Decree 148/2026/ND-CP amending Decree 72/2015/ND-CP on management of external information activities

DECREE

Amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Government’s Decree No. 72/2015/ND-CP dated September 07, 2015, on management of external information activities

Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the Government No. 63/2025/QH15;

Pursuant to the Law Amending and Supplementing a Number of Articles of the Law on Overseas Representative Missions of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam No. 33/2009/QH12, amended and supplemented under Law No. 19/2017/QH14;

Pursuant to the Press Law No. 103/2016/QH13, amended and supplemented under Law No. 35/2018/QH14 and Law No. 93/2025/QH15;

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

The Government hereby promulgates the Decree amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Government’s Decree No. 72/2015/ND-CP dated September 07, 2015, on management of external information activities.

Article 1. Amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Government’s Decree No. 72/2015/ND-CP dated September 07, 2015, on management of external information activities

1. To add Clauses 5 and 6 to Article 3 as follows:

“5. External information activities conducted in cyberspace, on social networks and online platforms must ensure compliance with principles on information confidentiality, source authentication and content control in accordance with law; ensure information safety and cybersecurity; prevent the dissemination of fake news and false information about Vietnam; and comply with the laws on management, provision and use of Internet services and online information, and the laws on provision of online information and public services by state management agencies in the online environment.

6. External information activities shall be carried out with coordination among competent state agencies, the Central Steering Committee for External Information Work and the Central Commission for Education, Communication and Mass Mobilization in directing communications activities; the Central Steering Committee 35 in combating and refuting inaccurate and false information about Vietnam; and the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and mass organizations assigned tasks by the Party and the State in mobilizing and utilizing resources for external information activities according to their assigned functions and tasks.”.

2. To amend and supplement Point a, Clause 1, Article 4 as follows:

“a) The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, provincial-level People’s Committees and related agencies in, performing the state management of external information nationwide.”

3. To amend and supplement Points b, dd and e, Clause 3, Article 7 as follows:

“b) Official statements of senior leaders; official statements of state management agencies.

dd) News programs and products disseminated through mass media, official content channels and official applications in cyberspace of key press agencies (Vietnam News Agency, Vietnam Television and Voice of Vietnam) in compliance with the laws on cybersecurity and network information safety.

e) Publication on the Government Portal, the Central Commission for Communication, Education and Mass Mobilization’s External Information Website, external information websites, portals and official content channels in cyberspace of ministries, ministerial-level agencies and provincial-level People’s Committees in compliance with the laws on cybersecurity and network information safety.”

4. To amend and supplement Point c, and add Point g to Clause 3, Article 8 as follows:

“c) News programs and products disseminated through mass media, official content channels and official applications in cyberspace of press agencies in compliance with the laws on cybersecurity and network information safety.

g) Information published on official websites of ministries, ministerial-level agencies and provincial-level People’s Committees in compliance with the laws on cybersecurity and network information safety.”

5. To amend and supplement a number of points and clauses of Article 9 as follows:

a) To amend and supplement Clause 2 as follows:

“2. Information on the world situation into Vietnam shall be collected, summarized and provided to competent agencies, the press and people of Vietnam by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, overseas representative missions of Vietnam, other overseas agencies and organizations of Vietnam and key press agencies of the Government (Vietnam News Agency, Vietnam Television, Voice of Vietnam) according to their law-prescribed functions, tasks and powers. Sources of information used for collecting and synthesizing information on the world situation into Vietnam include: Information from foreign public and official sources; information from lawful domestic and foreign databases; and information shared and exchanged through coordination mechanisms among competent agencies in accordance with law.”

b) To amend and supplement Point d, Clause 3 as follows:

“d) Through mass media, official content channels and official applications in cyberspace in compliance with the laws on cybersecurity and network information safety.”

c) To add Point dd to Clause 3 as follows:

“dd) Through reporting activities or provision of information at the request of competent agencies.”

6. To add Clause 5 to Article 12 as follows:

“5. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall assume the prime responsibility for guiding the development and operation of external information data systems of ministries, ministerial-level agencies, provincial-level People’s Committees, and Vietnamese news and press agencies; and developing mechanisms for coordination and provision of information serving the database on external information.”

7. To amend and supplement a number of clauses of Article 16 as follows:

a) To amend and supplement Clause 1 as follows:

“1. Overseas representative missions of Vietnam shall provide information on the situation of host countries, bilateral relations and other information into Vietnam for competent agencies in accordance with Articles 5, 6, 7 and 9 of the Law on Overseas Representative Missions of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; and perform the task of unified management and assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with related agencies in, proposing and implementing external information activities in receiving countries and international organizations. When formulating plans for, and organizing, external information activities overseas, ministries, ministerial-level agencies and provincial-level People’s Committees shall obtain opinions from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and overseas representative missions of Vietnam in the relevant localities regarding the contents, forms and timing of such activities before implementation.”

b) To amend and supplement Clause 2 as follows:

“2. Overseas representative missions of Vietnam shall provide information on Vietnam to introduce and promote the image of Vietnam through their websites, official content channels in cyberspace, press conferences, interviews and other activities. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall direct and guide overseas representative missions of Vietnam in performing the above tasks.”

8. To amend and supplement Clause 3, Article 17 as follows:

“3. Vietnamese news and press agencies shall direct their overseas bureaus to proactively provide information and participate in activities serving external information tasks, and to conduct external information activities overseas on the basis of close coordination with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and shall periodically and extraordinarily report to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on external information activities of their overseas bureaus”.

