Decree No. 109/2017/ND-CP dated September 21, 2017 of the Government on prescribing the protection and management of world cultural and natural heritages in Vietnam

DECREE

Prescribing the protection and management of world cultural and natural heritages in Vietnam[1]

Pursuant to the June 19, 2015 Law on Organization of the Government;

Pursuant to the June 29, 2001 Law on Cultural Heritages and the June 18, 2009 Law Amending and Supplementing a Number of Articles of the Law on Cultural Heritages;

Pursuant to the November 26, 2003 Law on Fisheries;

Pursuant to the December 3, 2004 Law on Forest Protection and Development;

Pursuant to the June 14, 2005 Law on Tourism;

Pursuant to the November 13, 2008 Law on Biodiversity;

At the proposal of the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism;

The Government promulgates the Decree prescribing the protection and management of world cultural and natural heritages in Vietnam.

Chapter I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1.Scope of regulation

This Decree prescribes the protection and management of world cultural and natural heritages in Vietnam; and responsibilities of agencies, organizations and individuals in the protection and management of world cultural and natural heritages in Vietnam.

Article 2.Subjects of application

This Decree applies to state agencies, organizations and individuals involved in the protection and management of world cultural and natural heritages in Vietnam.

Article 3.Interpretation of terms

In this Decree, the terms below are construed as follows

1. World cultural and natural heritages (below referred to as world heritages) refer to Vietnam’s typical cultural-historical relics and places of scenic beauty of outstanding universal cultural and natural value, which are included in the List of World Heritages by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

2. World cultural heritage refers to Vietnam’s typical cultural-historical relic or place of scenic beauty of outstanding universal cultural value, which is included in the List of Word Heritages by UNESCO.

3. World natural heritage refers to Vietnam’s typical cultural-historical relic or place of scenic beauty of outstanding universal natural value, which is included in the List of World Heritages by UNESCO.

4. Combined world cultural and natural heritage refers to Vietnam’s typical cultural-historical relic or place of scenic beauty meeting both the criteria of world cultural heritages and world natural heritages, which is included in the List of World Heritages by UNESCO.

5. Outstanding universal value mean the demonstration of exceptional cultural and natural significance of a world cultural or natural heritage, which is of national and international importance for present and future generations.

6. Outstanding universal value declaration means the World Heritage Committee’s affirmation of the value, criteria, integrity, authenticity and sustainable management and protection of a heritage, which is, as a result, included in the List of World Heritages.

7. Integrity means the complete demonstration of the original elements constituting the outstanding universal value of a world heritage.

8. Authenticity means the truthful and reliable demonstration of the original elements constituting the outstanding universal cultural value of a world heritage, helping recognize the nature, features, significance and history of the world heritage.

9. World heritage site mean the area containing the original elements constituting the outstanding universal value of the world heritage concerned.

10. Buffer zone of a world heritage site mean the zone surrounding or adjacent to a world heritage site, which has the effect of providing an additional protection layer of the world heritage and is the place where activities of promoting the value of the world heritage are organized.

11. Community means the group of people who are living stably and permanently in a world heritage site and its buffer zone.

12. World heritage management plan means the document summing up measures to conserve the outstanding universal value of a world heritage, including also the assignment of specific responsibilities to every subject involved in the application of these conservation measures.

13. World heritage protection regulation means a document detailing regulations relating to conservation measures under a world heritage protection plan, aiming to assist organizations and individuals in carrying out activities in the world heritage site in the most favorable manner.

14. World Heritage Committee is a body elected by the General Assembly of Member Countries of the World Heritage Convention for a 4-year term to enforce the World Heritage Convention.

15. World Heritage Center is a body under UNESCO, having the responsibility to support and collaborate with the member countries of the World Heritage Convention, advisory bodies and other specialized sub-committees of UNESCO in coordinating all activities related to the management and protection of world heritages.

Chapter II

PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT OF WORLD HERITAGES

Article 4.Protection of world heritage sites and their buffer zones

1. World heritage sites shall be protected like protection zones I of cultural-historical relics or places of scenic beauty in accordance with the law on cultural heritages.

2. Buffer zones of world heritage sites shall be protected like protection zones II of cultural-historical relics or places of scenic beauty in accordance with the law on cultural heritages.

