Water Resources Law (No. 8/1998/QH10 of 1998).

This Law provides for the management, protection, exploitation and use of surface and undergroundwater, as well as for the prevention of harmful effects caused by water.
It is divided into the following Chapters: General Provisions (I); Protecting the Water Resource (II); Exploitation and Use of Water Resource (III); Preventing, Combating and Overcoming the Consequences of Floods and Other Harmful Effects of Water (IV); Exploitation and Protection of Water Conservancy Works (V); International Relations in Water Resource (VI); State Management of Water Resource (VII); Specialized Inspection on Water Resource (VIII); Rewards and Handling of Violations (IX); Implementation Provisions (X).
The protection of water resources shall be exercised both at the national and local level; the central and local plans for socio-economic development shall contain also a plan to prevent and combat water pollution and restore the quality of water sources. The management of water resources at the national level includes the following: (a) elaboration of general plans; (b) performance of basic surveys, inventorying and evaluation of water resources; (c) issue and withdrawal of permits; (d) control of the proper implementation of the law; (e) handling of international relations and stipulation of international conventions; (f) training of personnel. Authorities responsible for the management of water resources are: the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the People's Committees of the provinces and cities directly under the Central Government; the technical inspections on the implementation of the plans, the issue and revocation of permits, etc., are exercised by the Specialized Inspector, as per articles 66-69 of the Law. The exploitation and use of water resources shall be performed for the following purposes: water supply, agricultural production, aquaculture, forestry, salt production, hydro-electricity, industrial production and mining, navigation. The use of water is subject to the possession of a permit issued by the competent State agencies except in the case of small-scale use and in other cases established in article 24. As for the prevention of damages caused by floods and water shortage, the State managing agency shall provide for the construction of reservoirs, dykes, and other works for the diversion of water and drainage of flooded areas, and for the implementation of other measures to combat saltwater intrusion, hail, acid rain, etc. Final provisions concern offences and penalties.