VIAC holds two VIAC & Lawyers Workshops on Consultation on Amendments to VIAC Rules of Arbitration regarding Constitution of Arbitral Tribunal & Guide to Online Case Management on VIAC eCase

On the mornings of May 22^nd and 29^th, 2025, the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre (VIAC) organized two VIAC & Lawyers Workshops in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The seminars focused on Consultation on Amendments to VIAC Rules of Arbitration regarding Constitution of Arbitral Tribunal & Guide to Online Case Management on VIAC eCase. The two workshops garnered significant interest and participation from lawyers, legal experts, professionals, and corporate representatives, many of whom have directly participated in arbitration proceedings before many arbitration bodies, including VIAC.

The VIAC & Lawyers Seminars held on May 22^nd, 2025 in Ho Chi Minh City and May 29^th, 2025 in Hanoi

In his opening remarks at the seminar, Prof. Dr. Le Hong Hanh, President of the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre (VIAC) stated: “In the context of ever-changing and increasingly unpredictable cross-border commercial activities, there are mounting pressures as well as opportunities for transformation across all sectors - including dispute resolution through arbitration. As an arbitral institution with a long-term commitment to Vietnam’s arbitration jurisdiction, VIAC remains steadfast in its commitment to continuous innovation and growth in step with the development of international arbitration, and a transparent and effective dispute resolution mechanism that meets the increasingly high demands of the business community.”

Prof. Dr. Le Hong Hanh – President of the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre (VIAC) delivering the opening remarks at the VIAC & Lawyers Workshop in Hanoi on May 29^th, 2025.

Currently, VIAC is conducting a review and revision of its Rules on Arbitration focusing on provisions related to the constitution of the Arbitral Tribunal, along with relevant documents. VIAC aims to enhance the transparency of tribunal formation in line with international best practices, enabling parties to exercise their autonomy and constitute an Arbitral Tribunal that can resolve disputes professionally, diligently, independently, and impartially. VIAC recognizes that a duly constituted tribunal that meets the highest professional and ethical standards is a foundation for ensuring the effectiveness of arbitration proceedings.

On behalf of VIAC, Lawyer Vu Anh Duong - Permanent Vice President cum Secretary General of VIAC remarked: “As an organizer, coordinator, and supervisor of arbitration proceedings, VIAC always strives to optimize procedures, minimize delays, and uphold the highest standards of transparency and professionalism in arbitration.” Accordingly, in addition to proactively reviewing, revising, and issuing key documents governing arbitration activities, VIAC also seeks input from lawyers, legal experts, and practitioners on these draft revisions.

Lawyer Vu Anh Duong - Permanent Vice President cum Secretary General of the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre (VIAC) speaking at the VIAC & Lawyers Workshop in Ho Chi Minh City on May 22^nd 2025.

At the beginning of the seminar, representatives from the VIAC Secretariat provided an overview of the arbitration landscape in Vietnam and updates on dispute resolution activities through arbitration at VIAC.

Regarding the legal framework for arbitration, Lawyer Chau Viet Bac, Deputy Secretary General of VIAC stated: “Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in general and commercial arbitration in particular is receiving increasing attention in Vietnam. This is clearly reflected in recent legislative activities concerning key laws. Specifically, regulations on dispute resolution through commercial arbitration and mediation are being further detailed and increasingly incorporated into the dispute resolution mechanisms of various sector-specific legal instruments.”

In addition, the article "Developing the Private Sector - a lever for a prosperous Vietnam" by General Secretary To Lam, and Resolution No. 68-NQ/TW of the Politburo on the development of the private sector emphasized the directive on “effectively protecting property rights, ownership rights, the right to freedom of conducting business, and ensuring the enforcement of contracts for private enterprises”. To realize this, the State needs to reform the commercial justice system, shorten the time for resolving contractual disputes, minimize costs and risks for businesses, and minimize cases of contract breaches without effective sanctions. It should also enhance the transparency and effectiveness of economic courts and commercial arbitration to ensure fair and objective rulings that can safeguard businesses’ legitimate interests. Therefore, commercial arbitration is once again highlighted as a dispute resolution method to be further promoted and strengthened to ensure effective contract enforcement.