Article 5.Indicators for periodical supervision of the state of conservation of original elements of world heritages

1. Integrity and authenticity.

2. Sustainability of architectural works and archaeological sites.

3. Conservation and development of ecological systems and biodiversity, especially the endangered species.

4. Quality of water sources.

5. Sustainability of intangible cultural heritages.

6. Other original elements constituting the outstanding universal value of world heritages under supervision.

Article 6.Master plans on world heritages

1. The Prime Minister shall consider and decide the formulation of master plans on world heritages under the laws on planning and world heritages.

2. In case a world heritage has its site and buffer zone constituting part or entire area of a national tourist attraction, a special-use forest, a nature reserve or a marine reserve, only a single master plan shall be formulated for the world heritage, integrating the contents on protection of cultural-historical relics and places of scenic beauty into those on protection of tourist resources, forest resources, biodiversity, aquatic resources, geological resources and geomorphology as well as the community’s rights and obligations according to the laws on planning and cultural heritages and other relevant laws.

Article 7.Principles of elaboration and periods of world heritage management plans

1. Principles of elaboration of world heritage management plans:

a/ To conform with local socio-economic development strategies, cultural development strategies, forest protection and development strategies and other relevant strategies;

b/ To conform with world heritage dossiers already submitted to and archived at UNESCO and with world heritage master plans;

c/ To ensure the combination and integration between world heritage protection and environmental protection as well as natural disaster prevention and control, and response to climate change; to harmonize world heritage protection with sustainable development;

d/ To ensure publicity and transparency, and the involvement of related communities, agencies, organizations and individuals in the course of elaborating the management plans;

dd/ To protect national sovereignty and maintain national defense and security;

e/ To suit the implementation resources and ensure the plans’ feasibility.

2. The period of a world heritage management plan is 5 years with a vision of 20 years.

Article 8.Basic contents of world heritage management plans

1. Description of the world heritage:

a/ Locations of relics, groups of relics, natural landscapes, geology, biodiversity and the original elements constituting the outstanding universal value of the world heritage;

b/ Current state of the world heritage site and its buffer zone;

c/ Community living in the world heritage site and its buffer zone;

d/ Historical, cultural, scientific and aesthetic values of the world heritage;

dd/ Declaration on the outstanding universal value of the world heritage recognized by the World Heritage Committee.

2. Current situation of the world heritage protection and management.

3. Objectives of the world heritage management plan.

4. National and international legal provisions concerning the world heritage protection and management; mechanisms and policies applicable to the world heritage protection and management.

5. Periodical supervision of the world heritage’s conservation: indicators for  supervision; supervision cycle and schedule; organizations and individuals responsible for supervision; protective measures to be taken to prevent adverse impacts on the world heritage.

6. Identification of adverse impacts on the world heritage and community life so as to propose the formulation of its protection regulation as prescribed in Articles 12 and 13 of this Decree.

7. Rights and obligations of organizations and individuals involved in the world heritage protection and management.

8. Plan on strengthening the organizational apparatus and human resources assigned to manage and use the world heritage.

9. Proposed tasks of preserving, embellishing, restoring, and promoting the values of, the world heritage and funding sources.

10. The world heritage management plan shall be phased into 5 years for evaluation, review and adjustment (if necesary) to ensure conformity with the practical situation of the world heritage protection and management of each period.

Article 9.Competence to elaborate, appraise and approve world heritage management plans

1. If a world heritage lies within one province or centrally run city, the competence to elaborate, appraise and approve its management plan is prescribed below:

a/ The chairperson of the People’s Committee of the province or centrally run city (below referred to as provincial-level People’s Committee) or the head of the ministry or sector assigned to directly manage the world heritage shall organize the elaboration and approval of its management plan;

b/ The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall assume the prime responsibility for appraising world heritage management plans.

