Laws of Vietnam

The Prime Minister instructs the Ministries, branches and People’s Committees of different levels within their functions and management responsibilities to well implement the following:

+ Promptly organizing the unified management of the exploitation, utilization and protection of water resources (except for mineral water and natural hot water), prevention of losses and fight against the pollution of water resources; closely directing the construction, restoration of the drainage system and system for the treatment of waste water in urban areas, industrial parks and centralized population centers.

+ The exploitation, utilization and protection of water resources as well as the prevention and fight against water pollution must focus on: ensuring the systematic character of water resources; rationally using, saving and protecting water resources and the environment in accordance with the planning and technical processes; organizations and individuals exploiting or using underground water must obtain operation permits; water for daily life must be protected by a sanitation safety area.

+ The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall work out strategies and policies for the management of water resources to submit to the Government in 1996 and, at the same time, speed up the drafting of a Water Bill; build a model organization for the unified management of water resources; lay down the criteria, norms, processes and regulations on the exploitation and utilization of water, prevention and fight against water pollution; provide guidance for localities in performing their function of State management over the exploitation, utilization and protection of water resources.

- The Ministry of Industry shall conduct a general geological survey of underground water resources according to the State plan; coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the People’s Committees of the provinces and cities directly under the Central Government in working out plans for the exploitation, utilization and protection of underground water resources.

+ The Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Communications and Transport, the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment, the Ministry of Aquaculture, the Ministry of Industry... shall coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in issuing inter-ministerial circulars guiding the management of water resources.

+ The People’ Committees of the provinces and cities directly under the Central Government shall conduct surveys, statistical review and the evaluation of the real situation in the exploitation, utilization and protection of water resources in the localities; inspect, supervise and handle, within their competence any violation affecting water resources.- (Summary)