Law on Protection of State Secrets 2025, No. 117/2025/QH15

LAW

On Protection of State Secrets^[1]

Pursuant to the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, which has a number of articles amended and supplemented under Resolution No. 203/2025/QH15;

The National Assembly hereby promulgates the Law on Protection of State Secrets.

Chapter I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of regulation

This Law provides state secrets, the protection of state secrets, and responsibilities of related agencies, organisations and individuals.

Article 2. Interpretation of terms

In this Law, the terms below are construed as follows:

1. State secret means information containing important content determined by a competent person in accordance with this Law which has not been made public and, if disclosed or lost, is likely to cause harm to interests of the country and the nation.

State secrets are contained in materials (including also paper documents and electronic documents), objects, locations, speech, activities or other forms.

2. Protection of state secrets means the use of forces, means and measures by agencies, organisations and individuals to prevent and combat infringements upon state secrets.

3. Disclosure of state secrets means the situation where unauthorised persons become aware of state secrets.

4. Loss of state secrets means the situation where materials and objects containing state secrets are no longer under the control of agencies, organisations or individuals responsible for management of state secrets.

5. Independent LAN means a local area network that is established within the premises of a single agency or organisation, not connected to the Internet, telecommunications networks or any other computer networks with external connection, and integrated with measures to ensure security and safety and to prevent unauthorised access, attacks and information collection.

6. Electronic documents containing state secrets means documents containing state secrets in the form of digital data that are determined by competent persons in accordance with this Law.

Article 3. Principles of protection of state secrets

1. The protection of state secrets shall be placed under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the unified management of the State, serving the tasks of safeguarding the Fatherland, socio-economic development, science and technology and international integration; and protecting the interests of the country and the nation, as well as the lawful rights and interests of agencies, organisations and individuals.

2. It is the responsibility of all agencies, organisations and individuals to protect state secrets.

3. State secrets must be managed and used for proper purposes in compliance with the law-prescribed competence, order and procedures.

4. To proactively prevent, promptly detect, prevent and strictly handle all violations of the law on protection of state secrets.

5. State secrets shall be protected for the period prescribed by this Law, while guaranteeing citizens’ right of access to information in accordance with law.

Article 4. International cooperation in protection of state secrets

1. International cooperation in protection of state secrets must adhere to the principles of respect for independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-interference in internal affairs of one another, equality, and mutual benefit.

2. International cooperation activities in protection of state secrets include:

a/ Concluding, and organising the implementation of, treaties and international agreements on protection of state secrets;

b/ Implementing programmes and projects on international cooperation in protection of state secrets;

c/ Conducting training, research, technology transfer, and application of science and technology serving the protection of state secrets;

d/ Preventing and combating violations of the law on protection of state secrets;

dd/ Other international cooperation activities relating to protection of state secrets.

Article 5. Prohibited acts in protection of state secrets

1. Determining information that is not included in the list of state secrets as state secrets.

2. Drafting or storing materials containing state secrets on computers or other devices connected to computer networks (except independent LANs), the Internet or telecommunications networks, except cases of storing state secrets in accordance with the law on cryptography and other relevant laws.

3. Disclosing, misappropriating or trading in state secrets; falsifying, damaging or losing materials or objects containing state secrets.

4. Collecting, exchanging, providing or transferring state secrets in contravention of law; copying, photographing, storing, transporting, delivering, receiving, retrieving or destroying materials or objects containing state secrets in contravention of law.

5. Bringing materials or objects containing state secrets out of their designated storages in contravention of law.

6. Making use of, or overusing, the protection of state secrets, or using state secrets, to carry out or conceal violations, infringe upon lawful rights and interests, or obstruct the operation of agencies, organisations or individuals.

7. Transmitting state secrets via computer networks (except independent LANs), the Internet or telecommunications networks in violation of the law on cryptography or other relevant laws.

8. Using computers or other equipment to draft or store materials containing state secrets while not yet meeting security requirements for preventing and controlling infringements upon state secrets.

9. Using devices with signal transmission and receipt, audio recording or video recording features at conferences, seminars or meetings involving state secrets in any form while not yet obtaining permission from competent persons.

10. Using artificial intelligence or new technologies to infringe upon state secrets; publishing state secrets on the mass media; publishing or disseminating state secrets on the Internet or telecommunications networks.

Article 6. Funds and physical facilities for protection of state secrets

1. The state budget shall ensure funds and physical facilities for protection of state secrets.

2. The management and use of funds and physical facilities for protection of state secrets must comply with law.

Chapter II

SCOPE AND CLASSIFICATION OF STATE SECRETS, ISSUANCE OF LISTS OF STATE SECRETS

Article 7. Scope of state secrets

The scope of state secrets is the limit of important information in the following areas, which has not been made public and, if disclosed or lost, is likely to cause harm to the interests of the country and the nation:

1. Political information:

a/ Guidelines and policies of the Party and the State on domestic and foreign affairs;

b/ Information on activities of the Party Central Committee, the Political Bureau, the Secretariat, key leaders and high-ranking leaders of the Party and the State;

c/ Strategies, plans and schemes on ethnicity and religion, and ethnic and religious affairs relating to protection of national security and assurance of social order and safety;

d/ Information that adversely affects the political situation.

