The Resolution No. 02/2002/QH11 stipulating the list of ministries and ministerial bodies of the Government, including the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment was passed by The National Assembly, the first session of its 9th Congress, on 5th August 2002.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment was established on the baisis of the incomporation of the former General Department of Land Administration, the former General Department of Hydro and Meteorology, the National Environment Agency of Vietnam under the former Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment, Vietnam Department of Geology and Minerals and the Institute of Geology and Minerals (both later ones transferred from Ministry of Industry) and the section of water resources management previously attached to the former Department of Water Resources and Dyke Works Management (under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development).

The Governmental Decree No. 91/2002/ND-CP was promalgated on 11 November 2001 to regulate the functions, tasks, powers and organisational structure of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

In December 2002, a number of decisions were issued by the Ministry’s lerdership to regulate the functions, tasks, powers and organisational structure for all its attached institutions and to designate the leadership of those institutions as well.

The Ministry was also designated as the national focal point and the chairman of following national councils: for water resources, for the assessment of minerals volume, for overcoming the consequences of orange agents used by the Americans during the war time in Vietnam, for clean water supply and environmental sanitation.

The decision No. 45/2003/QD-TTg which is collaborately drafted by the Ministry of Natural resources and Environment and the Ministry of Home Affairs was enacted by the Prime Minister on 2 April 2003 regarding the establishment of provincial Departments of Natural Resources and Environment.

The circular No. 01/TTLT-BTNMT-BNV providing the guidelines for the setting up of functions, tasks, powers and organisational structure of the functionate authority designated to assist the provincial people’s committees in addressing in the issues of natural resources and environment within the provincial level was jointly issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Ministry of Home Affairs on 15 July 2003.

Mekong sub-region to facilitate Japans investment

Netherlands helps Hochiminh City improve water supply quality

Ethinic people to get more support in land, water supply

Environmental department to boost inspection on mineral exploitation

Japan to offer $55 million aid to Mekong nations

Nui Coc Lake - the forestd at "Ha Long bay"

DIRETIVE No. 77/2007/TT-BNN of Septetember 20, 2007, on further stepping up the control chemicals and antibiotics banned fromuse in aquacuIture and exploitation and preservation of aquatic products and the control of chemical and antibiotic residues in imported and exported lots of aquatic products. - [Details][Full text]

CIRCULAR No. 06/2006/TT-BTS of November 13, 2006, guiding the implementation of a number of contents of the Prime Minister's Decision No. 126/2005/QD-TTg of June 1, 2005, on a number of policies to encourage the development of aquaculture at sea and in islands - [Details][Full text]

DECISION No. 04/2007/QD-BCT of September 11, 2007, on the import and circulation of diesel oil (DO) - [Details][Full text]

JOINT CIRCULAR No. 106/2007/TTLT-BTC-BTNMT of September 6, 2007, amending and supplementing Joint Circular No. 125120031 TTLT-BTC-BTNMT of December 18, 2003, of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment which guides the implementation of the Government's Decree No. 67120031ND-CP of June 13, 2003, on environmental protection charges for wastewater. - [Details][Full text]

DECISION No. 13/2007/QD-BTNMT of September 4, 2007, promulgating the Regulation on survemand assessment of underground water resource. - [Details][Full text]