2. If a world heritage falling under the management competence of provincial-level People’s Committees lies in two or more provinces, the competence to elaborate, appraise and approve its management plan is prescribed below:

a/ The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall decide to select the provincial-level People’s Committee chairperson to assume the prime responsibility for organizing the elaboration of the world heritage management plan. The related provincial-level People’s Committee chairperson(s) shall coordinate in the elaboration of the world heritage management plan. After reaching agreement on the plan’s contents, the provincial-level People’s Committee chairperson assuming the prime responsibility for elaborating the world heritage management plan and related provincial-level People’s Committee chairpersons shall concurrently propose the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism to appraise and approve the world heritage management plan;

b/ The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall assume the prime responsibility for appraising and approving world heritage management plans.

Article 10.Procedures for appraisal and approval of world heritage management plans

1. Provincial-level People’s Committee chairpersons or heads of ministries or sectors assigned to directly manage world heritages shall send directly or by mail one dossier set prescribed in Clause 7 of this Article to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

2. Within 10 working days after receiving a valid dossier, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall send a written request enclosed with 1 dossier set prescribed in Clause 7 of this Article to each related ministry, sector and professional association for comment on the world heritage management plan.

In case the dossier is invalid, within 5 working days after receiving it, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall clearly notify in writing the contents to be modified and supplemented to the provincial-level People’s Committee chairperson.

3. Within 15 working days after receiving the written request of the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the dossier, the requested ministries, sectors and professional associations shall give written replies on the world heritage management plan.

4. Within 20 working days after receiving written replies of the ministries, sectors and professional associations, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall appraise the world heritage management plan and send a written notice of the appraisal results to the provincial-level People’s Committee chairperson or head of the ministry or sector assigned to directly manage the world heritage.

5. Within 20 working days after receiving the appraisal results from the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the related provincial-level People’s Committee chairperson or the head of the ministry or sector assigned to directly manage the world heritage shall finalize the plan and approve it according to the competence defined at Point a, Clause 1, Article 9 of this Decree and report thereon to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

6. Within 15 working days after receiving the appraisal results from the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the provincial-level People’s Committee chairperson defined at Point a, Clause 2, Article 9 of this Decree shall finalize the world heritage management plan and propose the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism to approve it according to the competence defined at Point b, Clause 2, Article 9 of this Decree.

7. A dossier of request for appraisal of a world heritage management plan must comprise:

a/ A written request for appraisal (if the world heritage falls under the management competence of the provincial-level People’s Committees of two or more provinces, the written request must clearly state the agreement of the related provincial-level People’s Committee chairpersons on the plan);

b/ The draft world heritage management plan;

c/ The draft decision on approval of the world heritage management plan;

d/ The document on response to and acceptance of comments of local agencies, organizations and communities on the world heritage management plan.

8. The world heritage management plan and its approval decision shall be sent to, and kept at, the following agencies or organizations:

a/ The World Heritage Center;

b/ The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism;

c/ The Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO;

d/ The provincial-level People’s Committee or ministry or sector assigned to directly manage the world heritage;

dd/ The provincial-level Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism or Department of Culture and Sports of the locality where the world heritage is located;

e/ The organization assigned to manage and use the world heritage.

Article 11.Adjustment of world heritage management plans

1. Adjustment of a world heritage management plan may be made in the following cases:

a/ It is so requested by the World Heritage Committee and the World Heritage Center;

b/ Major adjustments are made to the world heritage site and its buffer zone;

c/ There appear elements or dangers which may adversely impact the sustainability of the concerned world heritage.

2. The competence to propose, appraise and approve and procedures for appraising and approving adjustments to world heritage management plans must comply with Articles 9 and 10 of this Decree.

Article 12.Principles of formulation of world heritage protection regulations

1. To be based on identifying elements and dangers that may constantly exert adverse impacts on the world heritage concerned in order to put forth specific regulations for protection of its outstanding universal value and facilitation of production and business activities contributing to raising the quality of community life.

2. To comply with relevant legal documents.

3. To ensure publicity, transparency, broad involvement and consultation of related communities, organizations and individuals in the course of formulation.

4. To be promptly amended and supplemented in the course of implementation so as to ensure the conformity and feasibility of the protection and promotion of the values of the world heritage concerned.

Article 13.Contents of world heritage protection regulations

1. General provisions on:

a/ Protection of the world heritage site;

b/ Protection of the buffer zone of the world heritage site.