2. Information on national defence, security and cryptography:

a/ Strategies, plans, options and activities of safeguarding the Fatherland, national defence, protection of national security, and assurance of social order and safety; particularly important programmes, projects and schemes;

b/ Information on the organisation and operation of the people’s armed forces and cipher forces;

c/ Information on works and targets related to national defence, security and cryptography; weapons, equipment, vehicles and logistical objects determining the capability for national defence, protection of national security, and assurance of social order and safety; cryptographic products of the cipher sector, and cryptographic communication networks;

d/ Information on the planning of systems of works of the national defence and cipher sectors, military areas, ammunition storages, logistical material depots, and the national defence and security industry.

3. Information on constitutional, legislative and judicial issues:

a/ Constitutional and legislative activities, the oversight of, and making of decisions on important national issues relating to national defence and security;

b/ Information on prosecution; investigation work, the exercise of prosecutorial powers, supervision of judicial activities, trial and execution of criminal judgments;

c/ Information on judicial support, judicial administration and state compensation affecting national security or social order and safety; and the settlement of international investment disputes.

4. Information on foreign affairs and international integration:

a/ Strategies, plans and schemes on development of relations with foreign countries, international organisations, or other subjects of international law; the situation of, options, plans and programmes on, foreign affairs of key leaders and high-ranking leaders of the Party, the State, and the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and foreign affairs of Party and State agencies;

b/ Treaties and international agreements exchanged or signed between Vietnam and foreign countries, international organisations, or other subjects of international law;

c/ Confidential information transferred by foreign countries, international organisations, or other subjects of international law in accordance with treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a contracting party and relevant international agreements.

5. Economic information:

a/ Investment strategies and plans; plans and data on national reserves; bidding activities for national security protection purposes; quantity and value of national reserves goods managed by the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of National Defence;

b/ Information on finance and banking; state budget data in the fields of national defence and security; options and plans on withdrawal, change or issuance of new currency notes; design, manufacturing and technologies for printing and minting money and valuable papers;

c/ Information on industrial, commercial and agricultural issues directly relating to national defence, security and foreign affairs;

d/ Transport plans of significant importance with regard to political and socio-economic affairs, national defence, security and foreign affairs;

dd/ Information on the process of formulating national overall master plans, regional master plans, provincial master plans, master plans of special administrative-economic units, and urban and rural master plans; information on the overall master plan on the national reserve warehouse system and the detailed plans on the national reserve warehouse networks managed by the Ministry of National Defence and the Ministry of Public Security;

e/ Information that adversely affects the socio-economic situation.

6. Information on natural resources and the environment, including water resources, environment, geology, minerals, hydro-meteorology, land, seas and islands, and survey and mapping.

7. Information on science and technology:

a/ Inventions and new technologies serving national defence and security or of particular importance to socio-economic development;

b/ Information on atomic energy, radiation and nuclear safety relating to national defence, security and foreign affairs;

c/ Special science and technology tasks and national-level science and technology tasks relating to national defence, security and cryptography;

d/ Science and technology tasks relating to research into precious and rare specimens and genetic resources of special importance to health and socio-economic development;

dd/ Strategies, plans and schemes on development of science and technology, post, telecommunications and the Internet, radio frequencies, information technology, the digital technology industry, electronics, and national information and communication infrastructure serving national defence, security and foreign affairs;

e/ Important information systems for national security and private information networks serving Party and State agencies and organisations.

8. Information on education and training:

a/ Examination questions, answers and information relating to the organisation of national-level exams;

b/ Information on personnel of the People’s Army, the People’s Public Security forces and the cipher sector who are sent for training at home and abroad.

9. Cultural information:

a/ Options and plans on assurance of security and safety for museums and libraries storing materials, artefacts and documentary heritage of which the dissemination is restricted or not permitted;

b/ Options and plans on assurance of security and safety for historical relics involving national sovereignty disputes;

c/ Strategies, plans and schemes on development of the press, publishing, printing, distribution, radio, television, electronic information, news agencies, external information and grassroots information serving national defence, security and foreign affairs;

d/ Information from the press and public opinion that adversely affects political affairs, foreign affairs, national security and social order and safety.

10. Health information:

a/ Information on the protection of the health of key leaders and high-ranking leaders of the Party, the State and the Vietnam Fatherland Front;

b/ Information on emerging dangerous infectious diseases for which prevention and control measures have not yet been determined and which pose risks to human health and life and adversely affect socio-economic development;

c/ Information on the situation of free migration adversely affecting political affairs, foreign affairs, national security, and social order and safety.

11. Information on organisation and personnel:

a/ Strategies, plans and schemes relating to the organisation and personnel work of Party and State agencies and socio-political organisations; strategies and schemes on reform of salary and social security policies;

b/ Processes of preparing and implementing the organisation and personnel work with regard to cadres, civil servants, public employees, personnel in the armed forces, and those working in cipher organisations at departmental and equivalent level and higher level;

c/ Information on the internal political security work;

d/ Examination questions and answers for leader and manager selection exams and civil servant and public employee recruitment exams;

dd/ Information on labour adversely affecting political affairs, national defence, security and foreign affairs.

