Decree No. 244/2026/ND-CP on making statements and providing information to the press by state administrative authorities

DECREE

ON MAKING STATEMENTS AND PROVIDING INFORMATION TO THE PRESS BY STATE ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITIES

Pursuant to the Law on Government Organization No. 63/2025/QH15;

Pursuant to the Law on Local Government Organization No. 72/2025/QH15;

Pursuant to the Law on Press No. 126/2025/QH15;

At the request of the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism;

The Government promulgates the Decree on making statements and providing information to the press by state administrative authorities.

Chapter I

GENERAL REGULATIONS

Article 1. Scope

This Decree elaborates clause 5, Article 31 of the Law on Press regarding spokespersons, regimes for making statements and providing information to the press by state administrative authorities.

Article 2. Regulated entities

This Decree applies to the following entities:

1. State administrative authorities including:

a) The Government, ministries, ministerial authorities; People’s Committees of provinces and cities (hereinafter referred to as “province-level People’s Committees”);

b) Departments and equivalent bodies under ministries and ministerial authorities (hereinafter referred to as “departments”); province-level authorities under ministries, and ministerial authorities that operate under a vertical organizational structure and are located in local areas;

c) Departments and inspectorates under province-level People’s Committees; sub-departments and equivalent bodies under departments located in regions (hereinafter referred to as “sub-departments”);

d) People’s Committees of communes, wards and special zones (hereinafter referred to as “commune-level People’s Committees”).

2. Press agencies, journalists, reporters, and other entities participating in press activities in Vietnam.

Article 3. Spokespersons

1. A spokesperson is the representative who acts on the behalf of a state administrative authority to provide information about official views of the authority to the press via the forms prescribed in Article 5 of this Decree.

2. Spokespersons include:

a) Heads of state administrative authorities;

b) Persons assigned by heads of state administrative authorities to act as the regular spokesperson;

c) Persons of state administrative authorities who are authorized by the heads to perform the spokesperson’s tasks (hereinafter collectively referred to as “authorized spokesperson”) regarding specific matters.

3. The full name, position, telephone number, and official email of spokespersons as prescribed in point b, clause 2 of this Article shall be published on the portal or website of state administrative authorities within 24 hours from the time that the decision on assignment of tasks is issued.

Ministries and ministerial authorities are responsible for publishing, disclosing, and updating any change of the list of spokespersons of their authorities, departments, province-level authorities under ministries, ministerial authorities that operate under a vertical organizational structure and are located in local areas, and sub-departments.

Province-level People’s Committees are responsible for publishing, disclosing, and updating any change of the list of spokespersons of province-level People’s Committees, departments and inspectors under province-level People’s Committees, and commune-level People’s Committees.

4. If the spokesperson prescribed in point b, clause 2 of this Article is unable to perform spokesperson tasks and provide information to the press, he/she must report to the head of the administrative authority to authorize a responsible person from the authority to act as the spokesperson.

5. The authorization to act as the spokesperson as prescribed in point c, clause 2 of this Article shall be made in writing, applied on a case-by-case basis, and valid for a specified term.

6. Spokespersons prescribed in points b and c, clause 2 of this Article may not authorize their tasks to another person.

7. Information provided by individuals of state administrative authorities who are not spokespersons as prescribed in clause 2 of this Article does not represent official views of state administrative authorities.

Individuals of state administrative authorities who are not spokespersons as prescribed in clause 2 of this Article providing information to the press are accountable to the laws for the provided information.

Article 4. Rights and responsibilities of spokespersons

1. Heads of state administrative authorities may make statements, assign or authorize the performance of spokesperson tasks and provision of information to the press in accordance with points b and c, clause 2, Article 3 of this Decree.

2. Spokespersons have the right to request relevant units and individuals under state administrative authorities to provide information for making statements, providing periodic or extraordinary information to the press in accordance with Article 6 and Article 7 of this Decree; and responding to feedback, petitions, criticisms, complaints, and denunciations of organizations and citizens forwarded by press agencies or published/broadcast in the press in accordance with the laws.

Units and individuals are responsible for providing full, timely, and accurate information at the request of spokespersons.

