Gov't decrees Viet Nam's overseas aid

The decree comprises seven chapters and 82 articles, consistent with the Law on State Budget No. 83/2015/QH13, and applies to agencies, organizations, and individuals involved in the implementation of overseas aid.

Viet Nam's aid is provided in five forms including construction investment, technical assistance, supply of goods, cash grants, and other forms as decided by the Prime Minister. Aid may be delivered through programs, projects, or non-project activities.

Especially, the Prime Minister has the authority to make decision on aid projects valued from VND500 billion (US$19 billion).

Grant aid forms part of Viet Nam's external policy and is included in the annual state budget estimates. Its management must be unified, transparent, and well-coordinated, while ensuring the proactive role of relevant agencies and units. Aid provision must comply with Viet Nam's foreign policy, Constitution, and laws; international treaties to which Viet Nam is a signatory; as well as the priorities, needs, and actual conditions of both Viet Nam and the recipient.

Where the provisions of an international treaty differ from those of the decree, the treaty shall prevail.

Priority will be given to Viet Nam directly implementing programs, projects, and non-project activities; handing over completed results to recipients; and using Vietnamese goods, services, technologies, human resources, and contractors. Foreign supplies or contractors may only be used when domestic resources are insufficient or when necessary for political, diplomatic, defense, security, socio-economic, or human safety reasons.

Recipients are responsible for taxes, fees, and charges related to goods, services, and aid activities, as well as compensation, site clearance, and resettlement costs, unless otherwise agreed with Viet Nam.

The method of transferring central budget funds to foreign recipients must be approved during the appraisal of aid proposals or specified in relevant treaties or agreements. Procedures for approving aid policies include drafting aid policy reports based on approved aid proposal lists, international agreements, minutes of joint committee meetings or high-level discussions, and actual needs.

The Ministry of Finance leads the appraisal process, collecting written opinions from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant agencies. Based on the appraisal results, the Ministry of Finance submits the completed aid policy report to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision./.