Notable Directives and Decisions by the Government and the Prime Minister for the Week of August 15–22

Proactively responding to the risks of heavy rain, flash floods, torrential floods, and landslides in the Northern and North Central regions

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung signed Prime Ministerial Directive No. 54/CĐ-TTg dated August 17, 2026, directing ministries, sectors, and localities to proactively respond to the risks of heavy rain, flash floods, flash floods, and landslides in the Northern and North Central regions.

The Prime Minister instructed the Standing Committee of the National Civil Defense Steering Committee and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to maintain strict on-duty shifts, closely monitor weather developments and natural disasters; provide timely forecasts, warnings, and information on rainfall, flooding, and natural disasters to relevant agencies and the public; proactively direct ministries, sectors, and localities to implement disaster prevention, response, and recovery efforts in accordance with their assigned functions, tasks, and authority, ensuring they are never caught off guard or unprepared.

The Chairpersons of the People’s Committees of provinces and cities shall report to the Party committees and directly direct and immediately organize the implementation of disaster response efforts within their jurisdictions, particularly in response to the risks of heavy rain, flooding, flash floods, torrential floods, and landslides...

The Prime Minister has directed a review and the organization of the evacuation of residents from areas at risk of severe flooding, flash floods, and landslides

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung signed the Prime Minister’s Directive No. 57/CĐ-TTg dated August 21, 2026, regarding the continued proactive response to natural disasters and the rapid mitigation of the consequences of rain and floods.

The directive requires timely warnings and updates on the development of tropical depressions and floods to be provided to the public; support for local authorities to quickly restore transportation routes damaged or cut off by landslides; and ensuring the safety of vessels and other watercraft operating on rivers and at sea...

Ensuring traffic order and safety during the September 2 holiday and the peak back-to-school month

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc signed Directive No. 55/CĐ-TTg on August 19, 2026, regarding ensuring traffic order and safety during the September 2 National Day holiday and the peak month for student safety as they return to school.

In the directive, the Deputy Prime Minister instructed the Ministry of Public Security to direct local police units to intensify patrols, monitoring, and strict enforcement against violations of traffic order and safety (TTATGT), upholding the rule of law and taking decisive action to ensure compliance with the law, “no off-limits zones, no exceptions”; focusing on addressing behaviors that are direct causes of traffic accidents, particularly violations related to alcohol and drug use, speeding, and driving on the wrong side of the road or in the wrong lane…; ensuring waterway traffic safety in areas near schools, student pickup and drop-off points, tourist areas, recreational and entertainment venues, festivals, and water-based student transportation and passenger transport operations… immediately suspending the operations of vessels and docks that fail to meet safety requirements. Take the initiative in fire prevention, firefighting, rescue, and emergency response efforts in the event of incidents or traffic accidents...

Ensure traffic order and safety for commercial motor vehicle transportation operations

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc signed Prime Ministerial Directive No. 56/CĐ-TTg dated August 21, 2026, regarding ensuring traffic order and safety in commercial motor vehicle transportation operations.

In the Directive, the Prime Minister instructed the Ministry of Public Security to direct relevant units and localities to step up inspections and enforce penalties for violations in road transport operations, particularly violations related to business conditions for motor vehicle transport by vehicle owners, transport companies, and drivers of vehicles carrying large numbers of passengers, and double-decker passenger buses with sleeping berths; to direct investigations to determine the causes of traffic accidents and handle violations in accordance with regulations; and to study and evaluate criteria for road passenger transport companies with a view toward establishing a quality and safety rating system...

Regulations on Monitoring Devices on Road Vehicles

The Government has issued Decree No. 319/2026/NĐ-CP regulating journey monitoring devices, driver image recording devices, and passenger compartment image recording devices on road vehicles.

Regarding technical requirements for monitoring devices on road vehicles, the Decree stipulates the following:

1. Monitoring devices on road vehicles must ensure the recording of the following data:

a) Data obtained from the vehicle tracking device includes: the vehicle’s route, operating speed, information on the number of stops and parking durations, and continuous driving time;

b) Data collected from the driver image recording device, which continuously records images of the driver under all lighting conditions;

c) Data collected from the passenger compartment video recording device, recorded continuously under all lighting conditions, including: images inside the passenger compartment, and images of passengers boarding and alighting;

d) Other data as specified in the National Technical Standards issued by the Minister of Public Security.