Mr. Chau Viet Bac – Deputy Secretary General of VIAC, and Mr. Luu Ngoc Quang, Deputy Head of Secretariat Department presented an overview of dispute resolution activities at VIAC

Speaking about dispute resolution by arbitration at VIAC, Mr. Luu Ngoc Quang - Deputy Manager of the VIAC Secretariat emphasized: “The development of arbitration is vividly reflected through figures – for example, the number of cases handled by arbitration institutions, the number of arbitral awards issued, and the diversity of dispute areas, among others.” The upward trend in VIAC’s dispute resolution statistics clearly reflects the Centre’s growth over recent years. In 2024, VIAC handled 475 cases, of which approximately 52% involved disputes with at least one FDI party or foreign element, while domestic disputes accounted for 48%. Sales of goods continued to be the leading sector for disputes at VIAC, representing around 25% of the total in 2024. Other major sectors included real estate business, finance, and services.

Following the previous presentations, Ms. Vu Thi Hang, Deputy Director of the VIAC Secretariat presented the Draft Amendments to the VIAC Rules on Arbitration (2025 version), along with drafts of several related documents. The VIAC & Lawyers Workshops served as a direct consultation step within the drafting process of the above Rules.

Ms. Vu Thi Hang - Deputy Director of the VIAC Secretariat presented the draft amendments and introduced the VIAC Online Case Management Platform (VIAC eCase)

Specifically, the draft amendments introduced and opened for consultation are: (i) the Draft Provisions on the Constitution of the Arbitral Tribunal in the VIAC Rules on Arbitration; (ii) the Draft Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct for VIAC Arbitrators; (iii) the Draft VIAC Arbitrator’s Statement; and (iv) the Draft Fee schedule for Requests to replace Arbitrators.

In addition, within the framework of the workshops, VIAC representatives introduced the VIAC Online Case Management Platform - VIAC eCase and provided guidance on e-filing and online case management via the platform. The development and operation of VIAC eCase embodies VIAC’s great efforts to adapt to the Vietnam’s digital transformation process, while aiming to improve the time and cost efficiency of arbitration procedures, and to offer a better experience for arbitration users.

Through the Seminars, VIAC received valuable and constructive feedback from the legal and business communities on a wide range of issues - including arbitrator qualifications, the selection and appointment of arbitrators, conflict of interest, and ensuring transparency and confidentiality in arbitration proceedings conducted via VIAC eCase platform.

Lawyer Huynh Phuong Nam - Vice President of the Hanoi Bar Association remarked: “I highly appreciate VIAC’s efforts in applying technology and data digitalization in dispute resolution. This is of great significance to arbitration users, and I believe VIAC is a pioneer not only in the field of Arbitration & ADR in Vietnam but also in the continuous upgrading and innovation of its services. To further improve the VIAC eCase platform, I recommend that VIAC consider researching and integrating VIAC eCase with certain systems/platforms such as the VNeID application, the national Certified e-Contract Authority, and other relevant platforms. Such integration would be meaningful and help transform VIAC eCase into a centralized system for dispute resolution service users at VIAC.”

Lawyer Nguyen Duc Manh - Deputy Director of BIZLINK Lawyers emphasized: “Through my experience in resolving disputes at VIAC, I have found that VIAC, in the process of revising its Rules or issuing key documents related to arbitration proceedings, consistently ensures: (i) compliance with Vietnamese laws on arbitration, and (ii) appropriate adoption and alignment with evolving international arbitration practices. This makes the dispute resolution experience at VIAC user-friendly, transparent and efficient, whether our clients are domestic or foreign businesses. However, for Vietnam’s arbitration legal framework to truly serve as a strong legal foundation, I recommend that VIAC, in addition to researching international practice and experience as well as revising its key documents, also actively contribute to the upcoming revision of the Law on Commercial Arbitration in order to further facilitate international integration in arbitration.”

For VIAC, the active professional engagement and contributions of lawyers have always been one of the driving forces behind the development of an arbitration community as well as the growth of arbitration at VIAC in particular and in Vietnam in general. With its openness to feedback, VIAC welcomes candid and constructive input from esteemed lawyers and delegates, whether submitted directly during the workshop or in writing to the Centre. These valuable contributions will provide VIAC with further insights to improve the draft amendments to the VIAC Rules of Arbitration (2025 version) and other related documents. VIAC aims to develop and implement a set of rules that incorporate international best practices while also meeting the practical needs of arbitration users.

Download the materials for the “VIAC & Lawyers” Seminars HERE (Vietnamese only).