1, 2025. 

- Law on Urban and Rural Planning 2024, approved on November 21, 2024, effective as of July 1, 2025. 

- Law on Trade Unions 2024, approved on November 27, 2024, effective as of July 1, 2025. 

- Law on People’s Air Defense 2024, approved on November 27, 2024, effective as of July 1, 2025. 

- Amended Law on People’s Army Commissioned Officers 2024, approved on November 28, 2024, effective as of December 1, 2024.  

- Law on Human Trafficking Prevention and Combat 2024, approved on November 28, 2024, effective as of July 1, 2025. 

- Law on amendments to the Law on Planning, Law on Investment, Law on Public-Private Partnership Investment, and Law on Bidding 2024, approved on November 29, 2024, effective as of January 15, 2025. 

- Law on Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue 2024, approved on November 29, 2024, effective as of July 1, 2025. 

- Law on Public Investment 2024, approved on November 29, 2024, effective as of January 1, 2025. 

- Law on Justice for Minors 2024, approved on November 30, 2024, effective as of January 1, 2026. 

Requirements for persons learning to drive road motor vehicles in Vietnam from 2025

On November 15, 2024, the Minister of Transport of Vietnam promulgated Circular No. 35/2024/TT-BGTVT on training and issuance of driving licenses; international driving licenses; and road traffic certificates, effective as of January 1, 2025, which stipulates requirements for persons learning to drive vehicles as follows: 

- Being Vietnamese citizens or foreigners permitted to reside or are working and learning in Vietnam. 

- To upgrade driving licenses, persons learning to drive vehicles shall comply with Clause 4 Article 60 of the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety 2024; the adequate driving experience applicable to each category of driving licenses is as follows: 

+ From B to C1, B to C, B to D1, B to BE, C1 to C, C1 to D1, C1 to D2, C1 to C1E, C to D1, C to D2, D1 to D2, D1 to D, D1 to D1E, D2 to D, D2 to D2E, and D to DE: the adequate driving experience is 2 years or more; 

+ From B to D2, C to Ce, and C to D: the adequate driving experience is 3 years or more. 

- Persons with category B driving licenses (for automatic transmission) may register for learning courses for category B driving licenses (for manual transmission). Persons with category B driving licenses may register for learning courses for category C1 driving licenses and shall attend the full driving training program as per regulation; applications shall comply with Clause 1 Article 15 of Circular No. 35/2024/TT-BGTVT; in case of qualified test results, testing authorities shall request licensing authorities in writing to cut the corners of old driving licenses and request the Department for Roads of Vietnam in writing to remove the issued driving license numbers under its management. 

Starting prices of license plates put up for auction in Vietnam from 2025 

On December 10, 2024, the Government of Vietnam promulgated Decree No. 156/2024/ND-CP on license plate auctions, effective as of January 1, 2025, which stipulates the starting prices of specific license plates put up for auction as follows: 

- The starting price of an automobile license plate put up for auction is 40 (forty) million VND; the price shall be increased by 5 (five) million VND once every 3 years from January 1, 2025. 

- The starting price of a motorcycle or moped license plate put up for auction is 5 (five) million VND; the price shall be increased by 1 (one) million VND once every 3 years from January 1, 2025. 

- The starting price of a license plate in the form of AAAAA (A>4) or ABCDE (A4) put up for auction for the second time is 500 (five hundred) million VND for an automobile and 50 (fifty) million VND for a motorcycle or moped. 

Clients to be entitled to debt rescheduling due to Storm No. 3 in Vietnam 

On December 4, 2024, the Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam promulgated Circular No. 53/2024/TT-NHNN on debt rescheduling by credit institutions and foreign bank branches for clients facing difficulties due to Storm No. 3 and floods and landslides after Storm No. 3, effective as of December 4, 2024. 

According to the Circular, credit institutions and foreign bank branches may consider deciding on debt rescheduling for the principal and interest amounts of debts based on requests from clients and the financial capacity of credit institutions and foreign bank branches for the following clients: 

Clients of credit institutions and foreign bank branches in provinces and centrally affiliated cities: Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Lang Son, Bac Giang, Phu Tho, Thai Nguyen, Bac Kan, Tuyen Quang, Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Lai Chau, Son La, Dien Bien, Hoa Binh, Ha Noi, Hai Phong, Hai Duong, Hung Yen, Vinh Phuc, Bac Ninh, Thai Binh, Nam Dinh, Ha Nam, Ninh Binh, Quang Ninh, and Thanh Hoa (hereinafter referred to as “26 provinces and cities”) facing difficulties due to the impacts and damage caused by Storm No. 3, including: 

- Individuals with current residences, workplaces, business production facilities, or activities of investment, construction, and business production in areas of the mentioned 26 provinces and cities; 

- Organizations (excluding credit institutions and foreign bank branches) with headquarters, branches, representative offices, business production facilities, or activities of investment, construction, and business production in areas of the mentioned 26 provinces and cities.

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