Significant policies effective from March 01, 2015

1. Change of fixed line area codes

According to Circular No. 22/2014/TT-BTTTT on planning for reserve of telecommunication numbers, area codes of  provinces shall be changed as follows:

Hanoi: 4 is changed to 25; Ho Chi Minh City: 8 is changed to 28; Da Nang city: 511 is changed to 236; Hai Phong city: 31 is changed to 225; Can Tho city 710 is changed to 292, etc.

Fixed line subscriber numbers shall have 7 – 8 digits (previously 6 – 9 digits).

With regard to cellular networks with specific regulations on network codes (02 digits), subscriber numbers shall have 7 – 8 digits (previously 7 – 9 digits).

With regard to private telecommunications networks of Communist Party authorities, the State, the Ministry of National Defense, and the Ministry of Public Security, subscriber numbers shall have 5, 6, or 7 digits depending on the scale of the network and the period.

Emergency service numbers are unchanged: Search and rescue services: 112; police assistance: 113; fire department: 114; emergency medical services: 115.

Emergency service numbers are applied nationwide.

This Circular replaces Decision No. 52/2006/QĐ-BBCVT and Decision No. 53/2006/QĐ-BBCVT

2. Seafaring benefits for fishery control officers and crewmembers

According to Decision No. 02/2015/QĐ-TTg, the seafaring benefits shall be VND 150,000/person/seafaring day for the purpose of duty performance of the following persons:

- Fishery control officers, crewmembers on fishery control vessels, officials, civil servants and employees of units affiliated to Fishery Control Department, persons dispatched, mobilized by competent authorities to engage in fishery control at sea.

- Persons appointed by their organizations or unit to work in cooperation on fishery control vessels.

The funding for provision of seafaring benefits is part of State budget estimate.

3. Guidance on installation of weight limit signs at bridges for road vehicles

Any bridge that fails to satisfy prescribed conditions must have weight limit signs.

The number on the signs is the result of bridge inspection or calculation, rounded to metric tonnes, and decided by a competent authority.

These regulations are provided for in Circular No. 84/2014/TT-BGTVT on traffic organization and installation of weight limit signs at bridges for road vehicles.

Furthermore, each bridge shall have its own weight limit signs, which are placed on the right of the direction of traffic, at a distance of 10 to 30 meters from the bridge, and at noticeable positions.

4. New regulations on settlement of advanced proceeding costs

According to Resolution No. 02/2015/NQ-HĐTP, advanced proceeding costs shall be expropriated in the following cases:

- The defendant cancels an administrative decision, disciplinary decision on dismissal, or decision on settling complaints about decisions on handling competition cases; 

- The administrative act against with the lawsuit is filed is terminated and the plaintiff agrees to drop the lawsuit, the persons with relevant interests and duties who make independent requests agree to withdraw such requests

5. Not more than 01 digital wallet provided for 01 account

Providers of digital wallet services must not:

- Provide more than 01 digital wallet to a payment account of a customer at a bank.

- Extend credit to digital wallet users, pay interest on digital wallet balance, or commit any act that could increase the value of digital wallet currencies.

These regulations are provided for in Circular No. 39/2014/TT-NHNN on guidelines for payment intermediary services.

Furthermore, providers of digital wallet services must provide instruments for the State bank to inspect, supervise in real time the total amount of money of digital wallet users and total amount of money in the payment accounts of the digital wallet service providers at banks.

Money shall be deposited in and withdrawn from digital wallets via the users’ payment accounts at banks.

6. New regulations on online medical activities

Any organization or individual that participates in development and deployment of online medical activities within Vietnam’s territory must satisfy the personnel requirements below:

The IT staff satisfies requirements for online medical activities of the organization.

With regard to Special-Class, Class 1 administrative agencies, and universities, there must be an IT department which consists of at least 05 persons, 60% of whom have at least college degrees in IT.

With regard to Class 2 and Class 3 administrative agencies, there must be an IT team which consists of at least 03 persons who have at least associate degrees in IT.

If external employees are hired, the employees hired to participate in online medical activities must satisfy professional requirements and the contracts must contain terms on fulfillment of commitment.

These regulations are provided for by the Ministry of Health in Circular No. 53/2014/TT-BYT.

(to be continued)