3. Spokespersons have the right to refuse to make statements or provide information to the press in cases prescribed in clause 2, Article 31 of the Law on Press. In case of refusal, they shall provide a written response with clear reasons to press agencies.

4. Spokespersons are responsible for making statements and providing information to the press in accordance with Articles 6 and 7 of this Decree, and accountable to the laws and heads of state administrative authorities (for assigned or authorized spokespersons) for statements and information provided to the press.

Chapter II

MAKING STATEMENTS AND PROVIDING INFORMATION TO THE PRESS

Article 5. Forms of making statements and providing information to the press

1. Organizing press conferences (in-person or online).

2. Publishing statements and providing information on the portal, website, social media pages, channels, accounts, or digital platforms of state administrative authorities; official social media pages, channels, and accounts of state administrative authorities must be disclosed on their portal or website.

3. Making direct statements or answering press interviews.

4. Sending press releases, written replies, or emails.

5. Providing information via direct exchanges or at press briefings organized by the Central Commission for Dissemination and Mass Mobilization; the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; and the Vietnam Journalists Association at the central level; or by the Commission for Dissemination and Mass Mobilization of province-level Executive Committees of Vietnam Communist Party Committee; specialized authorities responsible for culture under province-level People’s Committees; and Journalists Associations of provinces and cities.

Article 6. Periodic provision of information

1. Ministers, and Chairman of the Office of the Government shall take charge and cooperate with Ministers, heads of ministerial authorities, and Presidents of province-level People’s Committees in providing information to the press on a monthly basis regarding the activities, direction, and administration of the Government and the Prime Minister via press conferences, press releases, press interviews, and postings on the portal of the Government.

The Department of Information and Communications of the Government are responsible for updating information on current regulations to provide timely and accurate official information to press agencies across nationwide.

2. Ministries, ministerial-level authorities, and province-level People’s Committees shall provide information to the press on operational status, task performance results, and issues of public concern under their management. To be specific:

a) Monthly, provide information to the press and update information on the official portal or website of authorities in accordance with regulations of the Government on providing information and online public services on portals or websites of state administrative authorities; as well as on official social media pages, channels, accounts, or digital platforms of state administrative authorities;

b) Organize press conferences at least once every 03 months to provide information to the press;

c) Provide information to the press in writing or via other forms prescribed in Article 5 of this Decree;

d) Provide information directly at weekly press briefings organized by the Central Commission for Dissemination and Mass Mobilization; the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; and the Vietnam Journalists Association (if necessary);

dd) Provide timely and accurate information on the portal of the Government as prescribed by laws.

3. State administrative authorities prescribed in points b, c and d, clause 1, Article 2 of this Decree shall provide information to the press regarding their operations, task performance results, and issues of public concern under their management. To be specific:

a) Provide information to the press and update information on the official portal or website of authorities in accordance with regulations of the Government on providing information and online public services on portals or websites of state administrative authorities; as well as on official social media pages, channels, accounts, or digital platforms of state administrative authorities;

b) Designate spokespersons to provide information at press conferences organized by ministries, ministerial authorities, or province-level People’s Committees upon request;

c) Provide information to the press in writing or via other forms prescribed in Article 5 of this Decree;

d) Departments and inspectorates under province-level People’s Committees, province-level authorities under ministries, ministerial authorities that operate under a vertical organizational structure and are located in local areas, sub-departments, and commune-level People’s Committees may provide information directly at press briefings organized by the Commission for Dissemination and Mass Mobilization of province-level Executive Committees of Vietnam Communist Party Committee; Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism or Department of Culture and Sports; and Journalists Associations of provinces and cities;

dd) Provide timely and accurate information to the portal or website of ministries, ministerial authorities, province-level People’s Committees, and departments in accordance with applicable regulations, as well as to the portal of the Government (if necessary).

Article 7. Making statements in emergency or extraordinary cases

1. In the event of a national incident affecting national defense, national security, social order and safety, or community health, except for cases involving the declaration of a state of emergency, martial law, curfew, and other cases as prescribed by laws, the Prime Minister or spokespersons of the Government shall make statements and provide information to the press immediately after the incident occurs and regularly throughout the process of handling the incident.

