VIAC and VCCI-HCM Successfully Organize the 2026 CEO Talkshow “CEO Decision-Making in a Volatile Environment: A Legal Perspective to Protect Businesses and Minimize Disputes”

As part of VCCI-HCM’s annual CEO 4.0 Executive Training Program, on the morning of July 25, 2026, the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre (VIAC), in coordination with the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry - Ho Chi Minh City Branch (VCCI-HCM), successfully organized a CEO Community Talkshow themed “CEO Decision making in a Volatile Environment: A Legal Perspective to Protect Businesses and Minimize Disputes.”

The program brought together participants of the 2026 CEO 4.0 Training Course, lawyers, and in house legal professionals, who exchanged views on common legal risks arising in the course of business operations.

In his opening remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Duy Nghia, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre (VIAC), noted that amid the current highly volatile market environment, even carefully prepared business plans may face the risk of failure if businesses fail to identify potential risks in a timely manner and adopt appropriate preventive measures.

According to him, the event provided an opportunity for businesses to gain practical perspectives and update their professional knowledge and experience, thereby strengthening their capacity to prevent, manage, and address legal issues arising in the course of investment and business activities.

He expressed his hope that the talkshow would provide participants with practical information, in-depth insights, and valuable recommendations, enabling businesses to take a more proactive approach to legal reviews, transaction implementation, and the establishment of safe and sustainable business relationships.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Duy Nghia emphasized the importance of legal risk management amid market volatility.

The talkshow was moderated by Mr. Chau Viet Bac, Attorney-at-Law, Deputy Secretary General of the VIAC Secretariat for Proceedings and Deputy Director of the VIAC Ho Chi Minh City Branch, with three experts joining the discussion: Ms. Hoang Nguyen Ha Quyen, Attorney at Law, Managing Partner of LNT & Partners, VIAC Arbitrator, and Deputy Director of the Vietnam Mediation Centre (VMC) under VIAC; Mr. Le Thanh Kinh, Attorney at Law, Director of Le Nguyen Law Firm LLC, VIAC Arbitrator, and VMC Mediator; and Mr. Phung Anh Tuan, Director and Managing Attorney of VCI Legal Law Firm LLC, VIAC Arbitrator, and VMC Mediator.

Mr. Chau Viet Bac - Deputy Secretary General of the VIAC Secretariat for Proceedings and Deputy Director of the VIAC Ho Chi Minh City Branch - moderated the talkshow.

Restructuring Decisions: Optimizing Resources and Adapting to Change

Sharing her insights on the M&A trends in Vietnam, Ms. Hoang Nguyen Ha Quyen - Managing Partner of LNT & Partners, VIAC Arbitrator, and Deputy Director of the Vietnam Mediation Centre (VMC)  noted that transparency and compliance are becoming important “entry requirements” for foreign investors. In practice, many investors are willing to spend considerable time identifying businesses with transparent operations, well organized accounting systems, and no underlying legal risks. Therefore, before seeking investment or transferring equity interests, businesses should proactively review and standardize their governance systems and address any compliance issues.

According to Ms. Quyen, another notable trend is that investors are increasingly prioritizing investments in specific business segments rather than acquiring entire diversified businesses. This requires Vietnamese enterprises to undertake restructuring and segregate their business lines in order to clearly demonstrate the performance, resources, and growth potential of each segment. As real estate, logistics, hospitality, accommodation, and manufacturing continue to attract capital inflows, she recommended that businesses focus on their core capabilities, strengthen compliance, and develop appropriate fundraising strategies, while maintaining control and preserving the core values of Vietnamese brands.

Further sharing her views on dispute resolution, Ms. Quyen noted that parties should consider mediation before referring a dispute to arbitration. According to her, mediation creates an opportunity for the parties to seek mutually acceptable solutions, minimize confrontation, and preserve long-term business relationships. Therefore, businesses should consider incorporating both mediation and arbitration into their contracts, treating mediation as a constructive first step for resolving disagreements collaboratively before proceeding to adjudication through an arbitral award.

