Outstanding policies taking effect in February 2024

New road toll rates

The Government issued Decree No. 90/2023/ND-CP regulating the collection rates, collection, payment, exemption, management and use of road use fees, which clearly stipulates the road use fee rates for each type of vehicle. Decree 90/2023/ND-CP takes effect from February 1, 2024.

Accordingly, the road usage fee for passenger vehicles with less than 10 seats registered under the name of individuals or business households is 130,000 VND/month. Passenger vehicles with less than 10 seats (except for vehicles specified in Point 1 of the Decree); trucks, specialized cars with a total weight of less than 4,000 kg; all types of public passenger buses (including buses to pick up students, students, and workers that enjoy subsidy policies like buses); cargo vehicles and 4-wheeled passenger vehicles with engines are 180,000 VND/month.

Trucks and specialized vehicles with a total weight from 19,000 kg to under 27,000 kg; tractors with a total weight plus the permitted towed weight from 19,000 kg to under 27,000 kg have a fee of 720,000 VND/month...

Trucks and specialized vehicles with a total weight of 27,000 kg or more; tractors with a gross weight plus the permitted towing weight from 27,000 kg to under 40,000 kg have a fee of 1,040 VND/month. Tractors with a gross weight plus the permitted towing weight from 40,000 kg or more have a fee of 1,430 VND/month...

The Decree clearly states that the collection rate for 1 month in the second year (from the 13th to the 24th month from the date of vehicle inspection and fee payment) is 92% of the fee rate for 1 month as prescribed in the table. The collection rate for 1 month in the third year (from the 25th to the 36th month from the date of vehicle inspection and fee payment) is 85% of the fee rate for 1 month as prescribed in the table.

The Decree stipulates that for first-time inspection of automobiles, the time for calculating road use fees is calculated from the date the vehicle is issued an Inspection Certificate. For automobiles that have been modified, have their functions changed, or have their ownership changed from an organization to an individual (and vice versa), the fee is calculated from the date of change of function or change of ownership according to the new registration certificate of the automobile. Road use fees are calculated by year, month, or by the inspection cycle of the automobile. The inspection unit issues a road use fee stamp corresponding to the time of payment.

Conditions for copying and taking pictures of Vietnamese currency

According to Decree 87/2023/ND-CP, agencies, organizations and individuals copying and taking pictures of Vietnamese currency from February 2, 2024 must meet one of the following conditions and standards:

Copy or take a partial photo of the image or pattern of Vietnamese currency not exceeding 1/3 of the front or back of the bill;

Copy or take a picture of one side of a Vietnamese currency with the length and width for paper money, and the diameter for metal money < 75% or > 150% of the size of real money of the same denomination;

Copy and take pictures of both sides of Vietnamese currency with length and width for paper money, diameter for metal money < 50% or > 200% of the size of real money of the same denomination;

Copy or take an electronic copy of the image to upload to the Internet with a maximum resolution not exceeding 72dpi and a size equivalent to real money of the same denomination.

Educational institutions are given choice of textbooks.

From February 12, 2024, the Ministry of Education and Training officially gave the right to decide on textbook selection to educational institutions (formerly the Provincial People's Committees) according to the provisions of Circular 27/2023/TT-BGDDT.

In Article 4, the Ministry of Education and Training stipulates that the Textbook Selection Council of an educational institution is established by the Principal of the educational institution or Director of the Center for Continuing Education, Director of the Center for Vocational Education - Continuing Education, or heads of educational institutions.

Each educational institution establishes a Textbook Selection Council.

The selection of textbooks is based on the following principles: Select textbooks from the list of textbooks approved by the Minister of Education and Training for stable use in educational institutions.

Each grade selects a textbook for each subject, and educational activities are carried out at educational institutions. The selection of textbooks ensures democracy, objectivity, openness, transparency, and the interests of students.

The criteria for selecting textbooks are appropriate to the socio-economic characteristics of the locality and appropriate to the conditions of organizing teaching and learning at the educational institution.

Remove classification on secondary school diploma

The new regulations on recognition of secondary school graduation issued in Circular 31/2023/TT-BGDDT officially take effect from February 15, 2024.

Accordingly, the conditions for secondary school graduation have many new points such as: Secondary school students who miss more than 45 classes can still graduate. Previously, to graduate from secondary school, students were not allowed to miss more than 45 classes in the 9th grade (one time/multiple times combined).

Eliminate secondary school graduation rankings. Previously, students' graduation results were classified as excellent, good, or average based on conduct and academic performance.

Organizing the secondary school graduation examination twice a year. According to Article 3 of Circular 31, educational institutions implementing the general secondary school education program are allowed to organize the graduation recognition examination at most twice a year for students who have completed grade 9.

The first graduation recognition review is conducted immediately after the end of the school year. The second graduation recognition review (if any) is conducted before the start of the new school year.

Previously, educational institutions implementing the General Education Program at the lower secondary level were only allowed to consider graduation once a year.

This regulation is applied from the 2024 - 2025 school year.

New regulations on personal documents when traveling by plane

Circular No. 42/2023/TT-BGTVT of the Ministry of Transport amends and supplements a number of contents on personal documents when traveling by plane from February 15, 2024.

When checking in for international flights, passengers must present one of the following documents: Passport or travel document or other documents valid for entry and exit as prescribed by law such as separate visa, permanent residence card, temporary residence card, citizen identification card (if Vietnam and the relevant country have signed an international treaty or agreement allowing citizens of the signatory country to use citizen identification cards instead of passports in each other's territory)... (documents valid for entry and exit as prescribed).

In case a child does not have his/her own passport, the child's full name, date of birth and photo must be recorded and affixed to the passport of the legal representative, including: biological father, biological mother, adoptive father, adoptive mother or guardian.

Passengers aged 14 years or older, when checking in for domestic flights, must present one of the following documents or electronic data of equivalent legal value:

For passengers with foreign nationality: Passport (with the most recent entry verification stamp) or valid international travel document (with the most recent entry verification stamp) and documents related to residence in Vietnam (visa, permanent residence card, temporary residence card, APEC business travel card) except in cases of visa exemption; diplomatic identity card issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to members of diplomatic missions, consular offices, representative offices of international organizations; car and motorbike driving license; long-term airport security control card; identification card of Vietnamese airlines; Level 2 electronic identification account of passengers (new regulation).

In case the passenger loses his/her passport, there must be an official dispatch from the diplomatic or consular agency of the country of the passenger's nationality or an official dispatch from the Department of Foreign Affairs (with confirmation from the local police agency where the passenger lost his/her passport) confirming the passenger's identity and the loss of his/her passport, with a photo and a seal. The official dispatch or official dispatch is valid for 30 days from the date of confirmation;

For passengers holding Vietnamese nationality, one of the following documents must be presented: Passport or travel document, separate visa, permanent residence card, temporary residence card, identity card, citizen identification card; identification card, certificate of the people's police, people's army; National Assembly Delegate card; Party membership card; Journalist card; car or motorbike driving license; card of the National Civil Aviation Security Committee; long-term airport security control card; identification card of Vietnamese airlines; Level 2 electronic identification account of the passenger; personal identification certificate certified by the police; certificate of confirmation from a competent authority certifying that the passenger has just completed serving a sentence.

Passengers with Vietnamese nationality from 14 years old to over 14 years old for no more than 20 days can use the same types of travel documents as passengers under 14 years old.