2. For incidents involving two or more ministries, central authorities, provinces, or cities, the spokespersons of ministries, ministerial authorities, or province-level People’s Committees assigned by the Government to take charge shall reach consensus with relevant agencies to make statements and regularly provide information to the press throughout the process of handling the incident.

3. In the event of important events or issues with major social impact under the management of state administrative authorities, except for cases prescribed in clauses 1 and 2 of this Article, within 24 hours from the time that authorities receive and handle the cases within their authority, the spokespersons shall make statements and provide initial information to the press to ensure timely warnings, guide public opinion, minimize media crises, and prevent the spread of false or inaccurate information.

4. When public opinion expresses conflicting views regarding a matter under the management of a state administrative authority, except for cases prescribed in clauses 1 and 2 of this Article, within 24 hours from the time that the authority determines that the matter may impact or influence public opinion, the spokesperson shall make statements and provide initial information to the press to ensure timely warnings, guide public opinion, minimize media crises, and prevent the spread of false or inaccurate information.

5. At the requests of press agencies, press superior agencies, or state management authorities in charge of the press, spokespersons shall make statements or provide information regarding events or issues of authorities or under their management that have been reported in the press, or regarding events or issues prescribed in clauses 3 and 4 of this Article.

6. When there are grounds to believe that the press has published or broadcast inaccurate information regarding the field or area under authorities’ management, spokespersons shall issue a written response stating the grounds, requesting a correction and apology in accordance with the laws.

Article 8. Responsibilities of heads of state administrative authorities in making statements and providing information to the press

1. Heads of state administrative authorities are responsible for making statements and providing information to the press even when assigning tasks or authorizing other persons to make statements and provide information to the press.

2. Heads of state administrative authorities shall show concern and create favorable conditions for persons assigned or authorized to make statements to undergo training on media skills, statements, and provision of information to the press.

3. Heads of state administrative authorities shall promulgate and organize the implementation of internal regulations on making statements and providing information to the press; direct and inspect the preparation of information and the execution of authorities’ statements in order to ensure that information provision within authorities is carried out in a uniform, timely, and lawful manner; and take responsibility in cases of delayed statements, avoidance of providing information, or inconsistent provision of information under their management.

Article 9. Responsibilities of press agencies, journalists, and reporters

1. Press agencies, journalists, and reporters are responsible for truthfully, objectively, and fully publishing, broadcasting, and reflecting the information provided by the spokespersons; translating international technical terms into another language without altering the essence of the original information; and stating the full name of the spokespersons and the name of state administrative authorities.

2. If a press agency accurately publishes or broadcasts the information provided by a spokesperson, it is not responsible for such information.

3. Press agencies shall publish or broadcast the feedback of the spokespersons, make corrections and apologies in accordance with the laws regarding published information that is inaccurate or untrue.

Article 10. Reporting regime

1. Ministries, ministerial authorities, and province-level People’s Committees are responsible for submitting reports on the execution of making statements and providing information to the press via electronic documents (using the Form attached to this Decree) to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for summary, reporting to the Government, and publishing the results of compliance with statement-making and information provision to the press by state administrative authorities before December 20 annually.

2. The data collection period is from December 15 of the year preceding the reporting period to December 14 of the reporting period.

Chapter III

IMPLEMENTATION CLAUSE

Article 11. Effect

1. This Decree comes into force from July 01, 2026.

2. Decree No. 09/2017/ND-CP dated February 09, 2017 of the Government on making statements and providing information to the press by state administrative authorities ceases to be effective from the effective date of this Decree.

Article 12. Transitional provision

Within 45 days from the effective date of this Decree, state administrative authorities that have not yet promulgated internal regulations on making statements and providing information to the press are responsible for drafting and promulgating their own internal regulations on making statements and providing information to the press.

Article 13. Implementation

1. The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism is responsible for organizing, urging, and inspecting the implementation of this Decree.

2. Ministers; heads of ministerial authorities; Presidents of province-level People’s Committees; relevant organizations and individuals are responsible for implementing this Decree.