Vietnam’s official Law on Archives 2024

Vietnam’s official Law on Archives 2024 

Specifically, the Law on Archives 2024 provides for the management of archival documents and databases on archival documents; archiving specialty; archival documents with special value and promotion of the value of archival documents; private archive; archiving service and state management of archive. 

The application of the Law on Archives 2024 and relevant laws is as follows: 

- The archive of documents of the Vietnam State Archives and archival documents with special value shall comply with the Law on Archives 2024, excluding cases prescribed in Clauses 2 and 3 Article 3 of the Law on Archives 2024. 

- Where archival documents are recognized as national treasures or recognized or registered under other forms according to the Law on Cultural Heritage 2001 and relevant laws, aside from complying with the Law on Archives 2024, the implementation of the Law on Cultural Heritage 2001 and relevant law is mandatory.  The Prime Minister of Vietnam shall decide on any operation involving bringing archival documents recognized as national treasures abroad. 

- Where other laws stipulate the archive time limit and responsibility for managing archival documents differently, comply with such laws. 

- The archive of documents of CPV Archives shall comply with the regulations of competent authorities of the CPV. 

- Organizations, individuals, families, clans, and communities shall decide on the application of the Law on Archives 2024 to archival documents not prescribed in Clause 1 Article 3 of the Law on Archives 2024. 

Archive principles under Law on Archives 2024

- Assurance of the leadership of the CPV; the consistent and centralized management of the State; and the participation of society, agencies, organizations, individuals, families, clans, and communities.

- Assurance of objectives to effectively promote the value of archival documents for national and ethnic interests and legitimate rights and benefits of agencies, organizations, and individuals. 

- Assurance of rights to access information of citizens regarding archival documents under the Constitution 2013 and the law. 

- Assurance of publicity, transparency, and proper jurisdiction according to Vietnamese Law in conformity with international standards and practices. 

- Management of archival documents following prescribed archives, application of combined management by territory, and assurance of the scientific, systematic, objective, and comprehensive nature and historical continuity of archival documents. 

- Assurance of safety, integrity, long-term preservation of archival documents, and implementation of backup archives of archival documents. 

See more details in the Law on Archives 2024, effective as of July 1, 2025. 

The Law on Archives 2011 shall be annulled from July 1, 2025, excluding cases prescribed in Points a, b, c, and d Clause 1, Clause 5, and Clause 6 Article 65 of the Law on Archives 2024. 

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