Ms. Hoang Nguyen Ha Quyen - Managing Partner of LNT & Partners, VIAC Arbitrator, and Deputy Director of the Vietnam Mediation Centre (VMC) - at the talkshow.

Decisions on Market and Partnership Expansion: Managing Risks Beyond the Enterprise

Sharing insights into the complex decisions CEOs must make when expanding into new markets, seeking business partners, or engaging in mergers and acquisitions, Mr. Le Thanh Kinh – Director of Le Nguyen Law Firm LLC, VIAC Arbitrator, and Mediator at the Vietnam Mediation Centre (VMC) under VIAC – highlighted three key categories of risks that businesses should pay particular attention to.

First is the need to accurately identify the parties and subject matter of the transaction, as well as the relevant approval and signing authorities, since a transaction may not receive legal protection if it is entered into or approved by an unauthorized person. Second are potential procedural obstacles arising during the implementation of a transaction, even where the transaction has been properly assessed and structured in compliance with applicable laws. Third is the risk of labor disputes arising when an investor undertakes restructuring, reorganizes operations, or reduces its workforce following a transaction.

According to Lawer Le Thanh Kinh, in addition to ensuring full compliance with legal procedures, businesses should prioritize dialogue with employees and recognize differences in business culture when working with foreign investors. In the face of geopolitical, trade, and legal developments that may render contractual arrangements unfavorable, businesses should move away from a “deal with issues as they arise” mindset and invest seriously in contract planning from the negotiation stage. Clauses addressing fundamental changes of circumstances, force majeure, and dispute resolution should be clearly drafted and tailored to the specific characteristics of each transaction.

Accordingly, a contract should not merely serve as a document recording the parties’ agreement; it should also function as a tool enabling businesses to anticipate, allocate, and manage risks throughout the course of their cooperation.

Mr. Le Thanh Kinh - Director of Le Nguyen Law Firm LLC, VIAC Arbitrator and Mediator at the Vietnam Mediation Centre (VMC) under VIAC - together with the other speakers during the discussion session.

Decisions on Digital Transformation: Technology, Data, and Legal Risks to Be Managed

Mr. Phung Anh Tuan - Director and Managing Attorney of VCI Legal Law Firm LLC, VIAC Arbitrator, and VMC Mediator - emphasized that digital transformation is not simply about investing in additional software, but must bring about measurable improvements in business performance. Before implementation, CEOs should clearly identify the problems to be addressed, the expected outcomes, and the person responsible.

At the same time, they should assess the entire technology lifecycle, from the quality of input data, data integration and export capabilities, to contingency plans for maintaining operations if the service provider discontinues its services. Rather than implementing a system across the board, businesses should pilot it on a process-by-process basis, establish in advance clear criteria for scaling up, modifying, or terminating the project, and avoid continuing to invest in a system whose practical effectiveness has not been demonstrated.

With regard to AI and cloud computing services, Mr. Phung Anh Tuan noted that businesses cannot fully transfer their legal responsibilities to technology providers. Businesses must still assess and classify the level of risk associated with each use case, clearly designate responsible personnel, and set out specific contractual provisions governing the purposes of data use, ownership, confidentiality, incident response, limitations of liability, and obligations to return or delete data. In addition, electronic data can only serve as reliable evidence when businesses are able to establish its source, time of creation, content, and integrity. This highlights the need to view digital transformation not only as a technological decision, but also as a matter of governance and legal risk management.

Mr. Phung Anh Tuan - Director and Managing Attorney of VCI Legal Law Firm LLC, VIAC Arbitrator, and VMC Mediator - at the talkshow.

Following the presentations, the experts engaged in a lively discussion with participants on practical situations commonly encountered by CEOs in the course of running their businesses, ranging from fundraising, restructuring, market expansion, and partner selection to digital transformation, data governance, and contractual risk management.

Numerous specific questions raised by businesses were examined from both management and legal perspectives, helping clarify how to identify risks, assess potential courses of action, and establish appropriate preventive mechanisms before making key decisions. The discussion not only provided practical recommendations but also highlighted the increasingly important role of legal thinking in the formulation and implementation of business strategies.