Cybersecurity law in Vietnam and data privacy issue

Vietnam’s cybersecurity law has been passed on 12/6/2018, will officially come into effect on Jan 1st, 2019. This new law attracts attention, and contributions from many people. From the state management’s perspective, Cybersecurity Law is to protect national security. From business and users’ perspective, organizations that provide Internet services, social networks service, IT services companies, Fintech services, ecommerce websites and individuals whom use these services…. are directly affected groups.

At present, much of the information is stored on e-mail, social networking platforms…According to Article 26 of Vietnam Cybersecurity Law, it is required to “Store in Vietnam for the personal information of people who use services in Vietnam and the important data related to national security; Having headquarters or representative offices set up in Vietnam”. It is understood that only foreign organizations with headquarters or representative offices in Vietnam are permitted to provide internet, social networking, fintech services in Vietnam. Accordingly, to continue the related services in Vietnam, organizations providing services such as the internet, social networks, fintech services need to establish a representative office in Vietnam and for storing data relating to users in Vietnam.

Point a, Clause 2 of Article 26 of Vietnam Cybersecurity Law regulates that organizations provide internet, social network services have to: “establish information authentication mechanism when user registers account; protect confidential information, user accounts; disclose users’ information to network security division under the Ministry of Public Security upon request in writing”. It is suggested that, in order to protect the user’s information and to avoid abuse of power, the Ministry of Public Security should have specific guidelines for management.

According Article 21 of Vietnam’s Constitution in 2013: “everyone has the right to inviolability of private life, personal and confidential family secrets; have the right to defend the honor and prestige” “No one shall be permitted to open, control, illegally seize any correspondence, telephone, telegram and other forms of private communication.” With the introduction of the Vietnam Cybersecurity Law, the management of information, of service providers, and personal private information pose challenges in terms of data privacy.

How ANT Lawyers Could Help Your Business?

Our cybersecurity lawyers in Vietnam always follow development of laws to provide the client with update. For advice or service request, please contact us via email ant@antlawyers.vn, or call (+84) 24 730 86 529.

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Trading Conditions on Medical Device in Viet Nam

Medical device includes device related to human health, therefore, the business of medical device in the conditional business line in accordance with the law of Vietnam. Medical device is defined as kinds of device, tools, materials for implanting activities, reagents and in vitro calibration solutions, software which are used separately or in association with each other according to the instruction of their owners for human use for the purpose of diagnostic, prevention, supervision, treatment and elimination the illness or to making up for pains.

For medical device trading purpose in Vietnam, first of all, the enterprise should classify medical device. Medical device circulated in Vietnam will be classified based on the level of potential risks associated with the technical design and manufacture of such medical device.

Pursuant to Decree No.36/2016/ND-CP on medical device management, medical device shall be classified into the following 2 groups which are divided into 4 types as follows:

– Type 1 comprises Type A medical device which is medical device with low level of risks.

– Type 2 comprises Type B, C and D medical device, where

+ Type B medical device is medical device with lower average level of risks;

+ Type C medical device is medical device with upper average level of risks;

+ Type D medical device is medical device with high level of risks.

In case medical device can be classified into two or more levels of risk, the classification by the highest risk level of such medical device shall be applied. The classification of medical device must be conducted by qualified organizations as provided by law. In addition, the law of Vietnam recognizes the results of classification of medical device made by competent regulatory body in other countries such as Korea, Japan, … on the basis of international treaties or international arrangements to which Vietnam is a party or of a country which adopts a medical device classification system similar to that adopted by Vietnam.

After classifying medical device, the enterprise shall declare applicable standards for Type A medical device or issue certificate of free-sale registration for Type B, C, D medical device. This procedure makes sure that medical device which the enterprise has trading requirements, is allowed to be distributed in Vietnam.

Finally, with the exception of medical device of type A, in order to directly sell medical device to consumers, the enterprise needs to ensure the staffing requirements as well as the material facility requirements in accordance with the law, for instance:

Trading premise must have technically qualified staffs to perform the installation and use instructions suitable to the medical device which the establishment buys and sells, including at least one qualified technical staff specialized in technical or medical or pharmaceutical medical or technical colleges of medical device or higher or college or higher degree, whose specialized training is appropriate to the type of medical device that the establishment purchase.

