VIAC co-organized the Vietnam – China Arbitration Dialogue on Construction disputes within CAW 2026

As part of China Arbitration Week 2026, on 16 September 2026, the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre (VIAC), in collaboration with the Society of Construction Law Viet Nam (SCLVN) and Beijing DHH Law Firm (DHH), organized the event titled "Vietnam – China Arbitration Dialogue: Construction Disputes, Institution Perspectives and Cross-border Practice".

The event attracted nearly 100 in-person attendees and recorded nearly 1,500 online viewers. This also marks the first professional dialogue organized by VIAC in China,  creating a platform for networking and exchange among organizations, experts, and legal practitioners from both countries regarding arbitration, construction law, and cross-border commercial dispute resolution practices.

Mr. Vu Anh Duong – Permanent Vice President cum Secretary-General of the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre (VIAC)

In the Opening remarks, Mr. Vu Anh Duong – Permanent Vice President cum Secretary-General of the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre (VIAC) emphasized the significance of China as a key destination in VIAC’s strategy to strengthen its international presence and cooperation. Against the backdrop of deepening economic, trade, and investment relations between Vietnam and China, businesses from both countries are increasingly expanding their presence and participation in investment, trade, construction, and infrastructure development in each other's markets. This trend not only creates new business opportunities but also demands a higher level of understanding regarding legal systems, contractual practices, risk allocation, and the selection of suitable dispute prevention and resolution mechanisms.

Specifically, construction and infrastructure are distinct sectors characterized by large-scale investment, long timelines, high technical requirements, and the involvement of multiple entities within complex contractual structures. In cross-border projects, these factors are further compounded by differences in legal systems, contractual practices, and project governance across jurisdictions.

Dispute resolution practice at VIAC demonstrates that construction consistently accounts for a significant proportion of its caseload. In 2025, construction ranked second among the sectors handled by VIAC. Furthermore, disputing parties from China have over the years consistently been among the foreign nationalities with a notable number of cases at VIAC. These figures reflect the deepening connection between cross-border business activities and the growing demand for professional, flexible dispute resolution mechanisms capable of accommodating increasingly complex transactions.

Dr. HUANG Zhenda – Chairman of Beijing DHH Law Firm

Also at the opening session, Dr. HUANG Zhenda – Chairman of Beijing DHH Law Firm delivered the welcoming remarks to the attending delegates and experts. He emphasized the significance of enhancing professional exchanges between the legal and arbitration communities of Vietnam and China amid increasingly diversified investment and trade activities between the two markets.

He noted that construction projects are inherently complex, long-term, and involve multiple stakeholders; thus, cross-border elements introduce further challenges regarding applicable law, liability allocation, damage assessment, and the selection of dispute resolution mechanisms. In this context, arbitration plays an increasingly vital role in resolving cross-border construction disputes. Dr. Huang expects that the event would foster greater exchange among arbitration institutions, lawyers, scholars, and construction management experts from both countries, thereby enhancing mutual understanding of each other's legal systems and practices. This, in turn, would better support risk prevention, management, and dispute resolution, while promoting sustainable business cooperation between Vietnam and China.

Ms. Vu Thi Hang – Chief of Secretariat cum Deputy Secretary-General at VIAC

The main session began with two keynote presentations. Accordingly, Ms. Vu Thi Hang – Chief of Secretariat cum Deputy Secretary-General at VIAC, delivered a presentation on "The arbitration overview in Vietnam and dispute resolution practice at VIAC”. Ms. Hang focused on the development of the arbitration and ADR ecosystem in Vietnam, from the legal foundation under the 2010 Law on Commercial Arbitration to recent updates regarding arbitrable scope, court support and supervision mechanisms, and legal reforms in the construction sector related to dispute resolution methods.

The presentation also provided updates on VIAC’s operational practices, which recorded 532 dispute cases in 2025 - 48.5% of which involved FDI or foreign elements - highlighting VIAC’s growing internationalization. The internationality and flexibility of VIAC proceedings are demonstrated through the ability to select Vietnamese or foreign arbitrators, applicable law, language, place of arbitration, and hearing formats tailored to the specific characteristics of each case. Furthermore, Ms. Hang introduced the 2026 VIAC Arbitration Rules, highlighting provisions and mechanisms aimed at enhancing case management efficiency, effectively handling complex disputes, increasing transparency, and advancing technology integration through the VIAC eCase online filing and case management platform.

Mr. Nguyen Nam Trung – Chairman of the Society of Construction Law Viet Nam (SCLVN), VIAC's listed Arbitrator

Following this, Mr. Nguyen Nam Trung – Chairman of the Society of Construction Law Viet Nam (SCLVN), VIAC's listed Arbitrator, delivered a keynote presentation titled "Construction dispute resolution in Vietnam and China: Challenges, practical perspectives, and recommendations". His speech focused on construction dispute resolution practices, common issues in cross-border construction projects, and the opportunities and challenges surrounding dispute prevention and resolution. Based on these insights, he proposed three main directions for development: enhancing the capacity of ADR experts, raising awareness and skills among users, and promoting Vietnam–China cooperation in construction law, contracting, and dispute resolution to better support both dispute prevention and resolution.

The speakers during the Panel discussion

The panel discussion titled "Strategic contract management, risk reduction, prevention and resolution of disputes arising from construction projects" was moderated by Dr. Chen Tao – Senior Partner at Beijing DHH Law Firm, featuring experts from Vietnam and China: Ms. Vu Thi Hang – Chief of Secretariat cum Deputy Secretary General at VIAC; Prof. Qingkang Dai – Lawyer of Beijing DHH Law Firm (Nanjing) Office, Associate Professor at Southeast University Law School; Prof. Zhang Shuibo – Professor of International Construction Contracts and Head of the School of International Project Management at Tianjin University (China); Mr. Nguyen Nam Trung – Chairman of SCLVN, VIAC's listed Arbitrator; and Mr. Luu Xuan Vinh – Founding Partner, Managing Partner of Asia Legal LLC, VIAC's listed Arbitrator.

During the panel, speakers focused on typical issues in construction and infrastructure projects involving entities from Vietnam and China. Topics ranged from disputes over valuation, schedule delays, technical documentation, and evidence, to potential shortcomings when applying standard form contracts, particularly FIDIC, within the context of Vietnamese law. The session also covered contract clause draft and dispute resolution mechanism selection from project inception, the efficiency of Dispute Boards/DAABs, key considerations when requesting for the recognition and enforcement of foreign arbitral awards in Vietnam, and priority actions for businesses immediately upon a dispute's emergence. The panelists emphasized that effective dispute management must begin with contract administration, evidence management, and risk allocation, rather than merely addressing disputes once they reach arbitral proceedings

More photos from the event