12. Information on inspection, examination, supervision, handling of violations, resolution of denunciations, and prevention and combat of corruption, waste and negative practices:

a/ Strategies, plans and schemes on inspection, examination, supervision, resolution of denunciations, and prevention and combat of corruption, waste and negative practices;

b/ Information relating to inspection, examination, supervision, handling of violations, resolution of denunciations, and prevention and combat of corruption, waste and negative practices.

13. Information on state audit:

a/ Strategies, plans and schemes on state audit;

b/ Audit information relating to public finance and public assets.

Article 8. Classification of state secrets

Based on the importance of the information content and the degree of harm in the event of disclosure or loss, state secrets shall be classified into 3 levels of confidentiality, specifically as follows:

1. Top Secret state secrets are state secrets relating to political affairs, national defence, security, foreign affairs, cryptography, science and technology which, if disclosed or lost, are likely to cause particularly serious harm to the interests of the country and the nation;

2. Secret state secrets are important information in the fields specified in Article 7 of this Law which, if disclosed or lost, are likely to cause very serious harm to the interests of the country and the nation;

3. Confidential state secrets are important information in the fields specified in Article 7 of this Law which, if disclosed or lost, are likely to cause serious harm to the interests of the country and the nation.

Article 9. Issuance of lists of state secrets

1. Pursuant to Articles 7 and 8 of this Law, the Prime Minister shall decide on lists of state secrets.

2. Persons responsible for compiling lists of state secrets:

a/ Ministers and heads of ministerial-level agencies shall compile the lists of state secrets of the sectors and fields under their management;

b/ The Chief of the Office of the Party Central Committee shall compile the list of state secrets of the Party;

c/ The Chairperson of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front shall compile the list of state secrets of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and socio-political organisations;

d/ The Secretary-General of the National Assembly - Chairperson of the Office of the National Assembly shall compile the list of state secrets of the National Assembly, agencies of the National Assembly, the Secretary-General of the National Assembly, the Office of the National Assembly, and National Assembly deputies’ delegations;

dd/ The Chairperson of the Office of the President shall compile the list of state secrets of the President and the Office of the President;

e/ The Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court, the Procurator-General of the Supreme People’s Procuracy, and the State Auditor-General shall compile the lists of state secrets of the sectors and fields under their respective management.

3. The persons compiling the lists of state secrets specified in Clause 2 of this Article shall send dossiers to the Ministry of Public Security for appraisal, except the case specified in Clause 5 of this Article.

A dossier submitted to the Ministry of Public Security must comprise: a report to the Prime Minister; a draft decision promulgating the list of state secrets; a summary report accepting and responding to opinions from related agencies and organisations; and copies of papers stating such opinions.

The appraisal document of the Ministry of Public Security must be sent to the person responsible for compiling the list of state secrets within 30 days from the date of receipt of a complete dossier.

4. After receiving the appraisal document from the Ministry of Public Security, the person compiling the list of state secrets specified in Clause 2 of this Article shall submit it to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision.

5. The Minister of National Defence and the Minister of Public Security shall submit the lists of state secrets under their respective management to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision.

Chapter III

PROTECTION OF STATE SECRETS

Article 10.  Determination of state secrets and their confidentiality levels

1. The determination of state secrets and their confidentiality levels must be based on the lists of state secrets and the provisions of this Law.

2. Heads and deputy heads of agencies and organisations shall determine state secrets, their confidentiality levels and the scope of their circulation.

3. In case of using state secrets of other agencies or organisations, it is required to determine the corresponding confidentiality levels according to the lists of state secrets in the relevant sectors or fields decided by the Prime Minister. In case the information contained in the same material or object containing state secrets belongs to the list of state secrets with different confidentiality levels, the highest confidentiality level shall apply.

4. The confidentiality level of state secrets shall be indicated by a confidentiality marking, a document specifying the confidentiality level, or other appropriate forms.

5. The Government shall detail this Article.

Article 11. Copying and photographing of materials and objects containing state secrets

1. Persons competent to permit the copying and photographing of materials and objects containing state secrets classified as Top Secret include:

a/ Heads of agencies of the Party Central Committee; heads of organisations attached to the Party Central Committee;

b/ The Head of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front;

c/ Heads of agencies of the National Assembly; the Secretary-General of the National Assembly - Chairperson of the Office of the National Assembly;

d/ The Chairperson of the Office of the President;

dd/ Ministers and heads of ministerial-level agencies;

e/ The Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court and the Procurator-General of the Supreme People’s Procuracy;

g/ The State Auditor-General;

h/ Heads of government-attached agencies;

i/ Secretaries of Party Committees of provinces and cities;

k/ Heads of National Assembly deputies’ delegations, Chairpersons of People’s Councils and Chairpersons of People’s Committees of provinces and cities;

l/ Direct superiors of the persons specified in Points a, c, d, dd and h of this Clause;

m/ Chief Justices of provincial-level People’s Courts and Procurators-General of provincial-level People’s Procuracies;

n/ Heads of agencies/bureaus/departments and socio-political organisations at the central level and equivalent units under the agencies specified in Points a, b, c, d, dd, e and g of this Clause, except heads of public non-business units under the agencies specified in Points b, c, d, dd, e and g of this Clause;

o/ The Head of the Office of the State Audit Office of Vietnam, units under the executive apparatus of the State Audit Office of Vietnam, specialised State Audit offices, and regional State Audit offices;

p/ Heads of overseas representative missions of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam;

q/ Deputies of the persons specified in Points a, b, c, d, dd, e, g, h, i, k, l, m, n, o and p of this Clause and holders of equivalent titles;

r/ Heads of Party organisations of the agencies and organisations specified in Points b, c, d, dd, e, g, h, k, m, n and o of this Clause and their deputies.

