Tram Ngoc Bich Nguyen

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Partner and Head of Corporate and Commercial, Vietnam

Biography

Tram Ngoc Bich Nguyen is a partner and the head of Tilleke & Gibbins’ corporate and commercial group in Vietnam. Based in the firm’s Ho Chi Minh City office, Tram’s practice focuses on foreign investment and corporate matters, mergers and acquisitions, real estate, e-commerce, fintech, and data privacy. Her expertise includes advising foreign and multinational clients on investment in Vietnam, ranging from market-entry stage to expansion, corporate governance, internal rules and regulations, fundraising, restructuring, commercial transactions, and employment.

Tram has advised in domestic and cross-border M&A transactions involving Vietnamese companies engaged in a broad range of business sectors including real estate, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, energy, education, and distribution. Clients also benefit from Ms. Tram’s solid legal background in development, construction, management, operation, and lease activities in respect of real estate projects in Vietnam.

She also provides advice to technology-based businesses, including e-commerce retailers, platform owners, social networks, payment intermediaries, and fintech entrepreneurs. She assists multinational corporations in their adherence to local data protection laws and advises on issues such as platform and social network operations, terms and conditions, vendor contracts, e-contracting, cybersecurity, and data privacy.

In 2023, Tram was honored by Asian Legal Business in its “Vietnam Rising Stars” list. Prior to joining Tilleke & Gibbins, she spent 16 years with one of Vietnam’s top local firms. Tram is a qualified lawyer in Vietnam and holds an LLM from the University of the West of England in Bristol, U.K.

Experience

Advised the Vietnamese branch of an international coatings company to transfer its land site with an area of 18,343 sqm in Binh Duong Province.
Advised a Vietnamese investment management firm on a land clearance and compensation agreement with provincial authorities in respect of its real estate project in Quang Nam Province.
Advised a top real estate investor on divestment from a joint venture company operating a serviced apartment building in Hanoi.
Advised a Vietnamese investment management firm on its potential investment in a hotel and resort project developed on land with a total area of 164 ha in Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province.
Advised a Vietnamese investment management firm on a transaction in which it acquired warehouses from a market expansion service provider and leased the acquired warehouses back to the same company.
Represented a capital management firm on a proposed acquisition of shares in offshore holding companies of three high-profile real estate projects in Vietnam.
Represented a Singapore-headquartered capital management firm on its investment in a chain of 11 eye and general hospitals.
Advised a Thai retail giant on the acquisition of a chain of retail outlets in Vietnam.
Represented a startup incubator in its investment in two pharmaceutical companies, including a wholesale business and a retail business.
Advised a Vietnamese investment management firm on investment and acquisition in a hospital in Dong Thap Province.
Represented a startup incubator in its investment in a retail business with more than 20 branches and more than 20 business locations.
Represented a Middle Eastern-Vietnamese joint venture investment fund on its investment into two solar power projects.
Represented a Middle Eastern-Vietnamese joint venture investment fund in its acquisition of shares in a hydropower company.
Advised on the proposed listing of a Singapore-based company on the Main Board of Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited, in connection with its shipyard subsidiaries in Vietnam.
Represented a Vietnamese agriculture and food group on their inaugural issuance of fixed-rate VND bonds, guaranteed by the Credit Guarantee and Investment Facility (CGIF), a trust fund of the Asian Development Bank.
Represented a ride-hailing technology company on its acquisition of an intermediary payment service provider from the founders and strategic shareholders in multiple tranches.
Advised an international university in Vietnam on its restructuring and obtainment of licenses and permits required for education operations.
Advised an American-funded university on various regulatory matters in respect of daily operation of education establishment in Vietnam.
Represented a Singapore-based education company in their indirect acquisition of an international K-12 school in Vietnam.
Advised on an offshore transaction for sale of shares in holding companies of an English training center in Vietnam.
Advised a Japanese tobacco company on tobacco regulations related to marketing, advertising, and labeling, and operation of its representative office in Vietnam.
Advised two leading FMCG companies on their day-to-day operations in Vietnam, commercial contracts with customers and service providers, advertising and promotion, antitrust, and termination of employment.
Advised a leading Asian airline on the operation of their representative office in Vietnam and the group’s loyalty campaign.
Advised a Japanese tobacco company and a multinational insurance company on building up the dawn raid policies for their Vietnam entities.
Advised banking and non-banking credit institutions in their banking products (e.g., entrustment lending, discounting, and factoring) and compliance matters (such as anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing).
Advised foreign investors on setting up their Vietnamese entities which engage in manufacturing of electronic devices and software, and corporate governance in Vietnam.

