New policies taking effect in November 2026

Regulations on Investment and Business Sectors Subject to Public Security and Order Conditions

According to Decree No. 392/2026/NĐ-CP dated October 20, 2026, effective November 15, 2026, the Government has specified 10 industries and professions that must have a plan to ensure public security and order, including:

1. Business operations involving support tools (including repairs);

2. Business operations involving fireworks, excluding explosive fireworks;

3. The business of games of chance (including electronic games of chance for foreigners, casinos, and betting);

4. Business operations involving industrial explosives;

5. Business operations involving explosive precursors;

6. Business activities involving the use of industrial explosives and explosive precursors;

7. Operating blasting services;

8. Nightclub services;

9. Operation of lodging services (for business establishments that are enterprises);

10. Trading in handguns, shoulder-fired weapons, and ammunition used for these types of weapons issued to the People’s Armed Forces and other forces in accordance with the law on the management and use of weapons, explosives, and auxiliary equipment.

Administrative violations in the lottery business sector are subject to fines of up to VND 200 million

The Government issued Decree No. 389/2026/NĐ-CP on October 14, 2026, effective as of November 30, 2026, regulating administrative penalties for violations in the lottery business sector.

This Decree defines administrative violations, completed administrative violations, and ongoing administrative violations; forms of penalties; the enforcement of administrative penalty forms and remedial measures; and the authority to issue administrative violation reports and impose administrative penalties in the lottery business sector.

The Decree stipulates that the fine for an individual is half the amount of the fine imposed on an organization for the same violation. Specifically, the maximum fine for an individual committing an administrative violation in the lottery business sector is VND 100,000,000, while the maximum fine for an organization is VND 200,000,000.

Regulations on Compulsory Education

Decree No. 353/2026/NĐ-CP, dated September 11, 2026, issued by the Government, stipulates universal preschool education for children aged 5 to 6, compulsory education, and literacy programs, and takes effect on November 1, 2026.

Accordingly, the target group for compulsory elementary education consists of children aged 6 to 14 who have not yet completed the elementary education program. The target group for compulsory lower secondary education consists of adolescents and teenagers aged 11 to 18 who have completed the elementary education program but have not yet completed the lower secondary education program.

The compulsory elementary and lower secondary education programs are the general education curricula for elementary and lower secondary levels issued by the Minister of Education and Training.

Effective November 15, 2026, foreign organizations recruiting Vietnamese workers must post job openings on the National Job Exchange.

The Government issued Decree No. 371/2026/NĐ-CP on September 25, 2026, effective November 15, 2026, which provides detailed regulations on the recruitment and management of Vietnamese workers employed by foreign organizations and individuals in Vietnam.

The decree clearly stipulates the recruitment of Vietnamese workers to work for foreign organizations and individuals in Vietnam.

Accordingly, when there is a need to recruit Vietnamese workers, foreign organizations and individuals must submit a written notification—either in person, via postal service, or online—to the official email address of the managing agency or organization specified in Article 5 of this Decree, clearly stating the job position and the number of positions to be filled.

At the same time, foreign organizations and individuals must publicly post information regarding the recruitment of Vietnamese workers on the National Job Exchange (website: https://www.vieclam.gov.vn) or on another legitimate employment portal or the organization’s official website.

Foreign organizations and individuals may directly recruit Vietnamese workers or request assistance from the administrative agencies or organizations specified in Article 5 of this Decree in recruiting Vietnamese workers.

Upon receiving a request from a foreign organization or individual, the administrative agencies or organizations specified in Article 5 of this Decree shall conduct the selection and referral of candidates based on the job description provided.

A fine of up to VND 40 million shall be imposed for the act of collecting or creating data without the owner’s permission

The Government issued Decree No. 363/2026/NĐ-CP on September 19, 2026, effective as of November 11, 2026, regulating administrative penalties for violations in the field of data.

The act of collecting or creating data that results in the leakage of sensitive information, thereby affecting the legitimate rights and interests of organizations or individuals or national security, will be subject to a fine ranging from 40 to VND 60 million.

Decree No. 363/2026/NĐ-CP stipulates administrative violations, forms of penalties, penalty amounts, the enforcement of administrative penalties, remedial measures for each administrative violation, the entities subject to penalties, the authority to issue violation reports, the authority to impose penalties, the application of remedial measures, and specific fine amounts by position for administrative violations in the field of data.

This Decree does not apply to administrative violations falling within the scope of the Decree regulating penalties for administrative violations in the field of cybersecurity and personal data protection.

Amendments to numerous provisions on penalties for violations in the field of statistics

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Van Thang, on behalf of the Government, signed and issued Decree No. 362/2026/ND-CP on September 18, 2026, amending and supplementing certain articles of Decree No. 95/2016/ND-CP dated July 1, 2016, of the Government, which regulates administrative penalties for violations in the field of statistics, as amended and supplemented by Decree No. 100/2021/ND-CP dated November 15, 2021, of the Government (Decree No. 95/2016/ND-CP).

In particular, Decree No. 362/2026/ND-CP amends and supplements numerous provisions regarding the handling of violations in the electronic environment; remedial measures; the authority to impose penalties by the Chairperson of the People’s Committee; the authority to impose penalties by inspectors, heads of agencies performing state management functions in specific sectors and fields, and certain other positions...

This Decree takes effect on November 2, 2026.

Changes to regulations on Parent-Teacher Association meetings

Circular No. 81/2026/TT-BGDĐT of the Ministry of Education and Training, promulgating the Charter of the Parent-Teacher Association, takes effect on November 15, 2026.

One notable change is that there is no longer a requirement to hold three full-scale parent meetings per school year at fixed times, as was previously the case.

Under the new regulations, parent-teacher meetings are to be held at the beginning of the school year. The focus is on exchanging information regarding the care, upbringing, education, academic performance, discipline, and development of preschool children and students; agreeing on cooperation plans; and electing the group- and class-level Parent-Teacher Association committees. Subsequent meetings will be held as needed.

Meetings and votes may be conducted in person, online, or through a combination of both.

Changes to the Procedures for Receiving Funeral Benefits for Veterans

Circular No. 21/2026/TT-BNV of the Ministry of Home Affairs amends and supplements guidelines on the implementation of benefits and policies for veterans, effective November 10, 2026.

Under the new regulations, the application dossier for funeral benefits must include a benefit claim form, a death certificate or an extract from the death registry, and documentation confirming that the deceased was a veteran. If the death information can be retrieved from a database or information system, these documents need not be submitted.

Applicants may submit their applications in person, via postal service, or online through the National Public Service Portal to the commune-level People’s Committee where the veteran resided prior to their death.

Within 5 days of receiving a complete application, the commune-level People’s Committee shall review and verify the application and forward the documents to the Department of Home Affairs. Within 7 working days of receiving a complete application, the Department of Home Affairs shall review it and issue a decision on the benefits entitlement in accordance with regulations./.