Vietnam's Defense Ministry Issues New Rules for Citizen Reception

Vietnam's Ministry of National Defense has introduced new regulations governing the reception of citizens, detailed in Circular No. 95, which takes effect on August 14, 2026. This new circular replaces the previous Circular No. 166 and outlines the organization and operation of citizen reception at military headquarters and designated locations. It also clarifies the responsibilities of leaders, reception officers, and the inter-agency relationships involved in this process.

A significant aspect of the new regulations is the clearly defined role of the Minister of National Defense, as stipulated in Article 11. The Minister is responsible for leading, directing, and organizing citizen reception activities within the Ministry. This includes ensuring the necessary material conditions for reception and conducting periodic or ad-hoc meetings with citizens as required by law. The Minister will also oversee and inspect the performance of heads of subordinate agencies in their citizen reception duties and urge the follow-up on cases after reception.

The circular also specifies the standards and responsibilities for individuals acting as citizen reception officers. These officers must be officers of the Vietnam People's Army who possess strong moral character, professional competence, and a thorough understanding of Party and State policies and laws. They need to be adept at understanding practical situations, persuasive, capable of mobilizing the public, and maintain good health and a dedicated attitude towards their duties.

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người tiếp công dân phải có trang phục chỉnh tề, đeo thẻ công chức, viên chức hoặc phù hiệu theo quy định; có thái độ đúng mực, tôn trọng công dân, lắng nghe, tiếp nhận đơn tố cáo, kiến nghị, phản ánh; ghi chép đầy đủ, chính xác nội dung mà người khiếu nại, tố cáo trình bày...

When receiving citizens, officers must be formally dressed, wear identification, and maintain a respectful demeanor. They are required to listen attentively to complaints, denunciations, petitions, and reflections, and accurately record the details presented. Citizen reception is to occur only at official facilities, ensuring transparency, impartiality, and timeliness. Crucially, officers must maintain the confidentiality of citizens' names, addresses, and personal information as per regulations.

The process mandates that upon receiving complaints or petitions, the relevant authorities must review and process them within seven working days. They are then required to issue a written or electronic notification regarding the acceptance of the case for resolution to the managing agency. This structured approach aims to ensure that citizen grievances are handled systematically and efficiently within the Ministry of National Defense.

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người tiếp công dân phải giữ bí mật họ tên, địa chỉ, bút tích và các thông tin cá nhân khác của công dân theo quy định tại khoản 2 điều 12 Nghị định số 154/2026/NĐ-CP.