ABOUT Tram Ngoc Bich

Languages

Vietnamese

English

Education

LLM, University of the West of England (Bristol, U.K.)

LLB, Ho Chi Minh City University of Law

Insights

August 25, 2025

Vietnam’s Digital Tech Industry Law: Building the Future of AI, Chips, and Digital Assets

Artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, and digital assets are considered critical drivers of Vietnam’s future economic growth and are fundamental to the nation’s digital transformation targets. These sectors form the core of Vietnam’s strategy to build a robust, globally competitive digital economy. This strategic direction gained substantial momentum with the issuance of the Law on Digital Technology Industry (DTI Law) on June 14, 2025. The DTI Law was designed to attract investment, stimulate innovation, cultivate high-quality human resources, and ensure the responsible, secure, and sustainable growth of digital technologies like AI and digital assets, harmonizing Vietnam’s digital industry with international standards while safeguarding public interests and national security. Several key provisions of the DTI Law took effect on July 1, 2025, and the law will become fully effective on January 1, 2026. The government is delegated to provide further necessary guidelines and details for implementation of the law. Artificial Intelligence (AI): Principle-Driven and Risk-Based Regulations Under the DTI Law, there are seven core principles guiding the development, provision, and use of AI which are applicable to AI developers, providers and deployers. These principles favor values-based governance over purely technical prescriptions, and include the following: Taking a human-centered approach that upholds ethical values, inclusivity, flexibility, equality, and non-discrimination. Ensuring transparency, accountability, and explainability, with AI systems remaining under human control. Maintaining cybersecurity and system safety. Adherence to data protection and privacy regulations. Having the ability to control AI algorithms and models. Effective risk management throughout the entire lifecycle of AI systems. Compliance with consumer protection laws and other relevant legal frameworks. AI system management follows a risk-based approach, with the law categorizing systems into high-risk, high-impact, and other groups. High-risk AI systems are those that, in certain applications, may pose significant threats or harm to individuals or the public interest while

August 21, 2025

Tilleke Adopts Harvey to Accelerate AI-Powered Legal Services across Southeast Asia

Tilleke & Gibbins is pleased to announce that the firm has adopted Harvey, a leading enterprise-grade AI platform for the global legal industry. The firm is proceeding with a rollout of Harvey’s legal AI solutions, which are supported by robust security and confidentiality protections, across the firm’s full-service regional practice in Southeast Asia. This initiative builds on the firm’s recent deployment of Microsoft Copilot and represents another advancement in Tilleke & Gibbins’ commitment to leveraging technology for enhanced legal service delivery. Under the program, legal professionals across the firm’s offices in Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam will have access to the full Harvey platform, equipping them to deliver practical, impactful, and results-driven legal services for clients throughout the region. The firm will also develop bespoke agentic workflows within Harvey tailored to the firm’s core practices and the unique requirements of Southeast Asian legal markets. Commenting on the initiative, Managing Partner Tiziana Sucharitkul stated, “At Tilleke & Gibbins, we have consistently invested in developing and adopting technology to improve the speed, precision, and overall excellence of our legal services. The firm’s decision to invest in Harvey exemplifies our commitment to innovation, further differentiating Tilleke & Gibbins within Southeast Asia’s legal landscape.” Managing Partner Darani Vachanavuttivong remarked, “By combining the deep regional expertise of our lawyers with Harvey’s market-leading domain-specific AI, we are empowering our regional team to streamline drafting, research, and review processes for complex legal matters, all while maintaining the high standards of quality and security our clients expect from us.” Harvey’s Chief Business Officer John Haddock added, “It’s clear Tilleke & Gibbins is investing heavily in innovation, and it’s clear their global clients will benefit significantly from their focus and investment. The Harvey team is thrilled to support the firm’s journey with our platform.”