Trading premise needs to prepare the warehouse which has area in accordance with the type and the quantity of the medical device to be stored. The warehouse should be airy, dry, clean, separated from sources of pollution and satisfied with other storing requirement device according to its manual. In addition, trading premise shall have suitable transportation vehicles for delivering of medical devices from trading premise to received place. In case there are no storage facilities or transport means, a contract with an establishment satisfying requirements for storage facilities and transport of medical device shall be concluded

How ANT Lawyers Could Help Your Business?

Please click to learn more about Medical Device Law Firm in Vietnam or contact our lawyers in Vietnam for advice via email ant@antlawyers.vn or call our office at +84 28 730 86 529.

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What are Responsibility for Wrongful Request of Arrest of Ship?

According to Article 131 of Vietnam Maritime Law, the wrongful request of arrest of ship in Vietnam shall be subject to financial obligations. In particular:

The applicant for arrest of a ship must be held legally liable for his request. If the request for arrest of a ship is wrongful, which may lead to any loss, such applicant shall be responsible for compensating for any loss or damage possibly incurred.

Any loss or damage that may be incurred from consequence of such request for wrongful arrest shall be dealt with as agreed upon between parties. Where there is any disagreement or dispute that may arise, the Court or Arbitration Tribunal shall be requested to settle this disagreement and dispute in accordance with laws.

If the Court that grants a judgement on arrest of a ship which is not based on the reasons for a request for arrest or does not serve on the ship as the right subject matter of such request, which may cause any loss or damage, it shall be liable for any compensation in accordance with laws and regulations.

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Please click to learn more about Dispute law firm in Vietnam or contact our lawyers in Vietnam for advice via email ant@antlawyers.vn or call our office at +84 28 730 86 529

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Foreign Investment in Education Sector in Vietnam

Foreign cooperation and investment in education are not new to Vietnam. There has been a number of schools and education institutions such as BVIS, Hanoi Academy, International School in Hanoi, Japanese International School, Vietnam-Australia School. Since Aug 1st, 1018, the decree 86/2018/ND-CP on international cooperation and investment in education in Vietnam will be effective, replacing Decree 72/2012/ ND-CP.

According to Decree 86/2018/ND-CP, foreign organizations and individuals are allowed to cooperate in investment in the field of education in accordance with Vietnamese law and treaties to which Vietnam is a member. However, with the education sector in the security, defense, political and religious sectors, the law does not allow foreign organizations to cooperate, or invest.

The law open ways for enterprise to cooperate in education services in Vietnam including pre-school education establishments;primary and secondary education establishments, and educational establishments operating in foreign countries, which are accredited; and post graduate programs that offer master and doctoral training courses and examination centers with foreign language certificates.

Foreign organizations and individuals cooperating and investing in Vietnam in education services must meet the requirements of the Vietnamlaws, including facilities in service of educational activities; the educational program and the quality of teachers. Accordingly, the integrated educational program must be a program that has been accredited, ensure meeting the objectives of the educational program of Vietnam; and meet the requirements of the foreign educational program and must be approved by the Vietnam competent authority. Teachers must be qualified and have diplomas and certificates as prescribed by law. Foreigner and foreign organizations which cooperate in the field of education for a joint term of no more than 5 years from the date of approval. Upon the expiry of the extended time limit, each extension time shall not exceed 5 years.

Forms of foreign-invested educational establishments permitted are include short-term training and vocational training; pre-school education establishment; General education establishments (primary schools, secondary schools, primary and secondary schools; higher education institutions. The duration of operation shall not exceed 50 years. For the establishment of foreign educational organizations, foreign organizations and individuals must meet conditions on capital, facilities and equipment, educational program; teachers must meet the requirements of the Vietnam Ministry of Education and Training.

For pre-school and primary and secondary education establishments, which accept Vietnamese pupils, and study the foreign educational programs, the number of Vietnamese pupils studying in the foreign educational program must be lower 50% of the total number of students enrolled in the foreign educational program at the institution. Vietnamese pupils studying in this group must study compulsory subjects according to regulations.

Foreign investors in education service have to apply for investment registration certificate in Vietnam. Depending on the nature of the educational business, other licenses will need to be applied at Department of Education and Training before operation. 

How ANT Lawyers Could Help Your Business?

Please click to learn more about Education service law firm in Vietnam or contact our lawyers for advice via email ant@antlawyers.vn or call our office at +84 28 730 86 529 

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