New Government Decree encourages the use of rotating wreaths in funeral ceremonies, restricts the burning of votive paper

Quy định mới về tổ chức lễ tang cán bộ, công chức, viên chức- Ảnh 1. — New regulations on organizing funerals for officials, civil servants and public employees.

Accordingly, Decree No. 237/2025/ND-CP (issued on September 2, 2025, effective September 1, 2025) amended and supplemented Article 3 of Decree No. 105/2012/ND-CP in the direction of adding principles for changing funeral rituals, specifically as follows:

"Article 3. Funeral rites

1. When a cadre, civil servant or public employee who is working or retired passes away, his or her funeral will be held according to one of the following rituals:

a) State funeral.

b) State funeral.

c) High-level funeral.

d) Funerals of officials, civil servants and public employees.

2. Changes to funeral rituals other than those specified in this Decree shall be made in accordance with regulations of competent authorities. "

Limit sprinkling and scattering votive paper in funerals

Decree 237/2025/ND-CP amends and supplements a number of clauses of Article 4 of Decree 105/2012/ND-CP to comply with regulations related to prevention and control of infectious diseases; ensuring environmental hygiene; regulations on prevention and control of counterfeit money and protection of Vietnamese currency, specifically:

In case the funeral is held at home, depending on local and family customs, the deceased's body must be embalmed in a coffin and hygiene must be ensured, especially for people with infectious diseases. The time from embalming to burial must comply with the provisions of the law on prevention and control of infectious diseases.

Do not sprinkle or scatter money issued by the State Bank of Vietnam and foreign currency during the funeral procession from the funeral home or family to the burial site; do not burn votive offerings at the burial site.

Limit sprinkling and scattering votive paper at funerals.

Encourage the use of rotating wreaths during funerals.

In addition, to gradually form a civilized and economical culture in funerals, Decree 237/2025/ND-CP adds Clause 6 after Clause 5 of Article 4 on the use of rotating wreaths in funerals as follows:

"6. Encourage organizations and individuals to use rotating wreaths during funerals.

The Funeral Organizing Committee prepares a rotating wreath; the funeral announcement states: "The delegations coming to pay their respects do not bring wreaths, but only black cloth bands, 1.2 m x 0.2 m in size, with the white words "Respectfully paid their respects" and a small line below with the name of the agency or organization to be attached to the wreath prepared by the Funeral Organizing Committee."

Supplementing regulations on organizing funerals for retired or dismissed officials due to violations

Decree 237/2025/ND-CP amends and supplements a number of clauses of Article 5 of Decree 105/2012/ND-CP on positions eligible for holding a State Funeral, including adding provisions for cases of removal from office due to violations or shortcomings, specifically: In the case of a deceased person holding one of the following positions: General Secretary of the Central Executive Committee of the Party; President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; Chairman of the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, who is dismissed from office, retired from work, retired before the prescribed age, or retired according to regulations due to violations or shortcomings, the funeral is organized according to the High-level Funeral protocol.

The Decree also amends and supplements Article 21 of Decree No. 105/2012/ND-CP on positions eligible for a State funeral. Accordingly, officials who are holding or no longer holding one of the following positions upon their death shall be eligible for a State funeral: a) Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee; b) Vice President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; c) Deputy Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; d) Vice President of the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; dd) Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front; e) Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court; g) Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme People's Procuracy ; h) General of the People's Armed Forces; i) Senior Lieutenant General of the People's Armed Forces who were revolutionary cadres before the August 1945 Uprising.

In the case of a deceased person holding one of the above-mentioned positions who is dismissed from his/her position, retired from work, retired before the prescribed age, or retired according to regulations due to violations or shortcomings by a competent authority, the funeral will be held according to the High-Level Funeral Ceremony; if disciplined by dismissal or removal of position or title, the funeral will be held according to the Funeral Ceremony for cadres, civil servants, or public employees.

Regarding the positions that are eligible to hold a high-level funeral, the Decree amends and supplements Article 34 of Decree No. 105/2012/ND-CP as follows: Officials and civil servants in office, or those who have ceased to hold positions under the management of the Politburo and the Central Party Secretariat (except for positions eligible to hold a State Funeral and a State Funeral); revolutionary officials who participated in activities before January 1, 1945 (revolutionary veterans) and were awarded the First Class Independence Medal or higher; officials who participated in activities in the South during the anti-American period (1954 - 1975) and were awarded the First Class Independence Medal or higher; outstanding social, cultural and scientific activists (awarded the Ho Chi Minh Prize - individual award) and were awarded the First Class Independence Medal or higher; Outstanding social, cultural and scientific activists (awarded the Ho Chi Minh Prize - individual prize) who are Heroes of the People's Armed Forces, Heroes of Labor, who are working or retired, are given a high-level funeral when they pass away.

In the case of a deceased person holding one of the above positions who is disciplined by being dismissed or having his/her position or title removed, the funeral will be held according to the Funeral Ceremony for officials, civil servants, and public employees.

In the case of a deceased member of the Party Central Committee (except for positions for which a State Funeral and State Funeral are held), the competent authority shall remove him/her from office, suspend work, retire early, or retire according to regulations due to violations or shortcomings. The funeral shall be held according to the Funeral rites for cadres, civil servants, and public employees.

Source: https://baonghean.vn/nghi-dinh-moi-cua-chinh-phu-khuyen-khich-su-dung-vong-hoa-luan-chuyen-trong-le-vieng-han-che-dot-vang-ma-10305763.html