Decree No. 161/2013/ND-CP on registration, purchase, sale and building of seagoing ships.

This Decree provides for the registration, purchase, sale and building of seagoing ships. This Decree's provisions on ship registration are also applicable to the registration of public-duty ships. This Decree applies to Vietnamese and foreign organizations and individuals involved in ship registration, purchase, sale and building. Ship registration may take the following forms: a) Indefinite ship registration; b) Definite ship registration; c) Ship re-registration; d) Registration of change; dd) Temporary registration of ship; e) Registration of ship under construction; g) Registration of small ship. It does not apply to the purchase, sale and building of the following ships: ships under ownership of foreign organizations and individuals and built in Vietnam; ships under ownership of foreign organizations and individuals, flying a foreign state flag; ships used for national defense and security purposes, nuclear-powered ships and seaplanes.
Viet Nam ship registrars shall include the Viet Nam Maritime Administration to be the national ship registrar, and the maritime sub-departments or port authorities to be regional ship registrars.
The Decree defines forms of ship registration and sets out procedures and requirements for the registration of ships.
The Decree further provides for: the grant of ship registration certificates; the registration of Viet Nam ship mortgage; the registration of Vietnamese organizations' ships flying foreign flag; and ship purchase, sale and building.