2. Monitoring devices on road vehicles have the function of automatically detecting and issuing safety warnings regarding violations of the law, or actions that endanger public order and road traffic safety by the driver or passengers in the passenger compartment, as specified in the National Technical Standards issued by the Minister of Public Security.

3. In cases where monitoring devices on road vehicles perform the functions specified in paragraph 2 above using an artificial intelligence system, they must comply with the provisions of the law on artificial intelligence.

Increase in Allowances and Preferential Benefits for Persons Who Have Contributed to the Revolution

The Government has issued Decree No. 321/2026/NĐ-CP stipulating the levels of allowances, supplements, and preferential treatment for persons who have rendered meritorious service to the revolution.

The Decree stipulates an increase in the standard rate for allowances and preferential benefits for those who have rendered meritorious service to the revolution from VND 2,789,000 to VND 3,012,000.

This standard serves as the basis for calculating the benefits, allowances, and preferential treatment for those who have rendered meritorious service to the revolution and their dependents.

Increase the standard rate for social assistance to VND 540,000 per month

The Government issued Decree No. 335/2026/NĐ-CP on August 21, 2026, regulating social assistance policies.

The new social assistance standard, effective July 1, 2026, is VND 540,000 per month (the previous standard was VND 500,000).

In cases where local economic and social conditions permit, the provincial-level People’s Committee shall submit a proposal to the People’s Council at the same level to decide on a social assistance standard and social assistance amount applicable within its jurisdiction that are higher than the social assistance standard and social assistance amount specified in this Decree.

The Government issued Decree No. 326/2026/NĐ-CP on August 19, 2026, regulating location identification.

Accordingly, each location has only one unique identification code, which adheres to a uniform structure nationwide, ensuring continuity, stability, and the absence of duplication throughout the system.

The location identifier is a 12-digit natural number sequence established by the Location Identifier Database. Each location is assigned a distinct, non-duplicative identification code, ensuring stability, scalability, and the ability to link, integrate, connect, share, and utilize information within the national database and specialized databases.

Full Scholarships Awarded to 1,500 Young Scientists and Outstanding Students for Overseas Training in Strategic Technologies

Deputy Prime Minister Le Tien Chau signed Decision No. 1600/QD-TTg approving the Project “Full Scholarship Program for Young Scientists and Outstanding Students to Study at the World’s Leading Universities in Strategic Technologies” (the Project).

The objective of the Project is to develop a high-quality workforce in strategic technology fields that directly contribute to the goal of achieving breakthroughs in the development of science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation, as well as certain fields supporting the innovation of the country’s development model, by providing full scholarships to outstanding students and young scientists to pursue training and research at the world’s leading universities.

The program aims to select and award full scholarships to 1,500 individuals to study and conduct research abroad by the end of 2035, thereby creating a pool of high-quality human resources in strategic technology fields, as projected.

Strengthen penalties for acts infringing upon intellectual property rights and violating intellectual property laws

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung signed Decision No. 1624/QĐ-TTg on August 21, 2026, amending and supplementing certain provisions of Decision No. 1068/QĐ-TTg dated August 22, 2019, issued by the Prime Minister, which approved the Intellectual Property Strategy through 2030.

Decision No. 1624/QĐ-TTg amends and supplements certain provisions regarding the improvement of intellectual property policies and laws, specifically: Reviewing and improving the intellectual property legal framework and related laws, with a focus on updating new issues arising in the field of intellectual property related to modern scientific and technological trends of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, including artificial intelligence (AI), in order to propose appropriate legal amendments; strengthen penalties for acts of infringement and violations of intellectual property laws to ensure a deterrent effect, particularly regarding counterfeit goods involving intellectual property...

