Law on Environmental Protection (No. 52/2005/QH11).

This Law provides for activities, policies, measures and resources for environmental protection, and for rights and obligations of organizations and individuals in environmental protection. The Law consists of 15 Chapters divided into 136 articles.
Chapter I gives terms and definitions, and specifies prohibited acts. Chapter II deals with the principles for the formulation and application of environmental standards, requirements on waste standards, etc. Chapter III provides for the elaboration and contents of strategic environmental assessment reports, elaboration and contents of environmental impact assessment reports, and environmental protection commitments. The conservation and rational use of natural resources shall be done by protecting nature conservation zones, endangered animal species and plant varieties, natural landscapes, and by developing clean energy, renewable energy and environment-friendly products (Chapter IV). Chapters V and VI deal with environmental protection responsibilities of organizations and individuals in production, business and service activities, and deal with the planning of environmental protection in urban centres and residential areas. The protection of marine, river and other water source environments are dealt with in Chapter VII. Chapter VIII provides for waste and hazardous waste management, management of ordinary solid wastes and waste water, and management and control of dust, gases, noise, etc. The prevention of environmental incidents, and remedies and rehabilitation of the environment are provided for in Chapter IX. The environmental status and impacts shall be supervised under monitoring programs as set out in Chapter X. Chapters XI to XIII deal with the following matters: funds and financial sources for environmental protection; international cooperation in environmental protection; responsibilities of state management agencies, etc. for environmental protection. Chapter XIV is dedicated to the inspection, handling of violations, settlement of complaints and denunciations related to environment, and compensation for environmental damage.