1. Decree No. 18/2015/ND-CP of the Government dated 14 February 2015 on environmental protection planning, strategic environmental assessment, environmental impact assessment and environmental protection plans. The Decree took effect as from 1 April 2015.

According to the Decree, all projects in the industrial parks, high-tech parks, industrial zones, commercial areas, trade villages and other manufacturing areas must go through environmental impact assessment.

2. Decree No. 16/2015/ND-CP of the Government dated 14 February 2015 on autonomy mechanism for non-business public units which will take effect since 6 April 2015.

The Decree stipulates principles and regulations on its autonomy in terms of education and training, vocational training, healthcare, culture, sports and tourism, telecommunication and press, science and technology, economics and other sectors. They are also allowed to be self-control in launching tasks, organization, personnel and finance.

3. Decree No. 17/2015/ND-CP of the Government dated 14 February 2015 on increasing salaries for civil and public servants, officials working in the armed forces and employees of socio-political organizations with a salary grade at or below 2.34. The Decree will take effect since 6 April 2015.

According to this Decree, civil and public servants, officials with a salary grade at or below 2.34 will enjoy an 8% added to their monthly wage since 1 January 2015. The additional wage would be calculated using the formula: salary grade x minimum wage (VND1,150,000) x 8%.

4. Decree No. 15/2015/ND-CP of the Government dated 14 February 2015 on Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) investment, which will take effect since 10 April 2015.

The Decree sets out five conditions for a PPP project to be approved, including following projects:

- Be suitable with the development master plans and plans of relevant sectors and regions and local socio-economic development plans;

- Satisfy conditions relevant to the field of investment;

- Be capable to attract and absorb investor’s commercial capital, technology and management experience;

- Be able to supply quality products and services in a continuous and stable manner;

- Be capitalized at VND20 billion (US$952,000) or more, except projects in the operation and maintenance (O&M) form and projects in terms of rural and agricultural development.

5. Decree No. 23/2015/ND-CP of the Government dated 16 February 2015 on issuance of copies from master registers, issuance of certified true copies from originals, authentication of signatures and contracts. This Decree will take effect since 10 April 2015.

According to this Decree, there are six documents and papers which are not allowed to use for issuance of copies, as follows:

- Originals deleted, amended or added with irregular contents;

- Originals are damaged, old and include unidentifiable contents;

- Originals sealed with confidential signs of authorized agencies and organizations or written not for copies;

- Originals include illegal and immoral contents, incite war, oppose the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, distort the history of Viet Nam, insult the honor, dignity and reputation of individuals and organizations and violate civil rights;

- Originals granted, notarized or certified by foreign agencies or organizations or illegalized;

- Papers and documents established by individuals are not certified and stamped by authorized agencies or organizations.

6. Besides, other legal normative documents also come into effect from April 2015, including:

- Decree No. 20/2015/ND-CP of the Government dated 14 February 2015 on allowances for people who have contributed to the revolution which took effect as from 1 April 2015;

- Decree No. 22/2015/NĐ-CP of the Government dated 16 February 2015 detailing and guiding the implementation some articles of the Law on Bankruptcy for bailiffs, and asset management and liquidation practicing, which will take effect since 6 April 2015;

- Decree No. 15/2015/ND-CP of the Government dated 13 February 2015 detailing and guiding the implementation some articles of the Law on Railway, which will come into effect as from 15 April 2015;

- Decree No. 27/2015/NĐ-CP of the Government dated 10 March 2015 on procedure for awarding the title of People’s Teacher and Elite Teachers, which will take effect as from 25 April 2015./.