2. Specific provisions on:

a/ Preservation, repair and rehabilitation of the world heritage;

b/ Mechanisms to support the repair and embellishment of relics;

c/ Coordination in the grant of construction permits, inspection, and handling of violations;

d/ Prevention and combat of risks, natural disasters, natural catastrophes, fire and explosion;

dd/ Organization of tourist visits; sustainable development of tourism and tourist services;

e/ Advertising activities;

g/ Other important issues on the coordination and implementation of the protection of the world heritage.

3. Specific procedures to be carried out for implementation of the provisions of Clause 2 of this Article.

4. Responsibilities in the protection of the world heritage between the organization assigned to manage and use the world heritage and related local organizations and community at the world heritage.

Article 14.Competence to formulate and approve world heritage protection regulations

1. Chairpersons of provincial-level People’s Committees or heads of ministries or sectors assigned to directly manage world heritages shall organize the formulation of their protection regulations and approve them after acceptance of comments of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and related ministries, sectors, organizations and individuals.

2. In case a world heritage falls under the management competence of provincial-level People’s Committees but lies in 2 or more provinces, the competence to formulate and approve its protection regulations shall be determined as follows:

a/ The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall decide to select the provincial-level People’s Committee chairperson to assume the prime responsibility for organizing the formulation of the world heritage’s protection regulations. The related provincial-level People’s Committee chairpersons shall coordinate in the formulation of the regulations. After reaching agreement on contents of the regulations, the provincial-level People’s Committee chairperson assuming the prime responsibility for formulation of the regulations and the related provincial-level People’s Committee chairpersons shall concurrently propose the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism to approve the regulations;

b/ The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall approve the regulations on protection of world heritages which lie in 2 or more provinces as prescribed in this Clause.

Article 15.Organizations assigned to manage and use world heritages

1. Organization assigned to manage and use a world heritage mean the organization responsible for direct protection and comprehensive preservation of the world heritage, which shall be formed, reorganized and dissolved under the Government’s regulations on the establishment, reorganization and dissolution of public non-business units.

2. The strengthening of the apparatus of an organization assigned to manage and use a world heritage should be based on the form, value, scale and requirements of protection and preservation of the world heritage, which must be streamlined to perform all or a number of the following functions: protection; scientific research; relic repair; chemical test, preservation, restoration and repair of exhibits; embellishment of landscapes, environmental control and supervision of water sources; protection of forest and aquatic resources, geology and terrain; rescue, conservation and development or living creatures; forest ranger, fishery surveillance; curation and education; museum and library; art performances, demonstration of intangible cultural heritages; communications, public relations; consultancy on conservation and project management; community cooperation; development of sustainable tourism, tourism services and promotion.

Article 16.Tasks of organizations assigned to manage and use world heritages

1. To formulate short-term, medium-term and long-term world heritage protection and management plans and organize the implementation thereof after they are approved by competent authorities.

2. To organize periodical supervision of the conservation of world heritages as prescribed in Article 5 of this Decree, promptly stop acts of infringing upon world heritages and report to competent agencies on elements that may adversely impact world heritages.

3. To implement programs, plans and investment projects on the conservation, repair and restoration of world heritages.

4. To organize or jointly organize advertisement, display and introduction of world heritages; to study, collect, document and archive materials on tangible and intangible cultural heritages to serve the preservation, repair, restoration and rehabilitation of world heritages; to preserve, study and collect relics, antiques, national treasures, and geological, fauna and floral specimens at world heritages and organize their mobile displays and exhibitions outside the world heritage sites; to organize demonstration and introduction of intangible cultural heritages attached to world heritages.

5. To apply scientific and technological advances to the protection, preservation, repair, restoration and embellishment of world heritages; to conserve the geological, geomorphological and aesthetic values; to conserve and develop the fauna and flora systems in order to maintain the biodiversity value of world heritages; to organize natural disaster prevention and control, search and rescue, waste collection and treatment, protection of water sources and prevention of factors dangerous to the environment and water sources at world heritages; to contribute to raising the community living standards; to participate in studying and proposing the processes of and regulations on preserving, repairing, restoring and promoting the values of world heritages.

