The study evaluated the legal framework for managing surface water resources in Soc Trang province under saline intrusion conditions using the Principle 7 of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development framework. In the period from 2019 to 2021, secondary data including state management documentation on the prevention and management of seawater intrusion were collected through central, provincial, and district government portals, while primary data was obtained through the key informant panel (KIP) on state management of water resources in Soc Trang province and Ke Sach, Long Phu, and Tran De districts. The existing legal framework governs the administration of seawater intrusion prevention and management, which comprises regulations, duties, and powers for the government, ministries, and local governments. In addition, the central and provincial governments actively and comprehensively implemented solutions to deal with saline intrusion in the period of 2019-2021. However, the local procedure for preventing and managing saline intrusion in Soc Trang is still restricted, such as solutions does not guarantee feasibility in comparison to the up-to-date situation of seawater intrusion in the locality.