The new government decree encourages the use of reusable wreaths at funerals and limits the burning of votive paper.
The Government issued Decree No. 237/2025/ND-CP amending and supplementing a number of articles of Decree No. 105/2012/ND-CP dated December 17, 2012 of the Government on the organization of 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 by adding a principle for changing funeral rites, specifically as follows:
Article 3. Funeral Rites
1. When a civil servant, public employee, or employee passes away, whether currently working or retired, their funeral will be organized according to one of the following rituals:
a) State Funeral.
b) State funeral.
c) High-level funeral.
d) Funerals for officials, civil servants, and public employees.
2. Changes to funeral rites other than those stipulated in this Decree shall be made in accordance with the regulations of the competent authority."
Limit the scattering of paper offerings during funerals.
Decree 237/2025/ND-CP amends and supplements several clauses of Article 4 of Decree No. 105/2012/ND-CP to conform with regulations related to the prevention and control of infectious diseases; ensuring environmental hygiene; regulations on the prevention and control of counterfeit money and the protection of Vietnamese currency, specifically:
In cases where the funeral service is held at home, depending on local and family customs, the deceased's body must be placed in a coffin and hygiene must be ensured, especially for those with infectious diseases. The time between the coffin being placed in the coffin and the funeral service must comply with the regulations of the law on the prevention and control of infectious diseases.
Do not scatter or scatter banknotes issued by the State Bank of Vietnam or foreign currency during the funeral procession from the funeral home or family residence to the burial site; do not burn votive offerings at the burial site.
Avoid scattering paper offerings during funerals.
Encourage the use of rotating wreaths at funerals.
Furthermore, in order to gradually foster a civilized and economical culture in funeral ceremonies, Decree 237/2025/ND-CP adds Clause 6 after Clause 5 of Article 4 regarding the use of reusable wreaths in funeral services as follows:
6. Encourage organizations and individuals to use rotating wreaths during funeral ceremonies.
The Funeral Organizing Committee prepared rotating wreaths; the obituary stated: "Visiting delegations should not bring wreaths, but only black cloth ribbons, measuring 1.2 m x 0.2 m, with the words 'In Respect' in white and the name of the agency or organization written below, to be attached to the wreaths prepared by the Funeral Organizing Committee."
Adding regulations on funeral arrangements for officials who retire or resign due to violations.
Decree 237/2025/ND-CP amends and supplements several clauses of Article 5 of Decree No. 105/2012/ND-CP on positions for which a State Funeral is organized, including the addition of regulations for cases of resignation due to violations or shortcomings, specifically: For cases where the deceased held one of the positions of General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist 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, and was granted resignation, early retirement, or retirement according to regulations by competent authorities due to violations or shortcomings, the funeral shall be organized according to the protocol of a high-level funeral.
The Decree also amends and supplements Article 21 of Decree No. 105/2012/ND-CP on the titles for which State funerals are organized. Accordingly, officials who are holding or have previously held one of the following positions are entitled to a State funeral upon their death: a) Member of the Politburo, Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party; b) Vice President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; c) Vice Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; d) Vice Chairman of the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; e) Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front; f) Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court; g) Prosecutor General of the Supreme People's Procuracy; h) General of the People's Armed Forces; i) Lieutenant General of the People's Armed Forces who was a revolutionary cadre before the August 1945 Uprising.
In cases where the deceased held one of the aforementioned positions and was granted permission by the competent authority to resign, retire early, or retire according to regulations due to violations or shortcomings, the funeral will be held according to the protocol for high-level funerals; if disciplined by dismissal or removal from office or title, the funeral will be held according to the protocol for funerals of officials, civil servants, and public employees.
Regarding the titles for which high-level funerals are organized, the Decree amending and supplementing Article 34 of Decree No. 105/2012/ND-CP stipulates the following: Current and former officials and civil servants under the management of the Politburo and the Central Secretariat of the Party (excluding titles for which State funerals and national funerals are organized); revolutionary cadres who participated in revolutionary activities before January 1, 1945 (veteran revolutionaries) and were awarded the First Class Independence Order or higher; cadres who worked in the South throughout the anti-American war period (1954-1975) and were awarded the First Class Independence Order or higher; outstanding social, cultural, and scientific activists (awarded the Ho Chi Minh Prize - individual award) and awarded the First Class Independence Order or higher; Outstanding social, cultural, and scientific activists (awarded the Ho Chi Minh Prize - an individual award), Heroes of the People's Armed Forces, and Heroes of Labor, whether active or retired, will have a high-level funeral ceremony upon their passing.
In cases where the deceased held one of the above positions and was disciplined by dismissal or removal from office, the funeral will be held according to the funeral rites for officials, civil servants, and public employees.
In the case of a deceased member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party (excluding positions for which a State Funeral and a National Funeral are held) who has been relieved of their duties, retired early, or retired 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.