The Government issued Decree No. 298/2026/ND-CP dated July 27, 2026, stipulating the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST).
According to regulations, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is an agency of the Government, performing the function of state management of culture; family; sports; tourism; press; publishing, printing, distribution; electronic information; grassroots information and foreign information nationwide; state management of public services in industries and fields under the state management scope of the ministry.
Regarding the press, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has the task of organizing information for the press and managing press information; implementing measurement and publication of data related to press activities in accordance with the law; promulgating regulations on organizing press contests and festivals.
Inspecting press retrieval; managing the national print press retrieval system; implementing electronic retrieval of radio, television, and electronic press according to the provisions of law; guiding and inspecting the organization of speech and information provision for the press by state administrative agencies according to the provisions of law; guiding and promoting policy communication in the press and mass media.
Issuing, amending, supplementing, temporarily suspending, suspending, and revoking all types of licenses in the fields of journalism, radio, and television; issuing, renewing, re-issuing and revoking press cards; suspending press conferences in accordance with the law on journalism.
Guide the activities of the press and journalists nationwide, coordinate with relevant agencies to manage the activities of the Vietnamese press related to foreign countries and the press activities of foreigners and foreign organizations in Vietnam; have opinions on the appointment, reappointment, and assignment of leaders of press agencies according to regulations.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has 18 administrative organizations assisting the Minister in performing state management functions, including:
1. Department of Organization and Personnel;
2. Department of Planning and Finance;
3. Legal Department;
4. Department of Science and Technology, Training and Environment;
5. Department of Ethnic Culture;
6. Ministry Office;
7. Department of Physical Education and Sports of Vietnam;
8. Vietnam National Authority of Tourism;
9. Press Department;
10. Department of Grassroots Culture - Information and Family;
11. Department of Cultural Heritage;
12. Department of Performing Arts;
13. Department of Cinema;
14. Department of Culture Industry and Copyright;
15. Department of Fine Arts, Photography and Exhibition;
16. Publishing and Library Department;
17. Department of Electronic Information and Digital Transformation;
18. Department of International Cooperation.
4 public non-business units serving the state management function of the ministry include: Vietnam Institute of Culture, Arts, Sports and Tourism; Culture Newspaper; Culture and Arts Magazine and School of Culture, Sports and Tourism Management Officials.
This Decree takes effect from July 28, 2026.
The Decree clearly states that the Department of Culture of Vietnamese Ethnic Groups, the Department of Copyright, the Department of Grassroots Culture, Family and Library, the Department of Radio, Television and Electronic Information, the Department of Publishing, Printing and Distribution, the Department of Grassroots Information and Foreign Information, the Center for Digital Transformation of Culture, Sports and Tourism continue to operate until the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism issues a decision stipulating the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Department of Ethnic Culture, the Department of Culture Industry and Copyright, the Department of Culture - Grassroots Information and Family, the Department of Electronic Information and Digital Transformation, the Department of Publishing and Library.