2. Persons competent to permit the copying and photographing of materials and objects containing state secrets classified as Secret include:

a/ The persons specified in Clause 1 of this Article;

b/ Heads of units under government-attached agencies;

c/ Heads of public non-business units under the agencies specified in Points b, c, d, dd, e, g, h, i and k, Clause 1 of this Article;

d/ Heads of provincial-level Vietnam Fatherland Front Committees;

dd/ Heads of provincial-level departments or equivalent bodies;

e/ Heads of unis under provincial-level People’s Courts and provincial-level People’s Procuracies; Chief Justices of regional People’s Courts, and Procurators-General of regional People’s Procuracies;

g/ Heads of provincial-level tax, statistics and social security agencies; and heads of regional State Treasury offices, regional Customs Branches and regional State Reserves offices;

h/ Secretaries of Party Committees, Chairpersons of People’s Councils and Chairpersons of People’s Committees at the commune level;

i/ Chairpersons of Boards of Directors, Chairpersons of Members’ Councils, Presidents of companies, and Chief Executive Officers of state enterprises;

k/ Deputies of the persons specified in Points b, c, d, dd, e, g, h and i of this Clause;

l/ Heads of Party organisations of the agencies and organisations specified in Points b, c, d, dd, e, g and i of this Clause and their deputies.

3. Persons competent to permit the copying and photographing of materials and objects containing state secrets classified as Confidential include:

a/ The persons specified in Clause 2 of this Article;

b/ Heads of division-level units under bureaus/departments/boards, central-level socio-political organisations or equivalent units under the agencies specified in Points a, b, c, d, dd, e, g, h, i, k, m, n and o, Clause 1 of this Article; heads of division-level units and equivalent units under the agencies specified in Point c and g, Clause 2 of this Article; and heads of units under the agencies specified in Point i, Clause 2 of this Article;

c/ Heads of division-level units, boards and equivalent units under provincial-level departments/boards, Vietnam Fatherland Front Committees and socio-political organisations or the equivalent; heads of specialised advisory and assisting agencies of commune-level Party Committees; heads of boards of People’s Councils and heads of divisions of People’s Committees at the commune level.

4. The Minister of National Defence and the Minister of Public Security shall prescribe the competence to permit the copying and photographing of materials and objects containing state secrets for the subjects under their management.

5. The competent persons specified in Clauses 1, 2, 3 and 4 of this Article may only permit the copying or photographing of materials and objects containing state secrets under their management.

6. The persons assigned to copy or photograph materials and objects containing state secrets must be cadres, civil servants, public employees, officers, non-commissioned officers, professional army men, workers and public employees of the people’s armed forces, or persons working in cipher organisations directly related to state secrets or in the fields related to state secrets.

7. The Government shall detail this Article.

Article 12. Inventory, storage and preservation of materials and objects containing state secrets

1. Materials and objects containing state secrets, upon receipt or issuance, must be inventoried in chronological order and according to their confidentiality level.

2. State secrets stored in devices with storage, copying or photographing features must be protected by appropriate measures to ensure safety.

3. Materials and objects containing state secrets must be stored and preserved in secure locations and protected in accordance with security plans.

Article 13. Transportation, delivery and receipt of materials and objects containing state secrets

1. The transportation, delivery and receipt of materials and objects containing state secrets within the country shall be carried out by persons performing jobs related to state secrets, couriers or clerical staff of agencies or organisations.

2. The transportation, delivery and receipt of materials and objects containing state secrets between agencies or organisations in the country and Vietnamese agencies and organisations abroad, or among Vietnamese agencies and organisations abroad, shall be carried out by diplomatic couriers or assigned personnel.

3. The transportation, delivery and receipt of materials and objects containing state secrets must adhere to the principles of confidentiality and sealing.

4. During the transportation of materials and objects containing state secrets, appropriate measures must be taken to preserve and ensure their safety; security personnel shall be deployed when necessary.

5. The transportation of materials and objects containing state secrets via postal services must comply with the law on post.

6. The sender and recipient of materials and objects containing state secrets must verify and cross-check them in order to promptly detect errors and take handling measures; the delivery and receipt must be fully recorded in the tracking log, and the recipient must sign in the log.

7. The Government shall detail this Article.

Article 14. Bringing of materials and objects containing state secrets out of storages

1. The bringing of materials and objects containing state secrets out of storages for performance of tasks within the country must ensure that such materials and objects are directly related to the assigned task.

2. The bringing of materials and objects containing state secrets out of storages for performance of tasks abroad must be permitted by the competent persons specified in Points a, b, c, d, dd, e, g, h, i, k and l, Clause 1, Article 11 of this Law or their deputies, and must be reported to the Head of the Working Group.

3. During the process of bringing materials and objects containing state secrets out of storages, appropriate measures must be taken to preserve and ensure their safety.

