This paper presents and gives the analysis of the new aspects of the 2013 Law on S&T (in comparison to the 2000 Law on S&T) which is the top, basic and new legal regulations for breakthrough development of S&T in Vietnam for the coming years. | The 2013 Law on S&T - legal background for breakthroughs 94 THE 2013 LAW ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LEGAL BACKGROUND FOR BREAKTHROUGHS IN DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN VIETNAM Ass. Prof. Dr. Doan Nang Former Head of Regulation Department, MOST Abstract: Legal regulations for science and technology (S&T) in general and the Law on Science & Technology in particular are the tools for the State to govern social relations and to protect the national frame of order and discipline in field of S&T, providing contributions to fast and sustainable socio-economic development, securing the national defense and security, enhancing the life quality of people. They are also the legal background to protect rights and legal interests of organizations, individuals and the State and social organizations in activities of S&T. Being aware of the important roles of the legal regulations for development of S&T, during long decades, the Party has paid attentions to issue strategies and policies, consider the development of S&T as the top national strategy and the most important driving force for national development, and activities of S&T as key contents of activities of all the ministries and administration levels. The State has paid also permanent attentions to improve the legal system of S&T. The Law on S&T had got the approbation by the National Congress, Session XIII, by 18 June 2013 (called afterwards the 2013 Law on S&T) to substitute the Law which had been approbated by the National Congress, Session X, by 9th June 2000 (called afterwards the 2000 Law on S&T). The 2013 Law on S&T gets valid since 1 January 2014. The 2013 Law on S&T had managed to institutionalize the basic strategies and policies of the Party for development of S&T as regulated in the Thesis and Strategies for Socio-Economic Development, 2011-2020 period which had been approbated by the XI-th Party Congress, and particularly by Resolution No. 20 of the 6-th Conference of the Party Central Committee,
