From August 15, 2026, English translations of all agencies in the political system to be standardized

The English translation of the official name of the country, names of agencies and units, and titles of leaders, cadres and civil servants in the political system shall be standardized in accordance with Circular No. 05/2026/TT-BNG dated June 30, 2026.

Circular No. 05/2026/TT-BNG provides guidance on the English translation of the official name of the country, names of agencies and units, and titles of leaders, cadres and civil servants in the political system. Unlike the superseded Circular, the scope of guidance is no longer limited to agencies within the state administrative system but covers the entire political system.

To ensure consistency in foreign relations, Clause 1, Article 2 provides that all prescribed English translations are set out in the Appendix issued with the Circular. The Appendix standardizes the English names and titles of the following categories:

Categories covered by the guidance

• The official name of the country;
• The Communist Party of Viet Nam and the advisory and assisting agencies of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Viet Nam;
• The National Assembly, agencies of the National Assembly and agencies established by the National Assembly;
• The President and the Office of the President;
• The Government, ministries and ministerial-level agencies;
• Judicial and procuracy agencies;
• The Viet Nam Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations;
• Mass organizations assigned tasks by the Party and the State at the central level;
• Local administrations at all levels;
• Names of units and titles of leaders, cadres and civil servants in the political system.

Names of units and titles of leaders, cadres and civil servants in the political system

The Circular not only prescribes the English names of agencies but also provides standardized translations of titles of leaders, cadres and civil servants at different levels.

• At the central level, the Appendix provides English translations for numerous titles, including General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, President of the National Assembly, President, Prime Minister, Minister, Deputy/Vice Minister, Director-General, and Desk Officer, as well as many titles within agencies of the Party, the National Assembly, the Government, judicial agencies and socio-political organizations.
• At the local level, the Circular also provides standardized translations for People’s Committee, People’s Council, Department, Inspectorate and Office, as well as titles such as Secretary, Chairman/Chairwoman of the People’s Committee, Vice Chairman/Chairwoman of the People’s Committee, Director of Department, Chief Inspector, Head of Division and Desk Officer.

Clause 2, Article 2 of Circular No. 05/2026/TT-BNG provides that English-letter abbreviations of ministries and ministerial-level agencies shall be based on those actually used by the agencies in foreign-language documents.

The Appendix issued with the Circular standardizes various abbreviations currently used in foreign relations, including:
 

The Circular also provides that, for names of agencies and units and titles of leaders, cadres and civil servants in the political system that are not included in the Appendix, agencies and units may translate such names and titles into English on their own initiative and shall be responsible for the accuracy of their translations.

Circular No. 05/2026/TT-BNG replaces Circular No. 03/2009/TT-BNG dated July 9, 2009, of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, guiding the English translation of the official name of the country, names of agencies and units and titles of leaders, cadres and civil servants in the state administrative system for use in foreign relations.