On 21 November 2025, in Ho Chi Minh city, The Vietnam International Arbitration Centre (VIAC) and the Australian Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (AusCham) officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at enhancing the capacity of businesses in legal risk prevention and effective dispute resolution, thereby contributing to sustainable trade and investment between Vietnam and Australia. The signing ceremony took place within the framework of the Investment Legal Support Forum (ILS Forum) 2025.
The MoU was signed by Prof. Dr. Le Hong Hanh – President of VIAC, and Mr. Sam Conroy – President of AusCham Vietnam, in the presence of Ms. Cao Thi Phi Van – Deputy Director of the Investment and Trade Promotion Centre of Ho Chi Minh City (ITPC); Mr. Joel Smouha – Trade & Investment Commissioner, Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade); Mr. Chau Viet Bac – VIAC Deputy Secretary General and Deputy Director of VIAC Ho Chi Minh City Branch; along with other representatives of VIAC and AusCham, as well as all delegates attending the ILS Forum 2025. Through this partnership, VIAC and AusCham will share a common objective of supporting enterprises and investors in preventing and mitigating legal risks when conducting business in Vietnam through legitimate and effective mechanisms, thereby contributing to sustainable trade and investment between Vietnam and Australia.
The Memorandum of Understanding Signing Ceremony between the Vietnam International Arbitration Center (VIAC) and the Australian Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (AusCham)Accordingly, the two parties will cooperate on capacity-building and knowledge-sharing initiatives by jointly organizing conferences, seminars, and training programs on arbitration, mediation and alternative dispute resolution (ADR), as well as developing and disseminating practical resources to assist enterprises in legal risk prevention and dispute resolution. The cooperation further extends to policy and advocacy, with both parties working together to provide feedback and policy recommendations aimed at strengthening Vietnam’s legal framework on ADR in line with international standards, and jointly participating in dialogues with government agencies, business associations, and international partners.
Prof. Dr. Le Hong Hanh (President of VIAC) remarked, “As trade and investment between Vietnamese and Australian enterprises continue to grow, cooperation within the ecosystem that serves them becomes increasingly important. This MoU allows our two organisations to jointly engage in efforts aimed at initiatives that foster stronger connections, apply best-practice standards, and support businesses in achieving sustainable long-term development. Specifically, by enhancing capacity to control and manage legal risks and by promoting effective dispute resolution mechanisms, we hope to provide enterprises with greater confidence, predictability, and efficiency when engaging in commercial activities in both Vietnam and Australia”.
Mr. Sam Conroy (President of AusCham Vietnam) commented, “Vietnam remains one of Australia’s most dynamic and strategically important partners in the region. Through this MoU with VIAC, AusCham Vietnam reaffirms its strong commitment to supporting our members and the broader business community with practical tools for legal risk management and effective dispute resolution. We believe that transparent, reliable, and internationally aligned ADR mechanisms are essential to building business confidence, attracting quality investment, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of Vietnam–Australia trade and investment relations”.
The MoU lays the foundation for closer institutional cooperation between VIAC and AusCham Vietnam through concrete joint initiatives in training, policy dialogue, and professional exchange. By working together, the two organizations aim to offer businesses more opportunities to access reliable information, specialized expertise, and practical support in navigating commercial challenges. This partnership reflects a shared dedication to accompanying enterprises on their development journey and strengthening the overall ecosystem that supports Vietnam–Australia business engagement.
The Vietnam International Arbitration Centre (VIAC) is the leading and longest-standing institutional arbitration centre in Vietnam, established under a decision of the Vietnam's Prime Minister since 1993. VIAC independently administers domestic and international arbitration, mediation, and other alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms to serve the business community. VIAC's mission is to vitalize effective mechanisms of arbitration and ADR for the contract enforcement, contribute to improve the business environment in Vietnam and actively participate in regional and global networks of arbitral institutions. The Australian of Commerce in Vietnam (AusCham) is an organization representing and supporting Australian enterprises and investors doing business in Vietnam. AusCham is always striving to facilitate the operation of Australian enterprises by creating strong network with Vietnamese institutions/organizations and authorities to best assist our community to deal with difficulties or concerns regarding policies and legal changes in Vietnam. AusCham also focuses on global business connections to help Australian business community better utilize openness of Vietnam economy. |
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