9. To amend and supplement a number of clauses of Article 18 as follows:

a) To amend and supplement Clause 2 as follows:

“2. To guide external information contents for ministries, ministerial-level agencies, provincial-level People’s Committees, and domestic news and press agencies.”

b) To amend and supplement Clause 3 as follows:

“3. To assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with functional agencies in, carrying out international cooperation in external information activities; providing information and introducing and promoting Vietnamese culture, sports and tourism; organizing overseas events within its management scope; directing overseas Vietnam Culture Centers in conducting external information activities in host countries; effectively utilizing and creating conditions for related agencies to use overseas Vietnam Culture Centers in serving external information activities; and ensuring the unified management of external activities.”

c) To amend and supplement Clause 7 as follows:

“7. To inspect, handle violations, and settle complaints and denunciations in external information activities in accordance with law.”

10. To amend and supplement a number of clauses of Article 19 as follows:

a) To amend and supplement Clause 2 as follows:

“2. To voice official views and stance of Vietnam on international issues; to organize international press conferences; to prepare answers of leaders of the Party, the State and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to interviews of foreign reporters on foreign affairs and international issues; and to develop information and messages relating to foreign affairs work.”

b) To amend and supplement Clause 3 as follows:

“3. To coordinate with related ministries and agencies in guiding local press in covering external activities of leaders of the Party, the State and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and coordinate in guiding the coverage of external-related international and domestic issues.”

c) To amend and supplement Clause 5 as follows:

“5. To guide and provide information for the foreign press; to provide information for overseas Vietnamese communities and international communities; to provide information on the world situation and Vietnam’s relations with other countries to domestic agencies serving external information activities and to Vietnamese people.”

11. To amend the title of Article 20, and amend and supplement Article 20 as follows:

“Article 20. The Ministry of National Defence

1. To assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and related agencies in, carrying out external information activities in the field of national defense.

2. To invest in and upgrade modern equipment and facilities and apply information technology for border guard posts along the entire border line in order to improve the quality of external information work in border areas.

3. To coordinate in monitoring developments and proposing guidelines and measures to explain and clarify fake news and false information about Vietnam in border areas; and participate in the inspection and assessment of the effectiveness of external information activities in border areas.”

12. To add Article 21a and Article 21b after Article 21 as follows:

“Article 21a. The Ministry of Science and Technology

To assume the prime responsibility for promoting the application of information technology and digital transformation in external information activities, and coordinate with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and related agencies in providing guidance and organizing implementation thereof.

Article 21b. The Ministry of Industry and Trade

1. To assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and related agencies in, carrying out external information activities in the fields of industry, trade and international economic integration.

2. To organize programs promoting Vietnamese products and brands in international markets through external communication channels.”

13. To add Clause 4 to Article 22 as follows:

“4. To assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and related agencies in, carrying out external information activities in the fields of economy, finance and investment according to assigned functions and tasks.”

14. To add Article 23a after Article 23 as follows:

“Article 23a. Vietnam Television, Voice of Vietnam, Vietnam News Agency and press agencies

1. To organize the production of press and communication products; develop multilingual columns, sections and bulletins; and apply information technology on digital media platforms for external information contents.

2. To promote cooperation with foreign news and press agencies, communication companies and reporters in order to strengthen the promotion and distribution of Vietnam’s official external information products.”

15. To amend and supplement a number of clauses of Article 24 as follows:

a) To amend and supplement Clause 2 as follows:

“2. To direct the formulation and organization of implementation of action programs and external information work plans of agencies and localities, focusing on external information activities on digital platforms and official social networks, and ensuring compliance with current regulations on management, provision and use of Internet services and online information, and the laws on provision of online information and public services by state agencies in the online environment.”

b) To add Clause 5a after Clause 5 as follows:

“5a. Based on the guidance of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, to formulate and implement measures to encourage domestic agencies, organizations and individuals, overseas Vietnamese and foreigners to participate in external information activities; mobilize social resources and strengthen cooperation and coordination between state agencies and organizations, enterprises and individuals in carrying out appropriate external information activities; promote the application of information technology, development of technology platforms and implementation of communication activities serving external information work; and guide, support and facilitate organizations and individuals participating in external information activities in complying with relevant laws.”

Article 2. Replacing and repealing a number of phrases in Decree No. 72/2015/ND-CP

1. To replace the phrase “the Ministry of Information and Communications”

To replace the phrase “the Ministry of Information and Communications” with the phrase “Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism” at Point a, Clause 1, Article 4; Clause 3, Article 10; Clause 2, Article 11; Clause 3, Article 12; Clause 2, Article 13; Clauses 4 and 5, Article 14; Clause 2, Article 15; Clause 3, Article 17; Article 18; Clause 1, Article 19; Clauses 1 and 4, Article 21; Clause 1, Article 22; Article 23; Clauses 5 and 6, Article 24 and Clause 1, Article 26.

2. To remove the phrase “government-attached agencies”

To remove the phrase “government-attached agencies” in Article 1; Article 2; Points a and b, Clause 1, Article 4; Article 5; Clause 2, Article 7; Clause 2, Article 10; Clauses 1, 3 and 4, Article 12; Clause 2, Article 13; Clause 1, Article 14; Clauses 3 and 5, Article 14; Clause 6, Article 18; Clause 1, Article 19; Article 23; Clause 9, Article 24 and Clause 2, Article 26.

Article 3. Effect

1. This Decree takes effect from July 01, 2026.