THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS

Circular No. 04/2014/TT-BTTTT dated March 19, 2014 of the Ministry of Information and Communications detailing and guiding a number of Articles of  Decree No. 88/2012/ND-CP dated October 23, 2012 of the Government regulation on activities of information and press of foreign press, foreign representative agency and organizations in Vietnam
Pursuant to the Government's Decree No. 88/2012/ND-CP dated October 23, 2012 on press activities of foreign press agencies, foreign representative bodies, and foreign organizations in Vietnam (hereinafter referred to as the Decree No. 88/2012/ND-CP);
Pursuant to the Government's Decree No. 132/2013/ND-CP dated October 16, 2013 defining the functions, tasks, entitlements and organizational structure of the Ministry of Information and Communications;
At the request of the Director of Diplomatic Intelligence Administration,
The Minister of Information and Communications promulgates a Circular detailing and guiding a number of Articles of  Decree No. 88/2012/ND-CP dated October 23, 2012 of the Government regulation on activities of information and press of foreign press, foreign representative agency and organizations in Vietnam.
Article 1. Scope of regulation and subjects of application
1. This Circular provides for the documentation, procedures, and forms related to press activities of foreign representative bodies and foreign organizations in Vietnam (hereinafter referred to as foreign organizations)
2. This Circular is applied to the units and organizations affiliated to the Ministry of Information and Communications, the People’s Committees of provinces, and foreign organizations in Vietnam.
Article 2. Interpretation of terms
In this Circular, the terms below are construed as follows:
1. Foreign representative bodies are diplomatic missions, consular offices, representative bodies of intergovernmental organizations, and other foreign bodies authorized to perform consular tasks in Vietnam.  
2. Foreign organizations are representative bodies of non-governmental organizations, foreign economic organizations, foreign cultural organizations, foreign scientific organizations, foreign advisory organizations, foreign companies and foreign facilities.
Article 3. News publication and press releases
1. Any foreign organization in Vietnam that wishes to publish news shall file an application (form 01/BTTTT enclosed herewith) to Press Administration - Ministry of Information and Communications (directly or by post). If the applicant is a foreign representative body, a copy of the application shall also be sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a notification.
2. Any foreign organization in Vietnam that wishes to publish a press release without holding a press conference shall file an application (form 01/BTTTT enclosed herewith) to the People’s Committee of the province where their office is situated, enclosed with the draft of the press release. If a press conference is held when publishing a press release, the application shall be sent to the authority in charge of considering requests for press conferences.
3. The publication of news and press releases must comply with the Decision No. 28/2002/QD-BVHTT dated November 21, 2002 on promulgation of the Regulation on publication of news, documents, and fliers; publication of press releases, publication of digital news of foreign organizations and foreign entities in Vietnam, amended in the Circular No. 21/2011/TT-BTTTT dated July 13, 2011; the Decision No. 20/2007/QD-BVHTT dated July 09, 2007, and this Circular.
4. A license for news publication is effective for 01 year from the day on which it is signed. If the foreign organization that obtains the license for news publication fails to publish news within 60 days from its effective date, the license shall be invalidated.