4. During the period when materials and objects containing state secrets are brought out of storages, if discovering that the state secrets are disclosed or lost, the person bringing the materials and objects containing state secrets shall immediately report thereon to the head of the agency or organisation directly managing him/her, or to the Head of the Working Group so as to take measures to handle and remedy the consequences.

5. The Government shall detail this Article.

Article 15. Provision and transfer of state secrets to Vietnamese agencies, organisations and individuals

1. The competent persons specified in Clauses 1, 2 and 3, Article 11 of this Law shall decide on the provision and transfer of state secrets within the scope of their management, corresponding to the confidentiality level of the materials and objects containing state secrets they are competent to permit the copying or photographing.

2. The Minister of National Defence and the Minister of Public Security shall prescribe the competence to provide and transfer state secrets within the scope of their management.

3. Vietnamese agencies, organisations and individuals assigned to perform tasks directly related to state secrets may request the provision and transfer of state secrets.

4. Agencies and organisations requesting the provision and transfer of state secrets shall submit a written request to the persons competent to decide on the provision and transfer of state secrets. The request must clearly state the name of the requesting agency or organisation; the representative of the agency or organisation; the state secret requested for provision or transfer; use purpose of the state secret and a commitment to protect the state secret.

5. Individuals requesting the provision and transfer of state secrets shall submit a written request to the persons competent to decide on the provision and transfer of state secrets. The request must clearly state the full name; personal identification number, passport number or People’s Public Security identity number or People’s Army identity number; contact address; and position of the requesting individual; the state secret requested for provision or transfer; use purpose of the state secret and a commitment to protect the state secret.

6. In case of refusal to provide or transfer state secrets, the persons competent to decide on the provision or transfer of state secrets shall issue a written reply, clearly stating the reason.

Article 16. Provision and transfer of state secrets to foreign agencies, organisations and individuals

1. The competence to decide on the provision and transfer of state secrets to foreign agencies, organisations and individuals is prescribed as follows:

a/ The General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the President, the Prime Minister and the Chairperson of the National Assembly shall decide on the provision and transfer of state secrets classified as Top Secret;

b/ The competent persons specified in Points a, b, c, d, dd, e, g, h, i and k, Clause 1, Article 11 of this Law and their deputies shall decide on the provision and transfer of state secrets classified as Secret and Confidential within the scope of their management;

c/ The Minister and Deputy Ministers of National Defence, and the Minister and Deputy Ministers of Public Security shall decide on the provision and transfer of state secrets classified as Secret and Confidential within the scope of their management.

2. State secrets may only be provided or transferred to foreign agencies, organisations and individuals participating in international cooperation programmes or performing official duties related to state secrets.

3. Foreign agencies and organisations requesting the provision or transfer of state secrets shall send a written request to the Vietnamese agencies or organisations in charge of the international cooperation programmes or performing official duties related to state secrets. The request must clearly state the name of the requesting agency or organisation, the representative of the requesting agency or organisation; nationality, passport number and position of the representative; the state secret requested for provision or transfer; use purpose of the state secret; commitments to protect the state secret and not to provide or transfer it to a third party without the consent of the provider or transferor.

4. Foreign individuals requesting the provision or transfer of state secrets shall submit a written request to the Vietnamese agencies or organisations in charge of the international cooperation programmes or performing official duties related to the state secrets. The request must clearly state the full name; nationality, passport number and contact address of the requesting individual; the state secrets requested for provision and use; use purpose of the state secret; commitments to protect the state secret and not to provide or transfer it to a third party without the consent of the provider or transferor.

5. Vietnamese agencies and organisations in charge of international cooperation programmes or perform official duties relating to state secrets shall forward requests of foreign agencies, organisations and individuals specified in Clauses 3 and 4 of this Article to the persons competent to decide on the provision and transfer of state secrets.

6. If refusing to provide or transfer state secrets, the persons competent to decide on provision and transfer of state secrets shall issue a written reply, clearly stating the reason.

Article 17. Conferences, seminars and meetings involving state secrets held by Vietnamese agencies and organisations

1. The holding of a conference, seminar or meeting involving state secrets by a Vietnamese agency or organisation must meet the following requirements:

a/ The use of the content of state secrets is approved by a competent person specified in Clauses 1 and 2, Article 15 of this Law;

b/ The participants at the conference, seminar or meeting are representatives of agencies or organisations, or individuals assigned to perform tasks relating to state secrets;

c/ The venue of the conference, seminar or meeting ensures security, thus preventing the disclosure or loss of state secrets;

d/ Means and equipment used meet the requirements for the protection of state secrets;

dd/ There is a plan for the protection of the conference, seminar or meeting.

2. The head or deputy head of the agency or organisation that decides to hold a conference, seminar or meeting involving state secrets shall ensure satisfaction of the requirements specified in Clause 1 of this Article and shall decide on the retrieval of materials and objects containing state secrets after the conference, seminar or meeting.

3. Participants at a conference, seminar or meeting involving state secrets shall protect and use state secrets in accordance with this Law and the requirements of the chair of the conference, seminar or meeting; the chair of the conference, seminar or meeting involving state secrets shall be held responsible before the head or deputy head of the agency or organisation for the protection of state secrets at such conference, seminar or meeting.

