VIAC Welcomes and Holds a Working Session with the Federation of Law Societies of Canada and the VIST Project Delegation

In July 1, 2026, at its headquarters, the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre (VIAC) welcomed and held a working session with a delegation from the Canadian Bar Association (CBA) and the Project Management Board of the “Vietnam International Trade Strengthening Initiative” (VIST) to discuss opportunities for cooperation between the two sides.

At the meeting, Prof. Dr. Le Hong Hanh - Chairman of the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre (VIAC), together with the Executive Board, warmly welcomed the delegation led by Mr. Yves Faguy -Director of Advocacy and International Cooperation Programs, Canadian Bar Association (CBA), and Mr. Nicolas Drouin - Director of the “Vietnam Initiative for Strengthening Trade” (VIST) Project, with the participation of representatives from the Ministry of Justice of VietnamProf. Dr. Le Hong Hanh - Chairman of the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre (VIAC), and Mr. Nicolas Drouin - Project Director, provided an overview of the “Vietnam Initiative for Strengthening Trade” (VIST).

Prof. Dr. Le Hong Hanh - Chairman of the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre (VIAC), and Mr. Nicolas Drouin - Project Director, provided an overview of the “Vietnam Initiative for Strengthening Trade” (VIST).

At the beginning of the meeting, Mr. Nicolas Drouin, Project Director, provided an overview of the “Vietnam Trade Integration Strengthening Initiative” (VIST)  a seven years project funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and implemented by the Canadian Bar Association (CBA) in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice of Vietnam. He explained that the project aims to strengthen legal and institutional capacity and promote gender equality in trade, while focusing on two core components: enhancing the capacity of legal human resources and supporting the development of the legal framework to facilitate the establishment of International Financial Centres in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, as well as strengthening capacity in the field of international commercial dispute resolution.

Expressing his appreciation for the objectives of the VIST Project, Prof. Dr. Le Hong Hanh, Chairman of VIAC, shared that Vietnam is entering a new phase of development, marked by profound changes aimed at further developing a market-oriented economy and deepening international integration. Against this backdrop, the Chairman of VIAC emphasized that international cooperation should now move toward greater depth, with a focus on building substantive capacity for institutions, professional experts, and users of dispute resolution services, while also responding to the emerging demands of international integration and increasingly specialized economic sectors.

During the meeting, the two sides devoted considerable time to an in a depth discussion on legal human resource training at the Vietnam Institute for Arbitration Research and Training (VIART), under VIAC. Ms. Vu Thi Hang, Head of the Procedural Secretariat and Member of the VIAC Scientific Council, shared that, with approximately eight training courses held annually, VIART’s programs are developed with reference to the standards and frameworks of reputable international organizations and institutions, including Queen Mary University of London, the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), and the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR).

The courses not only provide participants with theoretical knowledge but also place a strong emphasis on developing practical procedural skills for lawyers, arbitrators, and mediators. At the same time, VIART applies rigorous assessment criteria closely aligned with the participants’ actual learning outcomes and professional competencies.

Ms. Alison G. FitzGerald -Lawyer, Canadian Bar Association (CBA)

Besides, Ms. Alison G. FitzGerald, Lawyer at the Canadian Bar Association (CBA), expressed particular interest in the procedures for managing and enhancing the capacity of VIAC’s team of arbitrators and mediators. In response to her inquiry, Mr. Vu Anh Duong, Vice Chairman and Secretary General of VIAC, elaborated on the Centre’s stringent supplementary criteria in addition to those stipulated under the Law on Commercial Arbitration, including professional reputation, ethical standards, and practical experience.

In particular, in line with the VIST Project’s objective of promoting gender equality, the two sides discussed and agreed to explore specific opportunities for cooperation to strengthen the representation and professional roles of female arbitrators, mediators, lawyers, and experts in the field of dispute resolution.

The meeting was held in an open and substantive atmosphere, with a strong focus on practical outcomes. The alignment between the objectives of the VIST Project and VIAC’s current priorities from enhancing the quality of ADR services, developing specialized legal human resources, and strengthening institutional frameworks to promoting gender equality is expected to pave the way for effective cooperation programs in the time ahead. These efforts will contribute to further improving the legal environment, strengthening confidence among the investment community, and fostering the sustainable development of Vietnam’s economy.