Order No. 17/2010/L-CTN on the promulgation of the Mineral Law.

This Law provides for geological baseline surveys of minerals; protection of unexploited minerals; mineral exploitation and mining; and state management of minerals in the mainland, islands, internal waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone, exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.
The Law provides for the elaboration of mineral strategies and mineral master plans which mineral activities must comply with. Mineral master plans include: master plans on geological baseline surveys of minerals; national master plans on mineral exploitation and mining; national master plans on the exploitation and utilization of each kind or group of minerals for use as construction materials; and provincial master plans on mineral exploration, mining and utilization.
The Law sets out procedures and requirements for obtaining mineral exploration licences, mining licences and salvage mining licences, and provides for rights and obligations of licence holders.
The Law further provides for: environmental protection, use of land and water in mineral activities; closure of mineral mines; fees for the grant of mining rights; auction of mining rights; responsibilities for state management of minerals.