Regulations on translation of legislative documents in Vietnam

Regulations on translation of legislative documents in Vietnam (Internet image)

1. The system of legislative documents in Vietnam

According to Article 4 of the Law on Promulgation of Legislative Documents 2015 (amended in 2020), the system of legislative documents includes:

- The Constitution.

- Codes and Laws (hereinafter referred to as Laws), Resolutions of the National Assembly

- Ordinances, Resolutions of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly; Joint Resolutions between the Standing Committee of the National Assembly and the Management Board of Central Committee of Vietnamese Fatherland Front; Joint Resolutions between the Standing Committee of the National Assembly, the Government, the Management Board of Central Committee of Vietnamese Fatherland Front.

- Orders, Decisions of the President.

- Decrees of the Government; Joint Resolutions between the Government and Management Board of Central Committee of Vietnamese Fatherland Front

- Decision of the Prime Minister.

- Resolutions of Judge Council of the People’s Supreme Court.

- Circulars of the Executive Judge of the People’s Supreme Court; Circulars of the Chief Procurator of the Supreme People’s Procuracy; Circulars of Ministers, Heads of ministerial agencies; Decisions of the State Auditor General.

- Joint Circulars between the Executive Judge of the People’s Supreme Court, the Chief Procurator of the Supreme People’s Procuracy, the State Auditor General, Ministers, Heads of ministerial agencies. Joint Circulars between Ministers and Heads of ministerial agencies shall not be promulgated.

- Resolutions of the People’s Councils of central-affiliated cities and provinces (hereinafter referred to as provinces).

- Decisions of the People’s Committees of provinces.

- Legislative documents of local governments in administrative - economic units.

- Resolutions of the People’s Councils of districts, towns and cities within provinces (hereinafter referred to as districts).

- Decisions of the People’s Committees of districts.

- Resolutions of the People’s Councils of communes, wards and towns within districts (hereinafter referred to as communes).

- Decisions of the People’s Committees of communes.

2. Regulations on translation of legislative documents in Vietnam

Translation of legislative documents according to Article 101 and Article 102 of Decree 34/2016/ND-CP as follows:

2.1. Translation of legislative documents into ethnic minority languages

- The Minister-Chairperson of the Committee for Ethnic Minorities Affairs and chairpersons of provincial-level People’s Committees shall decide on and organize the translation into ethnic minority languages of legislative documents directly related to the daily life of ethnic minority groups.

- The translation of a legal document into an ethnic minority language must ensure the spirit of the translated document and the accuracy of its contents.

2.2. Translation of legislative documents into foreign languages in Vietnam

- The following legislative documents may be translated into English or other foreign languages;

+ Laws and resolutions of the National Assembly, ordinances and resolutions of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly;

+ Decrees of the Government and decisions of the Prime Minister promulgated for implementation of treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a contracting party or directly related to the life, work and business of foreigners and foreign enterprises in Vietnam.

- Agencies in charge of drafting the documents shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Vietnam News Agency and related agencies and organizations in, organizing the translation of legislative documents prescribed in Clause 1 of Article 102 of Decree 34/2016/ND-CP into English or other foreign languages and take responsibility for the accuracy of the translation.

- Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies and chairpersons of provincial-level People’s Committees shall decide on the translation of legislative documents of ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies and People’s Councils and People’s Committees at all levels into foreign languages if finding necessary.

- The translation of a legal document into a foreign language must ensure the spirit of the translated document and the accuracy of its contents.

Quoc Dat

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