4. The Government shall detail Points c, d and dd, Clause 1 of this Article.

Article 18. Conferences, seminars and meetings involving state secrets with foreign elements held in Vietnam

1. The holding of a conference, seminar or meeting involving state secrets with foreign elements in Vietnam must meet the following requirements:

a/ The conference, seminar or meeting is held by a Vietnamese agency or organisation;

b/ The use of the content of state secrets is approved in writing by a competent person specified in Clause 1, Article 16 of this Law;

c/ The participants at the conference, seminar or meeting are those specified in Point b, Clause 1, Article 17 of this Law; and representatives of foreign agencies, organisations or individuals related to state secrets;

d/ Materials and objects containing state secrets must be retrieved after the conference, seminar or meeting and must meet the requirements specified in Points c, d and dd, Clause 1, Article 17 of this Law.

2. The head or deputy head of the agency or organisation that decides to hold a conference, seminar or meeting involving state secrets shall ensure the satisfaction of the requirements specified in Clause 1 of this Article.

3. Participants at a conference, seminar or meeting involving state secrets shall protect and use state secrets in accordance with this Law and the requirements of the chair of the conference, seminar or meeting; may not provide or transfer such secrets to third parties. The chair of the conference, seminar or meeting involving state secrets shall be held responsible before the head or deputy head of the agency or organisation for the protection of state secrets at such conference, seminar or meeting.

Article 19. Duration of protection of state secrets

1. The duration of protection of a state secret is the period counted from the date the confidentiality level of the state secret is determined, which is:

a/ Thirty years, for state secrets classified as Top Secret;

b/ Twenty years, for state secrets classified as Secret;

c/ Ten years for state secrets classified as Confidential.

2. The duration of protection of a state secret may be shorter than the period specified in Clause 1 of this Article and must be indicated on materials or objects containing the state secret by the marking “Duration of protection of state secrets” or in other appropriate form at the time of determining the confidentiality level of the state secret.

3. For state-secret materials that are drafts or other materials which do not indicate the date of determination of the confidentiality level, the duration of protection of state secrets shall be indicated by the marking “Duration of protection of state secrets”.

4. In case of using a state secret of another agency or organisation, the duration of protection of the state secret shall be counted from the date such agency or organisation determines the state secret and shall be indicated by the marking “Duration of protection of state secrets”.

5. The duration of protection of state secrets that are locations shall end when competent agencies or organisations no longer use the locations.

Article 20. Extension of the duration of protection of state secrets

1. If the declassification of a state secret, upon the expiry of its protection duration, is likely to cause harm to the interests of the country and the nation, the protection duration may be extended.

2. The extension of the duration of protection of state secrets in the cases specified in Clause 1, Article 19 of this Law is prescribed as follows:

a/ At least 60 days before the expiry of the duration of protection of state secrets, the persons competent to determine state secrets shall decide on the extension of the protection duration;

b/ Each extension must not exceed the duration specified in Clause 1, Article 19 of this Law;

c/ Within 15 days from the date of extension, the agencies or organisations deciding on the extension shall notify thereof in writing to relevant agencies, organisations and individuals.

3. The extension of the duration of protection of state secrets specified in Clause 2, Article 19 of this Law is prescribed as follows:

a/ Before or upon the expiry of the duration of protection of state secrets, the persons competent to determine state secrets shall decide on the extension of the protection duration if the declassification is likely to cause harm to the interests of the country and the nation;

b/ Agencies or organisations deciding on the extension shall notify thereof in writing to related agencies, organisations and individuals.

4. After the extension, it is required to attach a marking to the state secrets, issue a document or take other appropriate form to confirm the extension.

5. Related agencies, organisations and individuals shall, upon receipt of notification of the extension, attach a marking to the state secrets, issue a document or take other appropriate form to confirm the extension of the duration of protection of state secrets within the scope of their management.

6. The Government shall specify the extension of the duration of protection of state secrets with regard to electronic documents containing state secrets.

Article 21. Adjustment of confidentiality levels

1. Adjustment of the confidentiality level is the increase or decrease of the previously determined confidentiality level of a state secret.

2. The adjustment of the confidentiality level shall be based on the lists of state secrets.

3. The persons competent to determine the confidentiality level of a state secret also have the competence to decide on the adjustment of its confidentiality level.

4. After the confidentiality level of a state secret is adjusted, it is required to attach a marking to the state secret, issue a document or take other appropriate form to confirm the increase or decrease of the confidentiality level.

5. Within 15 days from the date of adjustment of the confidentiality level, the agency or organisation making the adjustment shall notify thereof in writing to relevant agencies, organisations and individuals.

Upon receipt of notification of the adjustment of the confidentiality level of state secrets, related agencies, organisations or individuals shall attach a marking to the state secrets, issue a document or take other appropriate form to confirm the adjustment of the confidentiality level of state secrets within the scope of their management.

6. The Government shall specify the adjustment of the confidentiality level of electronic documents containing state secrets.

Article 22. Declassification

1. State secrets shall be declassified in the following cases:

a/ State secrets shall be automatically declassified upon the expiry of their protection duration specified in Article 19 of this Law and the extended duration specified in Article 20 of this Law;

b/ State secrets are no longer included in the lists of state secrets;

c/ State secrets shall be prematurely declassified in order to meet the requirements of safeguarding the interests of the country and the nation, socio-economic development, and international integration and cooperation.

