VIAC accompanies the National Moot Court Competition (VMoot) throughout its 10-Year journey

On October 5, 2026, the National Final Round of the 2026 Moot Court Competition (VMoot) and the 10th Anniversary Ceremony of the Competition were held at Ho Chi Minh City University of Law (ULAW), marking the conclusion of its 10th season with the participation of more than 50 teams from 28 universities and legal training institutions nationwide. The 10-year milestone also marked VIAC’s continuous involvement in VMoot as its Academic Sponsor, contributing to bringing practical experience in commercial arbitration and dispute resolution closer to law students from the classroom.

Established in 2017, VMoot was initiated by Ho Chi Minh City University of Law with the aim of creating a Vietnamese-language moot court competition for law students nationwide. Within the competition, participants take on the roles of counsel representing the claimant or respondent, conduct legal research, prepare written submissions, present and defend their arguments before the mock Arbitral Tribunal.

10 years of bringing practical arbitration experience closer to the university

Throughout the competition’s 10-year journey, one of VIAC’s notable academic contributions has been incorporating practical experience in dispute resolution into the competition. VMoot case problems are developed around legal issues and types of disputes that may arise in practice, thereby placing participants in situations that closely resemble those encountered when advising clients, conducting advocacy, and resolving disputes.

This approach helps narrow the gap between legal knowledge acquired through formal education and the practical requirements of handling a dispute case. Participants are required not only to identify the applicable legal provisions, but also to examine case files, assess evidence, select and defend legal arguments, identify procedural issues, and develop strategies to protect the legitimate rights and interests of their clients. Through these activities, VMoot provides students with an opportunity to gradually develop problem-solving mindsets and the practical skills required of legal practitioners.

VIAC’s professional contribution is also reflected in its connection of the competition with practitioners directly involved in arbitration and dispute resolution. Over the years, VIAC leaders, VIAC Arbitrators, and experienced lawyers in arbitral proceedings have served on Moot Arbitral Tribunals at various stages of the competition, particularly the Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Final. The participation of these experts helps maintain the practical nature of VMoot, while making the simulated proceedings more closely reflect how an actual dispute is examined in practice.

In each simulated hearing, the Tribunal not only assesses the teams’ submissions and determines the results, but also raises questions to test the consistency of their arguments, asks for clarification of legal grounds, evidence and approaches to defending their positions, and provides comments and feedback to the participants. Through such interaction, students have the opportunity to gain insight into how an Arbitral Tribunal reviews a case file, identifies issues to be resolved, assesses evidence, and considers the persuasiveness of each party’s arguments. VIAC’s role as professional sponsor has therefore contributed to creating a practical legal training environment in which students not only “learn” about arbitration, but also gradually become familiar with the mindset, skills and professional requirements of dispute resolution.

Reflecting on the development of participants over the years, Mr. Chau Viet Bac - Deputy Director of VIAC Ho Chi Minh City Branch cum Deputy Secretary-General of the VIAC Secretariat   stated that the most notable changes lie not only in the scale of the competition but also in the quality of advocacy. In the early seasons, many teams relied heavily on citing statutory provisions and struggled to respond to questions from the Moot Arbitral Tribunal. In later seasons, participants became more adept at using evidence, researching case law and court decisions, proactively developing rebuttals, and addressing issues arising during the hearings. According to Mr. Bac, VMoot has therefore gone beyond being a purely academic activity to become “a real professional platform".

Seminar “From VMoot participant to legal practitioner: Career journey and practical perspectives”

The discussion was attended by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Duy Nghia – Vice President of the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre (VIAC); Mr. Ngo Thanh Tung – Managing Partner of Vietnam International Law Firm (VILAF – Hong Duc), VIAC Arbitrator and VMC Mediator; and Mr. Chau Viet Bac – Deputy Secretary General of the VIAC Procedural Secretariat cum Deputy Director of VIAC Ho Chi Minh City Branch.

National Final Round of the Moot Court competition (VMoot) in 2026

On the morning of October 5, 2026, following the Preliminary, Quarterfinal and Semifinal Rounds, two teams, The Mis 227 from Hanoi Law University and D.N.D from Can Tho University, advanced to the Final Round of VMoot 2026, representing the claimant and respondent respectively.

The Moot Arbitral Tribunal for the Final Round comprised Mr. Chau Viet Bac – Deputy Secretary General of the VIAC Procedural Secretariat cum Deputy Director of VIAC Ho Chi Minh City Branch; Mr. Nguyen Hong Ha – Member of YKVN Law Firm; and Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Tram – Director and Member of TWLV Law Firm.

At the conclusion of the Final Round, The Mis 227 from Hanoi Law University won First Prize, while D.N.D from Can Tho University received Second Prize. The Best Written Submission Award went to DATONE from Ho Chi Minh City University of Law. The Best Advocate Award was presented to contestant Tran My Dung of D.N.D.

Speaking at the VMoot 10th Anniversary Ceremony, Mr. Chau Viet Bac described the competition as a “bridge” connecting the university with professional practice, where students not only apply the legal knowledge they have acquired but also experience the mindset, standards and pressures of legal practice. This also reflects the value that VIAC has pursued throughout its involvement with VMoot: bringing practical dispute resolution experience closer to legal education while creating greater opportunities for students to gain early exposure to the mindset, skills and professional requirements of commercial arbitration.

VIAC’s 10-year journey with VMoot has also been a journey of bringing commercial arbitration closer to generations of young people who will pursue careers in law. Building on the cooperation agreement between VIAC and Ho Chi Minh City University of Law, the two institutions will continue to promote activities connecting legal education, research and practice, thereby expanding opportunities for students to gain early exposure to dispute resolution mechanisms and gradually build a professional foundation for their future careers.

VIAC would like to express our sincere appreciation to the Organizing Committee – Ho Chi Minh City University of Law for its trust and cooperation, and also the arbitrators, experts and lawyers who have accompanied VIAC and VMoot as members of the judging panels, as well as to all participating teams who contributed to making VMoot 2026 a meaningful and successful season. 

VIAC also gives the congratulation to the teams and individuals who achieved outstanding results at VMoot 2026. We hope that the experiences gained through VMoot will continue to serve as a foundation for participants to nurture their passion for the legal profession, continuously develop their professional expertise, and gradually make their own mark on their future career journeys.