From September 1, 2026, the Law on Access to Information (amended) officially takes effect.
This Law stipulates the implementation of citizens' right to access information; the responsibilities of state agencies and public non-business units responsible for providing basic and essential public non-business services in ensuring citizens' right to access information.
Article 10 of this Law clearly stipulates the scope and responsibilities for providing information.
Accordingly, agencies and units are responsible for providing information created by themselves, except in cases where information belongs to state secrets according to the provisions of law on protection of state secrets or information about private life, personal secrets, family secrets according to the provisions of civil law and personal data according to the provisions of law on protection of personal data...
Agencies and units directly organizing the provision of information, except for the following cases:
The National Assembly Office is responsible for providing information created by the National Assembly, agencies of the National Assembly, and the National Election Council and information created by itself;
The Presidential Office is responsible for providing information created by the President and information created by itself;
The Government Office is responsible for providing information created by the Government and the Prime Minister and information created by itself;
The Office of the National Assembly Delegation and the Provincial People's Council is responsible for providing information created by the National Assembly Delegation, the People's Council, the Standing Committee of the People's Council, and agencies of the Provincial People's Council and information created by themselves;
The focal unit identified by the Provincial People's Committee is responsible for providing information created by the People's Committee, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and information created by itself;
The focal unit identified by the commune-level People's Committee is responsible for providing citizens residing in the area with information created by the People's Council, the Standing Committee of the People's Council, agencies of the People's Council, the People's Committee, the Chairman of the People's Committee, specialized agencies, and other administrative organizations of its level and information created by itself; providing this information to other citizens in cases directly related to their legitimate rights and interests;
The Minister of National Defense and the Minister of Public Security stipulate the focal point for providing information in their organizational system.
Agencies and units are responsible for providing information they hold in cases where providing information is necessary to protect public interests and community health.
The law also clearly stipulates that for dossiers and documents containing both citizens' information not being accessible, citizens' information being accessible, and information parts that can be reasonably separated, agencies and units shall consider and decide to provide a part of dossiers and documents containing citizens' information being accessible.