August 1, 2025

ICLG Corporate Governance 2025 – Vietnam

Tilleke & Gibbins has contributed the Vietnam chapter to Corporate Governance 2025, part of the International Comparative Legal Guides (ICLG) series published by Global Legal Group. This respected guide offers comprehensive, jurisdiction-specific overviews of corporate governance laws and practices around the world. Each jurisdictional chapter follows a clear Q&A format, providing practical insights into critical issues such as: Sources of corporate governance regulation Shareholders’ rights, powers, and responsibilities Structure and duties of management bodies Stakeholder involvement in governance Transparency and reporting requirements ESG and sustainability-related obligations Cybersecurity and technology-related disclosures The Vietnam chapter was authored by Tram Ngoc Bich Nguyen, Truc Thi Thanh Tran, Dung Thi Phuong Le, and Quang Minh Vu, members of Tilleke & Gibbins’ corporate and commercial team in Ho Chi Minh City. The authors provide detailed analysis of Vietnam’s corporate governance framework, including recent developments such as the 2025 amendments to the Law on Enterprises requiring disclosure of ultimate beneficial ownership and the increasing emphasis on sustainable business practices and responsible corporate conduct. The chapter also discusses practical considerations for foreign investors in Vietnam, such as overlapping signing authorities between key company officers, enforcement of shareholders’ agreements, and disclosure obligations related to ownership and management roles. The complete Vietnam chapter is available as a PDF below. The Vietnam chapter—and the full Corporate Governance 2025 guide—are also freely available on the ICLG website.

July 18, 2025

Vietnam’s Legal Framework on Electric Vehicles Offers New Opportunities for Investors

Vietnam’s electric vehicle (EV) industry is experiencing rapid growth, driven by a strong wave of new legislation, strategic plans, and government incentives. The government’s clear commitment to electrification is attracting foreign investment, supporting advanced production, and reducing reliance on internal combustion engine (ICE) imports. Recent national strategies, sector regulations, and technical standards demonstrate a rare level of regulatory momentum in Southeast Asia, positioning Vietnam as a competitive player in the global EV supply chain and an attractive market for foreign investors. An overview of legal developments for the EV sector in Vietnam is presented below. National Action Program for Green Transportation A key driver of Vietnam’s EV growth has been the National Action Program for Green Transportation through 2050 stipulated in Decision No. 876/QD-TTg of the prime minister dated July 22, 2022. The National Action Program sets a detailed roadmap for the green energy transition in road transport. For the period 2022–2030, the focus is on promoting the manufacturing, assembly, import, and conversion of road motor vehicles to electric power, expanding the use of 100% E5 gasoline for road vehicles, developing charging infrastructure to meet the needs of residents and businesses, and encouraging both new and existing bus stations and rest stops to meet green criteria. For the period 2031–2050, the roadmap aims to gradually restrict and ultimately cease by 2040 the manufacturing, assembly, and import of fossil fuel-powered cars, motorcycles, and mopeds for domestic use. By 2050, the goal is for 100% of road motor vehicles and construction vehicles participating in traffic to use electricity or green energy, for all bus stations and rest stops to meet green criteria, and for all machinery and equipment for loading and unloading to transition from fossil fuels to electricity or green energy. The program also calls for the completion of nationwide