Regarding measures to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of state management of intellectual property, Decision No. 1624/QĐ-TTg adds the task of researching the application of specialized financial mechanisms and human resources policies to develop a highly qualified workforce of civil servants, public officials, and intellectual property experts.

Simplify and streamline procedures, reduce costs, and shorten the time required to resolve disputes and address intellectual property rights infringements; strengthening inspections, oversight, and strict enforcement against acts of intellectual property rights infringement, particularly those occurring in the digital environment;

Urgently review and propose solutions to resolve bottlenecks for stalled or prolonged projects

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc signed Prime Ministerial Directive No. 58/CĐ-TTg dated August 22, 2026, regarding the urgent updating, review, classify, and propose solutions to resolve difficulties and obstacles for stalled and prolonged projects.

The Prime Minister has instructed provinces, centrally-affiliated cities, and ministries and agencies designated as project owners or managers to fully update the status of classification and resolution of projects facing difficulties, obstacles, or that are stalled or prolonged on the 751 System; to review and resolve these issues in accordance with the Politburo’s directives in Conclusion No. 24-KL/TW dated April 13, 2026, and to complete this task by September 15, 2026.

Ministries, sectoral regulatory agencies, and specialized agencies (Construction, Agriculture and Environment, Industry and Trade, Health, Finance, Defense, Public Security, the Government Inspectorate, etc.) shall proactively coordinate with relevant ministries, agencies, and localities to fully assess the information, implementation status, directions, and solutions; conduct reviews and provide opinions on the necessity of continuing to issue mechanisms and policies to resolve issues for projects proposed by localities and agencies.

Special Operating Mechanism of the Vietnam Coal and Mineral Industries Group

In Decree No. 325/2026/NĐ-CP, the Government details the special operating mechanism of the Vietnam Coal and Mineral Industries Group (TKV) regarding the Group’s management, exploration, extraction, processing, use of natural resources, and business operations.

Regarding the specific nature of TKV’s activities in the management, exploration, extraction, processing, and use of resources, the Decree stipulates:

TKV shall centrally coordinate, within the Group, the work of TKV companies in surveying, exploring, extracting, processing, and utilizing coal, bauxite, and other strategic and important mineral resources in accordance with the law; certain infrastructure projects of an inter-mine or inter-regional nature.

TKV shall take the lead in organizing, managing, and coordinating the exploration, mining, processing, and use of resources by its subsidiaries in accordance with the provisions of this Decree, the TKV Charter, and relevant laws to ensure the overall operational and business efficiency of the TKV Group of Companies and to ensure the economical and efficient exploitation and use of mineral resources.

Regulations on Preventing and Combating Fake News and Misinformation

The Government issued Decree No. 328/2026/ND-CP on August 19, 2026, regulating the prevention and combating of fake news and misinformation.

Decree No. 328/2026/ND-CP consists of 4 chapters and 23 articles covering the following contents:

1. Classification of fake news and misinformation; principles; state management; and international cooperation in preventing and combating fake news and misinformation.

2. Procedures for handling fake news and misinformation; certain measures to prevent and combat fake news and misinformation.

3. The authority and responsibilities of ministries, ministerial-level agencies, People’s Committees at all levels, and relevant organizations and individuals in preventing and combating fake news and misinformation.

The Government has issued several Decrees detailing the Cybersecurity Law

The Government issued Decree No. 327/2026/ND-CP regulating the prevention and handling of information and acts involving the use of information technology, computer networks, telecommunications networks, and electronic devices that infringe upon national security, public order, and social safety in cyberspace.

This Decree provides detailed regulations for Article 14 of the Cybersecurity Law, including the following provisions:

1. Measures to prevent and address information and acts involving the use of information technology, computer networks, telecommunications networks, and electronic devices that infringe upon national security, public order, and social safety in cyberspace.

2. The authority of specialized forces responsible for cybersecurity, competent agencies, and the responsibilities of domestic and foreign enterprises providing telecommunications network services, Internet services, value-added services in cyberspace, information system administrators, organizations, and individuals in the prevention and handling of information and activities involving the use of information technology, computer networks, telecommunications networks, and electronic devices that infringe upon national security, public order, and social safety in cyberspace.