6. To provide instruction and curator services for visitors at world heritages; to organize or jointly organize tourist service activities for visitors, research, study and entertainment at world heritages; to assess impacts of tourist activities on world heritages and propose measures to minimize the impacts that reduce the outstanding universal value of world heritages (if any).

7. To organize sale of admission tickets and collection of sightseeing and service charges; to manage and use revenues in accordance with law.

8. To make and implement plans on training to raise professional qualifications of civil servants, public employees and laborers.

9. To provide public information to raise awareness and involvement of the community in the protection and management of world heritages.

10. To participate in the management of, join in and supervise, investment activities, environmental protection, conservation and development of living creatures in world heritage sites and their buffer zones; to coordinate with related authorities and sectors in inspecting and supervising socio-economic activities in world heritage sites and their buffer zones.

11. To coordinate with related authorities and sectors in appraising and submitting to competent agencies for approval master plans, projects and programs on socio-economic development in world heritage sites and their buffer zones according to current regulations; to provide information, hold discussions and collect comments of the communities on socio-economic development master plans, projects and programs related to world heritages.

12. To organize the implementation of international cooperation programs.

13. To implement the regime of information, periodical and extraordinary reporting on the performance of world heritage protection and management tasks to provincial-level People’s Committees or ministries and sectors assigned to directly manage world heritages, the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

14. To perform other tasks assigned by competent agencies.

Article 17. Financial sources

1. The financial sources for world heritage protection and management activities include:

a/ State budget funds;

b/ Sightseeing charges belonging to the state budget collected in accordance with the law on charges and fees;

c/ Revenues from services provided at world heritages;

d/ Financial assistance and contributions of organizations and individuals at home and abroad.

dd/ Other lawful financial sources.

2. The revenues specified at Points b and c, Clause 1 of this Article which are left after the tax payment under law shall be used for activities directly related to the protection and management of world heritages.

Chapter III

RESPONSIBILITIES TO PROTECT AND MANAGE WORLD HERITAGES

Article 18.Responsibilities of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is accountable before the Government for the performance of unified state management of world heritages, specifically:

1. To appraise and approve world heritage management plans and protection regulations as prescribed in Articles 9 and 14 of this Decree.

2. To appraise the world heritage master plan tasks, world heritage master plans, technical-economic schemes, projects and reports, construction drawing designs for the preservation, repair, restoration and embellishment of world heritages, projects on renovation or construction of works located outside world heritage sites and their buffer zones but likely to affect the outstanding universal value  of world heritages in accordance with the law on cultural heritages and relevant laws.

3. To give opinions on adjustments to world heritage sites and their buffer zones proposed by provincial-level People’s Committee chairpersons or heads of ministries and sectors assigned to directly manage world heritages before they are submitted to the Prime Minister for consideration and proposal to UNESCO.

4. To direct and organize the dissemination of legal documents on world heritage protection and management.

5. To assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO in:

a/ Settling recommendations of the World Heritage Committee, the World Heritage Center and advisory bodies of the World Heritage Committee;

b/ Implementing the guidelines and policies of UNESCO on world heritages in general and world heritages in Vietnam in particular;

c/ Fulfilling the responsibilities of an elected member of the World Heritage Committee and of a member of the advisory body of UNESCO in the field of world heritages;

d/ Directing the organizations assigned to manage and use world heritages to make periodical reports on the implementation of the World Heritage Convention.

6. To inspect and examine the observance of the law on protection and management of world heritages; to impose sanctions on administrative violations related to world heritage protection and management according to its competence.

Article 19.Responsibilities of ministries and ministerial-level agencies

1. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

a/ To direct the state management of agriculture, forestry and fisheries activities in world heritage sites and their buffer zones in accordance with relevant laws;

b/ To coordinate with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in guiding the implementation of master plans on world heritages whose sites and buffer zones constitute part or the entire areas of special-use forests or marine reserves.

2. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment

a/ To direct the state management of environmental protection, biodiversity, geology and minerals in world heritage sites and their buffer zones in accordance with relevant laws;

b/ To assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in, approving the environmental impact assessment reports of projects to be implemented in world heritage sites and their buffer zones in accordance with law;

c/ To coordinate with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in guiding the implementation of master plans on world heritages whose sites and buffer zones constitute part or the entire areas of nature reserves.