2. In case of declassification of state secrets under Point b, Clause 1 of this Article, the agencies or organisations that have determined the state secrets shall attach a marking to the state secrets, issue a document or take other appropriate forms to confirm the declassification, and notify thereof in writing to related agencies, organisations and individuals.

3. The declassification of state secrets in the case specified in Point c, Clause 1 of this Article is prescribed as follows:

a/ The persons competent to determine state secrets also have the competence to decide on the declassification and to establish a declassification council;

b/ The declassification council shall be composed of: a representative of the leadership of the agency or organisation that determined the state secret as its Chairperson, a representative of the agency or organisation that directly drafted or created the state secret, and other members as decided by the competent person specified in Point a, Clause 3 of this Article;

c/ The declassification council shall consider the declassification of the whole or part of the state secret and report to the competent person specified in Point a, Clause 3 of this Article for the latter to issue a decision on the declassification;

d/ After declassification, it is required to attach a marking to the state secret, issue a document or take other appropriate forms to confirm the declassification; in case of partial declassification, the decision on the declassification must fully reflect the content of the declassified information;

dd/ Within 15 days after issuing the declassification decision, the agency or organisation deciding on the declassification shall notify thereof in writing to related agencies, organisations and individuals;

e/ The declassification dossier must be archived, comprising: the decision establishing the declassification council; the state secret proposed for declassification; minutes of the declassification council’s meeting; the declassification decision; and other relevant documents.

4. Agencies, organisations and individuals that receive notification of declassification of state secrets shall:

a/ Attach a marking to the state secrets, issue a document or take other appropriate forms to confirm the declassification of the received state secrets;

b/ Affix a seal, make a document or apply other appropriate forms to confirm the declassification of state secrets created on the basis of the declassified state secrets provided by agencies, organisations or individuals, and notify thereof in writing to related agencies, organisations and individuals.

5. For state secrets stored by the Historical Archives, in case it is impossible to identify the agencies that have determined state secrets, the Historical Archives shall decide on declassification in accordance with the law on archives.

6. The Government shall prescribe the declassification of electronic documents containing state secrets.

Article 23. Destruction of materials and objects containing state secrets

1. Materials and objects containing state secrets shall be destroyed in the following cases:

a/ It is no longer necessary to retain them and their destruction does not cause harm to the interests of the country and the nation;

b/ Failure to destroy them immediately will cause harm to the interests of the country and the nation.

2. The destruction of materials and objects containing state secrets must meet the following requirements:

a/ It does not result in disclosure or loss of state secrets;

b/ The destruction process must impact the materials and objects containing state secrets, changing their forms, functions, usages and content;

c/ After destruction, the forms, functions, usages and content of the materials and objects containing state secrets cannot be restored.

3. The competence to destroy materials and objects containing state secrets in the case specified in Point a, Clause 1 of this Article is prescribed as follows:

a/ The competent persons specified in Clauses 1 and 2, Article 11 of this Law also have the competence to decide on the destruction of materials and objects containing state secrets;

b/ The Minister of National Defence and the Minister of Public Security shall prescribe the competence to destroy materials and objects containing state secrets within the scope of their management.

4. The procedures for destroying materials and objects containing state secrets classified as Top Secret in the case specified in Point a, Clause 1 of this Article are prescribed as follows:

a/ The competent persons specified in Clause 3 of this Article shall decide on the establishment of a Council for destruction of materials and objects containing state secrets;

b/ The Council for destruction of materials and objects containing state secrets shall be composed of: a representative of the leadership of the agency or organisation directly storing the materials and objects containing state secrets as its Chairperson; the person directly responsible for storing such materials and objects and representatives of related agencies and organisations;

c/ The Council for destruction of materials and objects containing state secrets shall review materials and objects containing state secrets proposed for destruction and report thereon to the competent persons specified in Clause 3 of this Article for decision;

d/ The destruction dossier must be archived, comprising: the decision establishing the destruction council; the list of materials and objects containing state secrets proposed for destruction; the minutes of the Council’s meeting; the destruction decision; the minutes of destruction; and other relevant documents.

5. In case of destroying materials and objects containing state secrets under Point b, Clause 1 of this Article, the person currently managing such materials and objects may decide to immediately destroy the materials and objects containing state secrets and shall report in writing on the destruction to the head of the agency or organisation.

6. The destruction of materials and objects containing state secrets in the field of cryptography must comply with the law on cryptography; the destruction of materials and objects containing state secrets stored by the Historical Archives must comply with the law on archives.

7. The Government shall prescribe procedures for destroying materials and objects containing state secrets classified as Secret and Confidential.

Chapter IV

RESPONSIBILITIES FOR PROTECTION OF STATE SECRETS

Article 24. Responsibilities of agencies and organisations in protecting state secrets

1. The Government shall perform the unified state management of the protection of state secrets.

2. The Ministry of Public Security shall be responsible before the Government for performing the state management of the protection of state secrets and has the following tasks and powers:

a/ To formulate and propose guidelines, policies, plans and measures for protection of state secrets;

b/ To assume the prime responsibility for formulating and submitting to competent agencies for promulgation, or promulgate according to its competence, legal documents on protection of state secrets; and guide the implementation of activities relating to the protection of state secrets;

c/ To organise professional training and capacity-building on the protection of state secrets;

d/ To prevent and combat violations of the law on protection of state secrets;

dd/ To conduct inspection and examination, handle complaints and denunciations, and handle violations of the law on protection of state secrets;

e/ To carry out international cooperation on protection of state secrets as assigned by the Government.