Awards & Rankings

September 12, 2025

Tilleke & Gibbins Strengthens Position in IFLR1000 Asia-Pacific 2025/2026

The 2025/2026 edition of the IFLR1000 Asia-Pacific rankings, released by International Financial Law Review (IFLR), highlights Tilleke & Gibbins’ continued excellence in financial and corporate transactional work. The firm has maintained its strong rankings across multiple jurisdictions and practice areas while achieving notable upgrades and new recognitions, reaffirming its position as a leading firm in the Asia-Pacific region. This year, Tilleke & Gibbins received firmwide rankings in key jurisdictions, including: Thailand Banking & Finance—Tier 3 Capital Markets: Debt—Tier 3 Capital Markets: Equity—Tier 3 M&A—Tier 2 Project Development—Tier 2 Restructuring & Insolvency—Tier 3 Vietnam Banking & Finance—Tier 4 M&A—Tier 3 Project Development—Tier 3 Cambodia Financial & Corporate—Tier 2 Project Development—Tier 2 Laos Financial & Corporate—Tier 2 In addition to these firmwide rankings, Tilleke & Gibbins had several standout individual recognitions, with 12 lawyers honored in the 2025/2026 individual rankings—an increase from last year’s 10. This year’s results include upgraded rankings for John Frangos and new rankings for Charupat Boon-Long, Derrick Khoo, Prisna Sungwanna, and Saravut Krailadsiri. The full list is as follows: Charunun Sathitsuksomboon—Highly Regarded, M&A, Thailand; Women Leader Charupat Boon-Long—Rising Star, M&A, Thailand (new ranking) David Mol—Rising Star, Corporate and M&A, Cambodia Derrick Khoo—Rising Star (Partner), Financial and Corporate, Thailand (new ranking) Jay Cohen—Highly Regarded, Banking, Cambodia John Frangos—Highly Regarded, Restructuring & Insolvency, Thailand (upgraded ranking) Niti Muangkote—Rising Star, Financial & Corporate and Project Development, Laos; Highly Regarded, Banking & Finance, Thailand Prisna Sungwanna—Highly Regarded, Financial & Corporate, Laos (new ranking) Saithong Rattana—Notable Practitioner, Project Development and M&A, Laos Santhapat Periera—Highly Regarded, Banking & Finance and M&A, Laos; Highly Regarded, Banking & Finance, Thailand Saravut Krailadsiri—Notable Practitioner, Thailand (new ranking) Tram Ngoc Bich Nguyen—Highly Regarded, M&A, Vietnam To see the full set of IFLR1000 rankings for Tilleke & Gibbins’ jurisdictions, please see the Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam pages

May 13, 2025

Tilleke & Gibbins Named Among IHC Firms of the Year 2024 in Thailand and Vietnam

Tilleke & Gibbins has been recognized in the In-House Community (IHC) Firms of the Year 2024, earning accolades across 19 categories in Thailand and Vietnam. The results, based on surveys of in-house counsel across Asia, reflect client perspectives on the quality and responsiveness of legal services in key practice areas. The firm received 11 Firm of the Year awards and two honorable mentions in Thailand, along with six Firm of the Year awards in Vietnam. Notably, Tilleke & Gibbins was named “Most Responsive International Law Firm” in both jurisdictions—an acknowledgment that underscores the firm’s longstanding commitment to client service. Firm of the Year – Thailand Most Responsive International Law Firm Antitrust/Competition Banking and Finance Employment Energy and Projects Intellectual Property International Arbitration Litigation and Dispute Resolution Real Estate and Construction Taxation Technology, Media, and Telecommunications Honorable Mention: Capital Markets Honorable Mention: Corporate and M&A Firm of the Year – Vietnam Most Responsive International Law Firm Employment Intellectual Property International Arbitration Litigation and Dispute Resolution Technology, Media, and Telecommunications The IHC Firms of the Year rankings are determined through responses from thousands of in-house counsel and corporate decision-makers in Asia and the Middle East. Tilleke & Gibbins is honored to receive this recognition from the clients and peers it serves across the region.

May 9, 2025

Tilleke & Gibbins Earns Four ABLJ Vietnam Law Firm Awards

Tilleke & Gibbins has been recognized by Asia Business Law Journal (ABLJ) in its Vietnam Law Firm Awards 2025, which honor the best corporate law firms in Vietnam across a wide range of practice areas, based on votes, feedback, and qualitative information from in-house counsel and other legal professionals who participated in ABLJ‘s research. Tilleke & Gibbins was named a top-tier firm in four competitive categories: Data Compliance & Cybersecurity IP Litigation Employment Technology, Media & Telecoms (TMT) A publication of Law.asia featuring widely read editions in English, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean, ABLJ is a multilingual resource for general counsel at companies with operations in Asia. For more information on the Vietnam Law Firm Awards 2025 and browse the full list of recognized firms, please see the ABLJ website.

April 18, 2025

Tilleke & Gibbins Named 2025 ALB Employer of Choice in Thailand and Vietnam

Asian Legal Business has released its 2025 “Employer of Choice” rankings, and Tilleke & Gibbins has once again secured top honors as a premier employer in the legal sector in both Thailand and Vietnam. This marks the 13th consecutive year that the firm has been recognized as Employer of Choice in Thailand and the 11th time in Vietnam.

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