Methods of information disclosure in Vietnam

Methods of information disclosure in Vietnam (Internet image)

1. Methods of information disclosure in Vietnam

According to Clause 1, Article 18 of the Law on access to information 2016, the methods of information disclosure include:

- Post information on portals and websites of state agencies;

- Provide information via the mass media;

- Post information on Official Gazettes;

- Post information in the notice form at head offices of state agencies and other locations;

- Disclose information through the reception of citizens, press conference, press release, activities of spokespersons of state agencies as regulated by the law;

- Other methods that are convenient for citizens and determined by agencies in charge of disclosing information.

In the other hand, if a specific method of disclosure for a given type of information is not regulated by the law, the state agency in charge of providing information shall, depending on its actual conditions, select one or a certain methods of information disclosure above to ensure that citizens are able to access such information.

Apart from the methods of information disclosure regulated above, stage agencies must determine methods of information disclosure in conformity with access to information capacity and conditions of citizens who are the disabled and residents in border regions, islands, mountainous regions, and areas faced to extremely difficult social and economic conditions.

2. Posting information on portals and websites in Vietnam

Clause 1, Article 19 of the Law on access to information 2016 stipulates the regulations on posting information on portals and websites as follows:

- Legislative documents; international treaties of which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a member or international agreements to which Vietnam is a signatory; administrative procedures and working procedures of state agencies;

- Information regarding the dissemination and guidance on the implementation of laws and policies in sectors under the state management;

- National and local socio-economic development strategies, programs, projects, schemes and plans; sector/field planning, methods and results thereof; annual working programs and plans of state agencies;

- Information about lists of public investment and public procurement projects/programs, results of public investment and procurement execution, the management and use of public investment funding and sources of loan capital;

- Information about functions, tasks, powers and organization structure of state agencies and their affiliated units; address, telephone number, fax number and email address of the state agency or the official in charge of receiving information requests;

- Annual financial statements; information about the statistics on sectors under the state management; information about lists of scientific programs/topics and results thereof;

- List of types of information subject to mandatory disclosure which includes address, methods, time and period of disclosure for each type of information;

- Information which is considered as necessary for public interests and community health;

- Other information that must be posted on portals and websites as regulated by law.

Posting information on portals and websites in provinces or central-affiliated cities shall comply with information application plans of provincial people’s committees.

Portals and websites of state agencies must be connected or integrated with those of their affiliated units for updating information and facilitating citizens in retrieving or exploiting information.

Apart from types of information prescribed in Clause 1 of Article 19 of the Law on access to information 2016, state agencies shall, depending on their actual conditions, actively post other information that they generate on their portals and websites.

In case state agencies do not yet establish their own portals and websites, they shall, depending on their actual conditions, disclose all information regulated in Clause 1 of Article 19 of the Law on access to information 2016 in other appropriate methods.

(Article 19 of the Law on access to information 2016)

3. Providing information via the mass media in Vietnam

Pursuant to Article 20 of the Law on access to information 2016, state agencies in charge of providing information must provide mass media agencies in sufficient, accurate and timely manner with types of information which must be released via the mass media as regulated by the law.

Publication or broadcasting of information in the press shall comply with regulations of the press law. Mass media agencies must publish or broadcast information in a sufficient, accurate and timely manner.

4. Posting information on official gazettes and in the notice form in Vietnam

Article 21 of the Law on access to information 2016 stipulates that the disclosure of information by posting it on official gazettes and publishing must be carried out in conformity with the law.

With regard to information which is disclosed in the notice form, if the location and period of posting information in the notice form are not regulated by the law, such information must be publicly posted at heads offices of state agencies or community areas within at least 30 days.

Van Trong

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