3. The Office of the Party Central Committee and Party agencies at the central level, Party Committees directly under the Party Central Committee; the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front; the Ethnic Council, Committees and Office of the National Assembly; the Office of the President; provincial/municipal Party Committees, National Assembly deputies’ delegations, and provincial/municipal People’s Councils shall, within the scope of their tasks and powers, have the following responsibilities:

a/ To organise the implementation of activities relating to protection of state secrets;

b/ To assume the prime responsibility for formulating and submitting to competent agencies for promulgation, or promulgate according to their competence, documents relating to the protection of state secrets within the scope of their management in accordance with this Law;

c/ To issue, and organise the implementation of, regulations on protection of state secrets of agencies, organisations and localities;

d/ To assign personnel to perform tasks relating to protection of state secrets, and implement the reporting regime on protection of state secrets as prescribed by the Government;

dd/ To decide on measures to ensure security and safety and to prevent infringement upon state secrets for independent LANs under their management and in the following cases: using computers and equipment already used to draft and store state secrets to connect to computer networks (except independent LANs), the Internet and telecommunications networks; using computers and equipment once connected to computer networks (except independent LANs), the Internet or telecommunications networks to draft and store state secrets;

e/ To deploy and use artificial intelligence systems or new technologies in protection of state secrets in accordance with this Law and other relevant laws.

4. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-attached agencies; the Supreme People’s Court; the Supreme People’s Procuracy; the State Audit Office of Vietnam; and provincial/municipal People’s Committees have the following responsibilities:

a/ To discharge the responsibilities specified in Clause 3 of this Article;

b/ To conduct inspection and examination, resolve complaints and denunciations, and handle violations of the law on the protection of state secrets with regard to the agencies, organisations and individuals under their management as prescribed by law;

c/ To carry out international cooperation on protection of state secrets within the scope of their management.

5. The Ministry of National Defence shall be responsible before the Government for the performance of the state management of protection of state secrets within the scope of its management as prescribed in Points a, b, c, d and dd, Clause 2 of this Article; and for performance of the tasks as prescribed in Clause 3, and Point c, Clause 4, of this Article.

6. The Government Cipher Committee has the following responsibilities:

a/ To assist the Minister of National Defence in performing the state management of protection of state secrets as prescribed in Points a, b, c, d and dd, Clause 2, of this Article in the field of cryptography;

b/ To assist the Minister of National Defence in advising the Government on the development and expansion of the national cryptographic information system; to manage the research, production, supply and use of cryptographic products for protection of information classified as state secrets;

c/ To discharge the responsibilities specified in Clause 4 of this Article.

Article 25. Responsibilities of heads of agencies and organisations directly managing state secrets

1. To direct, examine and urge the implementation of the law and regulations on protection of state secrets within agencies and organisations under their management.

2. To direct and handle according to their competence and promptly notify the competent agencies in cases of disclosure or loss of state secrets within the scope of their management.

3. To organise the retrieval of materials and objects containing state secrets when the persons assigned to manage state secrets are no longer assigned this task for the reason that they resign, are transferred, retire or die or for other reasons.

Article 26. Responsibilities of persons accessing and directly managing state secrets

1. Persons accessing state secrets have the following responsibilities:

a/ To comply with the law and regulations of agencies or organisations on protection of state secrets;

b/ To implement measures to protect state secrets;

c/ To use state secrets for proper purposes;

d/ To comply with the requests and instructions of the agencies or organisations directly managing state secrets.

2. Persons directly managing state secrets have the following responsibilities:

a/ To discharge the responsibilities specified in Clause 1 of this Article;

b/ To propose competent persons to decide on the application of measures to protect state secrets under their direct management;

c/ If detecting violations in protection of state secrets, to take measures to address them and report thereon to responsible persons for resolution, and notify the agencies or organisations that determined these state secret so as to take remedial measures;

d/ Before resigning, being transferred, retiring, or being no longer assigned to manage state secrets for other reasons, to hand over such state secrets to the competent agency or organisation for management, and undertake to continue protecting the state secrets they used to manage.

Chapter V

IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS

Article 27. Effect

1. This Law takes effect on March 1, 2026.

2. Law No. 29/2018/QH14 on Protection of State Secrets, which has a number of articles amended and supplemented under Law No. 81/2025/QH15, ceases to be effective on the effective date of this Law.

Article 28. Transitional provisions

The Decision on the List of State Secrets issued in accordance with Law No. 29/2018/QH14 on Protection of State Secrets, which has a number of articles amended and supplemented under Law No. 81/2025/QH15, remains in effect until a new decision is issued in accordance with this Law.

The persons responsible for compiling the list of state secrets specified in Clause 2, Article 9 of this Law shall review, evaluate, and propose amendments and supplements to, the lists of state secrets in the sectors or fields under their management, and shall complete such task before January 1, 2027.

This Law was passed on December 10, 2025, by the 15^th National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam at its 10^th session.

Chairman of the National Assembly
TRAN THANH MAN