[RECAP VAW 2026] The Vietnam ADR Connect Forum: Managing Commercial Disputes in Vietnam: ADR Practice & User Perspectives

On the morning of May 28, 2026, the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre (VIAC), the Viet Nam Lawyers’ Association, and the Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association jointly launched the Vietnam ADR Connect Forum under the theme “Managing Commercial Disputes in Vietnam: ADR Practice & User Perspectives”. The event attracted over 200 delegates, including arbitrators, lawyers, legal experts, in-house corporate counsel, and representatives from both domestic and international arbitral institutions.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Duy Nghia - Vice President of the Vietnam International Arbitration Center (VIAC)

Delivering speech at the Forum, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Duy Nghia - Vice President of the Vietnam International Arbitration Center (VIAC), noted that in an increasingly complex and diverse business environment characterized by cross-border operations, dispute management should no longer be viewed merely as a reactive measure after a conflict has already arisen. Instead, he emphasized that dispute management must be integrated as a core component of overall corporate governance, closely tied to risk management and the structuring of long-term commercial relationships. Within this framework, alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms - particularly arbitration and mediation are increasingly proving to be essential tools which not only enable parties to resolve disputes efficiently and flexibly but also play a vital role in maintaining and preserving business partnerships.

According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nghia, VIAC currently brings together over 200 arbitrators operating across various fields of expertise. Notably, the majority of them concurrently hold multiple professional roles , serving concurrently as lawyers, consultants, corporate executives, or entrepreneurs. This intersection of solid legal foundations and deep commercial experience has significantly enhanced the quality of dispute resolution, better meeting the evolving needs of the business community in a shifting economic landscape. Furthermore, he revealed that VIAC is continuously refining its arbitral procedures by updating and revising its newly launched 2026 Arbitration Rules, bringing them closer to international standards and best practices. This is seen as a pivotal step toward increasing the flexibility, efficiency, and adaptability of commercial arbitration in Vietnam, ultimately bolstering the business community’s confidence in out-of-court dispute resolution mechanisms moving forward.

Dr. Ha Hai - Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association,
Member of the Standing Committee of the Vietnam Bar Federation, Head of Ha Hai & Partners Law Office

Following up, Dr. Ha Hai - Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association, Member of the Standing Committee of the Vietnam Bar Federation, Head of Ha Hai & Partners Law Office, highly praised the forum's significance amid the pressing need to connect and expand Vietnam's ADR community. According to Dr. Hai, fostering stronger ties among lawyers, arbitrators, businesses, and ADR organizations not only drives professionalism and efficiency in commercial dispute resolution but also elevates the quality of legal services and support for enterprises in a volatile business environment.

Dr. Hai stated that Ho Chi Minh City currently has around 9,400 practicing lawyers, a force directly handling complex cases tied to the city's dynamic economic growth. This reality demands that legal professionals continuously upgrade not just their substantive legal expertise, but also their procedural skills and capacity to participate in ADR mechanisms. He emphasized that in an era of deeper global integration and increasingly complex commercial conflicts, understanding and effectively applying ADR methods has become an essential skill for modern lawyers to help businesses resolve disputes flexibly and practically.

Mr. Tran Anh Hien - Partner of Vietnam International Law Firm (VILAF), VIAC Listed Arbitrator

The forum proceeded with Panel Discussion 01 “Managing Commercial disputes: Practice and User perspectives”. The session was moderated by Mr. Tran Anh Hien - Partner of Vietnam International Law Firm (VILAF), VIAC Listed Arbitrator, and featured insights from legal practitioners and business representatives, including Ms. Ngo Quynh Anh - Managing Partner at ATIM Law Firm; Ms. Le Thi Thanh Tam - Director of Hotanuts; and Mr. Nguyen Tuan Phat - Partner at DIMAC Law Firm.

Panelists at Panel Discussion 01

During the panel, the speakers exchanged views on the current landscape of commercial disputes amid increasingly complex investment and business activities, which are being significantly influenced by fluctuations in the international market. According to the experts, commercial disputes now arise across a wide range of sectors, including sale of goods, investment, energy, import-export, and construction, with a notable surge in cross-border transactions. Given these realities, panelists emphasized a strategic shift from a reactive “dispute resolution” mindset to proactive “dispute management” right from a project's inception. Enterprises were urged to actively build legal risk mitigation mechanisms throughout contract negotiation, drafting, and execution; additionally, enhancing the management of records, data, and evidence to ensure they are well prepared to respond effectively if a conflict arises.

The session also covered key technical considerations for cross-border deals, such as choosing the governing law, dispute resolution mechanisms, venues, and the coordination of dispute handling. From a corporate perspective, the speakers shared practical experiences regarding the pressures of time, costs, and the psychological impact of ongoing litigation. They concluded by emphasizing the delicate balance required to protect legal rights while preserving post-dispute commercial relationships between parties.

Dr. Ha Hai - Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association,
Member of the Standing Committee of the Vietnam Bar Federation, Head of Ha Hai & Partners Law Office

Shifting the focus to risk mitigation, Panel Discussion 02 tackled “Legal risk management and dispute resolution in investment and business activities”  moderated by Dr. Ha Hai - Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association, Member of the Standing Committee of the Vietnam Bar Federation, Head of Ha Hai & Partners Law Office, and featured a distinguished lineup of experts: Mr. Chau Viet Bac - Vice Secretary General of Vietnam International Arbitration Center (VIAC); Mr. Tran Viet Anh - Chairman of the Vietnam Waste Recycling Association, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Business Association (HUBA), Honorary Consul General of Pakistan in Ho Chi Minh City , VIAC Listed Arbitrator; and Ms. Hoang Nguyen Ha Quyen - Managing Partner of LNT and Partners, VIAC Listed Arbitrator, Deputy Director of Vietnam Mediation Centre (VMC).

The panelists observed that commercial disputes are not only spiking in volume but are also becoming increasingly complex, multi-sectoral, and cross-border in nature. This trend places greater demands on the efficiency, flexibility, and adaptability of dispute resolution mechanisms in Vietnam.

Panelists at Panel Discussion 02

From an arbitral perspective, Mr. Chau Viet Bac highlighted a growing market trend where businesses increasingly favor ADR methods - particularly arbitration and mediation, citing key advantages such as strict confidentiality, accelerated timelines, cost optimization, and the preservation of post-dispute partnerships. However, enterprises still wonder about the enforceability of awards, the accessibility of SMEs, as well as requirements for transparency, predictability of procedures, and the practical competence of arbitrators and mediators. On this basis, the experts considered the adoption of the VIAC Rules of Arbitration 2026 as a significant milestone, contributing to the continued refinement of Vietnam’s arbitration legal framework, aligning it more closely with international practices, and enhancing its responsiveness to practical demands.

The new rules introduce several highly anticipated mechanisms, including the consolidation of disputes arising from multiple contracts, third-party joinder, provisions for third-party funding, expanded expedited procedures, and enhanced digitalization via the VIAC eCase platform, alongside refined criteria for procedural control, confidentiality, and case coordination. These procedural overhauls are projected to significantly boost the flexibility, transparency, and overall efficiency of arbitration, driving greater trust and broadening ADR accessibility for both domestic and foreign business communities.

Photos from the Event

Ultimately, the forum did more than just analyze Vietnam’s changing dispute landscape and the rise of ADR; it provided a vital roadmap for legal risk management. The experts concluded with critical recommendations on enhancing dispute resolution mechanisms, and boosting corporate adaptability amid ongoing global volatility.

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