3. Coordination mechanisms for the prevention and handling of information and acts involving the use of information technology, computer networks, telecommunications networks, and electronic devices that infringe upon national security, public order, and social safety in cyberspace.

Policies on incentives and talent recruitment for the specialized cybersecurity force

The Government issued Decree No. 329/2026/NĐ-CP on August 19, 2026, regulating the cybersecurity force. Notably, the decree includes provisions on incentive policies and talent recruitment for the specialized cybersecurity force.

Article 16 of the Decree clearly states: Individuals selected, recruited, assigned, employed, tasked, or contracted to perform duties within the dedicated cybersecurity force are entitled to salaries, wages, honoraria, allowances, subsidies, and other benefits as prescribed by law, in accordance with the form of employment, job position, title, rank, nature of duties, and performance results.”

Personnel on the permanent staff of specialized cybersecurity forces or those covered by talent retention and recruitment programs, in addition to the salary, allowances, and other benefits provided for by law, may be considered for additional monthly support at one of the following rates: Level 1: up to 100% of the base salary; Level 2: up to 200% of the base salary; Level 3: up to 300% of the base salary.

Penalty Levels for Administrative Violations Related to Personal Data Protection

The Government issued Decree No. 330/2026/ND-CP on August 19, 2026, stipulating administrative penalties in the fields of cybersecurity and personal data protection.

This Decree consists of 4 chapters and 82 articles governing administrative violations; completed and ongoing administrative violations; forms of penalties, penalty amounts, and remedial measures for each type of administrative violation; the parties subject to penalties; the authority to impose penalties, specific fine amounts based on official position, and the authority to issue violation reports; and the enforcement of administrative penalty measures and remedial actions in the fields of cybersecurity and personal data protection.

Notably, the regulations address violations related to personal data protection: A fine of up to VND 60 million for acts of resistance or obstruction of personal data protection activities by organizations or individuals; a fine of up to VND 50 million for the processing of collected personal data without the consent of the data subject.

Regulations on Cybersecurity for Information Systems

The Government has issued Decree No. 331/2026/NĐ-CP regulating cybersecurity for information systems.

This Decree provides detailed regulations on Article 8, Clause 2; Article 9, Clause 5; Article 10, Clause 6; and Article 12, Clause 5 of the Cybersecurity Law, specifically: criteria for determining the security level of information systems; regulations on the authority, procedures, and processes for determining the security level of information systems, as well as the measures, responsibilities, and obligations to ensure cybersecurity according to each security level of the information system; criteria for identifying information systems critical to national security; cybersecurity protection responsibilities for information systems; cybersecurity protection measures for information systems; and cybersecurity inspections for information systems of agencies and organizations not included in the list of information systems critical to national security.

Conditions for the Business of Cybersecurity Products and Services

The Government issued Decree No. 332/2026/NĐ-CP on August 19, 2026, regulating the business operations of cybersecurity products and services. The Decree details the conditions for businesses engaged in the sale of such products and services.

The Decree stipulates that organizations and businesses engaged in the business of cybersecurity products and services shall be granted a License to Operate Cybersecurity Products and Services when they meet the following conditions:

They must be established in accordance with Vietnamese law and must not have violated any legal provisions regarding the business of cybersecurity products and services. For economic organizations with foreign investment, the remaining investment term in Vietnam must be more than 5 years from the date the Business License for Cybersecurity Products and Services is issued.

In addition, the business must meet conditions regarding personnel and technical capabilities.

Regulations on Businesses’ Cybersecurity Activities

The Government issued Decree No. 333/2026/NĐ-CP on August 19, 2026, detailing certain provisions and measures for the implementation of the Cybersecurity Law. Notably, the decree includes provisions related to the cybersecurity activities of domestic and foreign enterprises operating in cyberspace in Vietnam.

Article 16 of the Decree states: Domestic and foreign enterprises providing services on telecommunications networks, the Internet, and value-added services in the cyberspace in Vietnam must carry out activities to ensure cybersecurity in accordance with the provisions of this Article and other relevant provisions of Vietnamese law.