Vietnam’s new Party discipline rules add apology and rights restoration for wrongful punishment

Vietnam’s Politburo has issued Regulation 212, introducing new provisions on Party discipline and adding responsibilities to apologize and restore rights when disciplinary action proves unjust or mistaken.

The regulation replaces Regulation 69 of 2022 and Regulation 264 of 2025, which amended the earlier rules. It revises provisions covering cases in which disciplinary action is deferred, not imposed or waived.

Under the new rules, disciplinary review is deferred for female Party members who are pregnant, on maternity leave or caring for a child under 12 months old. The same applies to male members caring for a child under 12 months old after the death of their wife, or because of other objective and unavoidable circumstances. A member may ask in writing for disciplinary review, in which case the Party organization will consider the request.

The regulation also covers members receiving treatment for a serious illness, those who have lost the ability to perceive or those seriously ill and hospitalized. Review will wait until their health stabilizes and they leave the hospital, with medical confirmation required from a regional general hospital or an equivalent facility and above.

Another provision concerns members who pursue an authorized innovation proposal in line with policy, with a pure motive and for the common good, but cause damage. The competent authority may consider waiving discipline. Unlike the previous rule, which allowed either a waiver or reduced responsibility after assessing the circumstances, Regulation 212 emphasizes consideration of a disciplinary waiver.

The regulation also adds duties when a Party organization or member receives wrongful or mistaken discipline. The previous rules required the organization that issued the decision to cancel or amend it, while allowing a higher-level organization to intervene and consider responsibility if it failed to act. Regulation 212 adds the responsibility to apologize and restore the affected member’s rights.