Chapter I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of regulation

This Law provides for notaries, notarial practice organizations, notarial practice, notarization procedures and state management of notarization.

Article 2. Interpretation of terms

In this Law, the terms below are construed as follows:

1. Notarization means the written certification by a notary of a notarial practice organization of the authenticity and lawfulness of a contract or another civil transaction (below referred to as contract or transaction) or of the accuracy, lawfulness and conformity with social ethics of the Vietnamese or foreign-language translation of a paper or document (below referred to as translation) which is prescribed by law or voluntarily requested by an individual or organization to be notarized.

2. Notary means a person who fully meets the criteria prescribed by this Law and is appointed by the Minister of Justice to conduct notarial practice.

3. Notarization requester means a Vietnamese or foreign individual or organization that requests notarization of a contract, transaction or translation in accordance with this Law.

4. Notarized document means a contract, transaction or translation which has been certified by a notary in accordance with this Law.

5. Notarial practice organizations include notary bureaus and notary offices organized and operating under this Law and other relevant legal documents.

Article 3. Social functions of notaries

Notaries shall provide public services under the assignment of the State with a view to ensuring legal safety for parties to contracts or transactions; preventing disputes; contributing to protecting lawful rights and interests of individuals and organizations; and ensuring socio- economic stability and development.

Article 4. Principles of notarial practice

1. Compliance with the Constitution and laws.

2. Objectivity and honesty.

3. Compliance with rules on notarial practice ethics.

4. Taking responsibility before law and notarization requesters for notarized documents.

Article 5. Legal validity of notarized documents

1. A notarized document is valid from the date a notary signs and appends the seal of his/her notarial practice organization to it.

2. A notarized contract or transaction is binding on related parties; in case an obliged party fails to perform its/his/her obligations, the other party may request a court to settle the case in accordance with law, unless otherwise agreed upon by related parties.

3. Notarized contracts and transactions may be used as evidence; details and circumstances of notarized contracts or transactions are not required to be proven, unless such contracts or transactions are declared to be invalid by courts.

4. Notarized translations are valid for use as their translated papers or documents.

Article 6. Spoken and written language used in notarization

The spoken and written language used in notarization is Vietnamese.

Article 7. Prohibited acts

1. Notaries and notarial practice organizations are prohibited from committing the following acts:

a/ Disclosing information on the contents of notarized documents, unless notarization requesters so agree in writing or otherwise provided by law; using information on notarized contents to infringe upon lawful rights and interests of individuals and organizations;

b/ Notarizing contracts, transactions or translations the purposes and contents of which violate law or are contrary to social ethics; inciting or creating conditions for parties to contracts or transactions to conduct sham transactions or commit other deceitful acts;

c/ Notarizing contracts, transactions or translations which are related to properties or interests of their own or of their relatives being spouses; natural parents, adoptive parents; natural parents, adoptive parents of their spouses; natural children, adopted children or children-in-law; grandparents, siblings or siblings-in-law; and natural grandchildren, adopted grandchildren;

d/ Refusing notarization requests without plausible reasons; harassing or causing difficulties to notarization requesters;

dd/ Receiving or demanding money or other benefits from notarization requesters in addition to notarization changes, notarization remuneration and other expenses already determined and agreed; receiving or demanding money or other benefits from a third party to settle or refuse to settle notarization requests, causing damage to notarization requesters or related organizations and individuals;

e/ Forcing others to use their services; colluding with notarization requesters or related persons to falsify contents of notarized documents or notarization dossiers;

g/ Exerting pressure, threatening or committing acts which are illegal or contrary to social ethics in order to gain advantage for themselves or their organizations in notarial practice;

h/ Advertising themselves or their organizations in the mass media;

i/ A notarial practice organization establishing branches, representative offices or transaction places other than its head office; conducting production, business and service activities outside its registered scope of operation;

k/ A notary practicing his/her profession concurrently at two or more notarial practice organizations or performing other regular jobs;

l/ A notary participating in the management of an enterprise other than his/her notarial practice organization; providing brokerage or agency services; receiving profits from a contract or transaction which he/she has notarized;

m/ Committing violations of law or rules on notarial practice ethics.

2. Organizations and individuals are prohibited from committing the following acts:

a/ Pretending to be notarization requesters;

b/ Notarization requesters providing false information and documents or using counterfeit or illegally erased or modified papers and documents to request notarization;

c/ Witnesses or interpreters committing deceitful or dishonest acts;

d/ Obstructing notarial activities.