This Decree prescribes in detail the management of archival work and archived documents and applies to State agencies, political organizations, socio-political organiza-tions, social organizations, socio-professional organizations, economic organizations, the people's armed force units and individuals.

Documents to be kept in Vietnam's national archive include documents of the Communist Party of Vietnam, documents of the Vietnamese State and private documents of individuals, families and family clans.

This Decree, which takes effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette and annuls Section II - Archival work, of the Regulation on official dispatch and paper work and archival work, promulgated together with Decree No. 142/CP of September 28, 1963 of the Government Council and the previous stipulations contrary to it, also prescribes the collection, preservation, exploitation and use of archived documents, and the State management over archival work.- (Summary)