Among the eight implementing decrees issued on December 18, 2025, to provide the legal framework for Vietnam’s new International Financial Centers (IFC), Decree No. 323/2025/ND‑CP serves the core function of officially establishing the IFC as a unified entity in two locations—Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang—and setting out a plan for its development and governance. The key contents of the decree are summarized below. Location and Focus of IFCs The Vietnam International Financial Center in Ho Chi Minh City (VIFC‑HCMC) and the Vietnam International Financial Center in Da Nang (VIFC‑DN) are designed to attract capital, fintech, and international market participants under a dedicated regulatory framework. The IFCs will host functional zones for financial trading, banking, securities and commodities exchanges, offices, dispute resolution (via specialized court and international arbitration center), and related activities as set by the executive authority of each IFC. VIFC-HCMC, with a total area of 898 hectares in central Ho Chi Minh City, is oriented to develop a comprehensive and diverse financial ecosystem, providing traditional and specialized financial services, and leveraging synergies between financial services such as capital mobilization, investment, payment services, issuance and trading of financial products, asset management, fintech, and green financial services. VIFC-DN, with a total area of 300 hectares, is oriented to develop as a modern IFC, closely integrated with the innovation ecosystem, digital technology, and sustainable finance. VIFC-DN will establish a controlled testing platform for new financial models, taking the lead in the deployment and scaling of digital-asset products, digital payments, and specialized trading platforms and exchanges, while promoting supply chain finance, third-party services, and non-bank financial intermediaries to complement and support the traditional financial market, developing specialized, flexible, and innovative financial products. Near‑Term Priorities and Review Timeline In 2026, the government will prioritize completing the essential infrastructure and ensuring adequate

Thailand is developing new legislation on responsible business conduct that would impose statutory obligations on large enterprises to manage human rights and environmental risks throughout their operations and supply chains. The Draft Act on the Promotion of Responsible Business Conduct, commonly referred to as the Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence (HRDD) Bill, has been developed through extensive consultation involving a wide range of stakeholders, with the Ministry of Justice playing a leading role. If enacted, the HRDD bill would reshape how certain large businesses operate and manage their supply chains, reflecting a recognition of international standards and global concerns regarding human rights and environmental protection. By introducing legally binding due diligence obligations, the draft aims to ensure that businesses operating in Thailand are held accountable for adverse impacts throughout their operations and supply chains, in line with emerging global legal frameworks. Who Will Have to Comply? The HRDD bill primarily targets large enterprises based on their annual revenue thresholds: Manufacturing businesses with annual revenue exceeding THB 500 million Wholesale, retail, or service businesses with annual revenue exceeding THB 300 million The draft would also cover state-owned enterprises and foreign businesses operating in Thailand if their operations meet the applicable revenue thresholds. What Does Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence Involve? Under the HRDD bill, due diligence is not a one-time checklist but an ongoing process with several key requirements: Adopt and publicly disclose a sustainability policy. Businesses must commit publicly to respecting human rights and protecting the environment, and must integrate this policy into corporate governance and risk management systems. Identify and assess risks. Companies must identify and assess risks of human rights violations and environmental harm across their operations and value chains. Prevent or reduce risks. Businesses must implement effective and proportionate measures to prevent or mitigate

Resolution No. 222/2025/QH15 dated June 27, 2025, of the National Assembly of Vietnam (the “IFC Resolution” – see our previous article) set out the foundational legal framework for the establishment and development of Vietnam’s first-ever International Financial Centers (IFC). In furtherance of this framework, on December 18, 2025, the government of Vietnam issued eight implementing decrees to provide detailed regulatory guidance and to operationalize the IFC Resolution in practice. The Eight Implementing Decrees: An Integrated Regulatory Ecosystem The new decrees governing the IFC include the following: Decree No. 323/2025/ND-CP on the establishment of the IFC. Decree No. 324/2025/ND-CP on financial policies applicable within the IFC. Decree No. 325/2025/ND-CP on labor, employment, and social security within the IFC. Decree No. 326/2025/ND-CP on land and environmental matters within the IFC. Decree No. 327/2025/ND-CP on entry, exit, and residence of foreign nationals in the IFC. Decree No. 328/2025/ND-CP on the International Arbitration Center of the IFC. Decree No. 329/2025/ND-CP on banking licensing, foreign exchange management, and anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) within the IFC. Decree No. 330/2025/ND-CP on the establishment and operation of commodity exchanges within the IFC. Taken as a whole, these eight decrees translate the IFC Resolution into a coherent and fully operational legal regime governing the establishment, organization, and functioning of Vietnam’s IFC. Collectively, they demonstrate that Vietnam’s IFC framework is best understood not as a collection of isolated incentives, but as a deliberately designed and integrated regulatory system. The Legal Architecture of the IFC: Four Interlocking Pillars Read together, the decrees seem to be designed to address four core regulatory questions from the outset: (i) what the IFC is, from a legal and institutional perspective; (ii) who may participate in the IFC and what activities are permitted; (iii) how people, capital, and projects operate

On December 17, 2025, Laos’ Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MOIC) issued a notice introducing a new digital system that allows e-commerce businesses to obtain required certificates and licenses through an online, application-based platform. Notice No. 3988, which will take effect on February 1, 2026, introduces the E-Trust platform, a downloadable application that allows e-commerce businesses to remotely obtain acknowledgement certificates and business operating licenses. New Digital Registration Options Under the previous framework established by the Decree on E-commerce (2021), businesses were required to complete registration exclusively through paper-based submissions. The new system now offers businesses two registration options: Traditional paper-based process at the Division of E-commerce Management within the MOIC; or Electronic registration and renewal through the E-Trust platform. This change is expected to streamline procedures, reduce administrative burdens, and enhance accessibility for businesses operating outside Vientiane. The E-Trust platform facilitates compliance for both individuals and legal entities required to submit applications and renewals for required certificates and licenses. The development is particularly beneficial for businesses located in remote provinces, as it eliminates the need for physical travel and significantly accelerates processing times. Compliance Requirements and Penalties Businesses must obtain or renew the required certificates and licenses to avoid sanctions under the Decision on Fines and Other Measures for Violation of the Decree and Regulations on E-commerce (No. 2828/MOIC, dated November 11, 2025). Penalties for noncompliance may include monetary fines and other enforcement measures.