3. The Ministry of Construction

To coordinate with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in appraising the tasks of world heritage master plans and world heritage master plans.

4. The Ministry of Planning and Investment

a/ To assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in, determining and balancing total state budget funds for implementation of world heritage master plans before the world heritage master plans are submitted to the Prime Minister for approval;

b/ To assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in balancing and allocating funds for implementation of world heritage master plans already approved by the Prime Minister in accordance with the laws on public investment and state budget;

c/ To coordinate with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in appraising the tasks of world heritage master plans and world heritage master plans.

5. The Ministry of Finance

a/ To coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in balancing and determining total state budget funds for implementation of world heritage master plans before these master plans are submitted to the Prime Minister for approval;

b/ To allocate funds for the formulation and implementation of world heritage master plan tasks already approved by the Prime Minister in accordance with the law on state budget;

c/ To coordinate with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in appraising the tasks of world heritage master plans and world heritage master plans.

6. Other ministries and ministerial-level agencies shall, within the ambit of their respective tasks and powers, coordinate with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in performing the state management of world heritages in accordance with law.

Article 20.Responsibilities of provincial-level People’s Committees

1. To promulgate according to their competence legal documents on protection and management of world heritages in their respective localities and organize the implementation thereof.

2. To elaborate and approve world heritage management plans; to formulate and approve world heritage protection regulations in accordance with Articles 9 and 14 of this Decree.

3. To organize the implementation of world heritage master plans, management plans and protection regulations under the direction of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and related ministries and sectors.

4. To organize the compilation of dossiers on adjustments to world heritage sites and their buffer zones for appraisal by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and submission to the Prime Minister for consideration and proposal to UNESCO.

5. To direct and organize the dissemination, inspection and examination of the observance of legal documents on world heritage protection and management; to prevent and handle acts of infringing upon world heritages committed by organizations or individuals when carrying out socio-economic activities in world heritage sites and their buffer zones.

6. To manage and properly and efficiently use investment capital sources for world heritage protection and management; to allocate revenue sources specified at Points b and c, Clause 1, Article 17 for world heritage protection and management activities.

7. To mobilize various resources for implementation of component projects under world heritage master plans and management plans.

8. To decide on the establishment of the World Heritage Conservation Fund according to the Government’s regulations on organization and operation of social funds and charity funds so as to attract financial assistance and contributions of organizations and individuals at home and abroad as prescribed at Point d, Clause 1, Article 17 of this Decree.

9. To coordinate with agencies performing the state management of world heritages at the central level and in other localities in disseminating public information about and advertising world heritages.

10. To propose competent agencies to settle problems related to the regimes and policies on world heritage protection and management.

11. Annually in the first quarter, to send written reports on the previous year’s implementation of world heritage master plans and management plans and propose subsequent implementation plans to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Finance and related ministries and sectors.

12. Provincial-level People’s Committee chairpersons are accountable before the Prime Minister for the protection and management of world heritages in their respective localities in accordance with law.

Article 21.Responsibilities of the National Council for Cultural Heritages

1. To advise on scientific matters related to the formulation and implementation of world heritage master plans and management plans at the request of the Prime Minister or the proposal of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

2. To coordinate in examining the implementation of international commitments on world heritage protection and management when so requested by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

3. To perform other tasks related to world heritages under the Organization and Operation Regulation of the National Council for Cultural Heritages.

Chapter IV

IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS

Article 22.Transitional provision

Within 3 years after this Decree takes effect, provincial-level People’s Committees and ministries and sectors assigned to directly manage world heritages shall formulate and approve plans on the consolidation, functions and tasks of existing organizations assigned to manage and use world heritages as prescribed in Articles 15 and 16 of this Decree.

Article 23.Effect

This Decree takes effect on November 10, 2017.

Article 24.Implementation responsibility

1. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall guide and inspect related organizations and individuals in the implementation of this Decree.

2. Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government-attached agencies, chairpersons of provincial-level People’s Committees, the Chairperson of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, the Chairperson of the National Council for Cultural Heritages and organizations and individuals involved in the protection and management of world heritages in Vietnam shall implement this Decree.-

On behalf of the Government
Prime Minister
NGUYEN XUAN PHUC