Summary of Notable Documents in the Past Week

1. State Budget Expenditures for Foreign Affairs Activities

On October 19, 2017, the Government of Vietnam issued Decree 117/2017/ND-CP regulating the management and use of the state budget for certain foreign affairs activities.

It lists expenditures for foreign affairs activities from central and local budgetary tasks, including:

For the central budget:

- Regular expenditures such as: expenditures for bilateral and multilateral state-level diplomatic activities; expenditures for activities of Vietnamese agencies abroad;- Development investment expenditures such as: expenditures for constructing landmarks related to national borders; constructing new, renovating, and upgrading facilities of Vietnamese agencies abroad;- Aid expenditures according to agreements and commitments with the Government of Vietnam.

For the local budget:

- Regular expenditures such as: expenditures for political and economic exchanges with foreign countries; expenditures for negotiating and signing international agreements;- Development investment expenditures: Constructing new, renovating, and upgrading facilities serving foreign affairs tasks.

See detailed Decree 117/2017/ND-CP effective from December 10, 2017.

1. No Banners When Welcoming Foreign Guests Visiting Localities

This is stipulated in Circular 05/2017/TT-BNG providing guidance on foreign affairs protocol and welcoming foreign guests visiting localities issued by the Minister of Foreign Affairs on October 17, 2017. Accordingly:

- When welcoming foreign guests visiting localities, banners, posters, and welcome slogans are not to be decorated.- In the case of a welcoming program with a signing ceremony between the two sides, a background can be decorated in the signing room.

For welcoming foreign guests attending events, banners, posters, and welcome slogans may be decorated but must ensure:

- Compliance with the event’s ceremonial protocol, the approved project and plan of the competent authority with a reasonable number, appropriate form, and necessary locations;- The arrangement of banners, posters, and the use of foreign languages must comply with Vietnamese regulations and the organization’s protocol for the event.

Circular 05/2017/TT-BNG is effective from December 1, 2017.

1. Standards for Bottled Drinking Water Used on Ships

The Ministry of Health issued Circular 40/2017/TT-BYT regulating the sanitary and safety standards for food, drinking water, and meal portioning for seafarers working on Vietnamese ships.

It sets out standards for bottled drinking water, bottled water, and ice used on ships as follows:

- Must have a clear origin and a Receipt of Conformance Certificate according to the regulations in Decree 38/2012/ND-CP;- Must have sufficient information on product labels according to the regulations in Decree 43/2017/ND-CP;- Must be stored appropriately according to the manufacturer's guidelines indicated on the product label.

Additionally, drinking water and immediately used ice produced and used directly on the ship must comply with current national technical regulations.

See more in Circular 40/2017/TT-BYT effective from December 6, 2017.

1. Financial Proof Documents for Vietnamese Entering Casinos

According to Circular 102/2017/TT-BTC which provides guidance on Decree 03/2017/ND-CP on casino business, Vietnamese participating in casino business points must prove their financial capability.

The proof documents include one of the following:

- Documents proving taxable income from level 3 or higher;- Certified copies of documents proving regular income ≥ 10 million VND/month, such as:- Income verification, monthly payroll or salary payment decision from the workplace confirming within the last 03 months showing a monthly income ≥ 10 million VND;- Effective house or property lease contract of the player showing total monthly rent ≥ 10 million VND;- Bank savings book, bank account statement of the player with a term of 01 year or more and monthly interest arising ≥ 10 million VND.

Circular 102/2017/TT-BTC is effective from December 1, 2017.

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