Responsibilities of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary in Vietnam

Responsibilities of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary in Vietnam (Internet image)

1. Who is the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary?

According to Clause 1, Article 19 of the Law on Overseas Representative Missions of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam 2009, the head of a representative mission is the ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary or the charge d’affaires, in case the post of ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary has not yet been appointed.

Thus, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary can be understood as the head of a representative mission with the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries concerned at the highest level (at the ambassadorial level).

2. Appointment and recall of heads of representative missions in Vietnam

Appointment and recall of heads of representative missions according to Article 20 of the Law on Overseas Representative Missions of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam 2009 (amended in 2017) is as follows:

(1) The National Assembly Standing Committee approves the Prime Minister's proposal on the appointment and dismissal of the head of the representative agency, who is the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.

(2) In accordance with the resolution of the National Assembly's Standing Committee, the President shall appoint and dismiss, or decide to appoint and recall, the head of the representative agency who is the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.

(3) The President shall decide to appoint and recall the head of a representative mission who is the President's Representative to an international organization at the request of the Prime Minister, except for the case specified in item (2) of this Section.

(4) Except in the cases specified in subsections (1), (2), and (3) of this section, the Minister of Foreign Affairs has the authority to appoint and recall the head of the representative mission.

(5) The head of a representative mission in one country or international organization may be appointed or appointed concurrently as the head of another country's or international organization's representative mission. 

3. Responsibilities of heads of representative missions in Vietnam

Responsibilities of heads of representative missions in Vietnam according to Article 21 of the Law on Overseas Representative Missions of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam 2009 (amended in 2017) are as follows:

- To direct and organize the performance of functions and tasks of representative missions and take responsibility before the President, the Government, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the performance of these functions and tasks; to direct the formulation and implementation of working programs and plans of representative missions.

- To assign tasks to members of representative missions in conformity with appointment decisions issued by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and working requirements of representative missions; to coordinate with relevant agencies in directing the performance of tasks by officials on secondment;

To organize and examine the implementation of entitlements and policies applicable to members of representative missions: to manage labor discipline and evaluate members of representative mission: to carry out commendation, rewarding and disciplining according to their competence or propose competent agencies to do so; to settle complaints and denunciations according to law.

To be responsible for organizing the implementation and recommending the implementation of necessary measures to protect state secrets and to ensure security and safety for members and representative offices.

- To participate in the organization of activities of Vietnam's high-level delegations on working visits to receiving countries or international organizations.

- To take responsibility for the management and reasonable and economical use of funds and material foundations of representative missions in accordance with law.

- To organize preliminary and final reviews of and report directly to competent agencies on operations of representative missions; to propose to the Minister of Foreign Affairs measures to improve the organizational apparatus and payrolls of, and entitlements and policies applicable to, representative missions.

- In case of emergency, to decide on the application of necessary measures to protect the lives, health and properties of members of representative missions and their family members and documents and properties of representative missions and, at the same time, immediately report the case to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

- In special cases, to decide to send home members of representative missions who fail to fulfill their tasks or commit acts which cause serious consequences to national security or relations with receiving countries or international organizations and, at the same time, immediately report it to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

- To perform other tasks and exercise other powers in accordance with law.

Quoc Dat

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