You are using an outdated browser and your browsing experience will not be optimal. Please update to the latest version of Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. Install Microsoft Edge

//
//
Vietnam

Vietnam

With offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, our Vietnam team helps an expanding domestic and international client base profit from the country’s increasing competitiveness as an investment destination.

Vietnam Offices
Overview

Award-winning legal services in one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.

Tilleke & Gibbins has been present in Vietnam since 1992, when it became the first foreign law firm in the country to be granted a license to establish a representative office. Since then, with offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, our firm has grown in step with Vietnam’s vibrant economy, helping businesses capitalize on the abundant trade and investment opportunities fueled by the country’s economic and political reforms, as well as its accession to ASEAN, the WTO, and bilateral and multilateral treaties like the CPTPP and EVFTA.

We are now one of the largest and most well-known law firms in Vietnam, providing a full range of corporate legal services in the areas of commercial transactions and M&A, labor and employment, real estate, technology, franchising, dispute resolution, and more. Our award-winning intellectual property practice is widely recognized by global surveys and directories as one of the best in the country. Tilleke & Gibbins works with local partner T&G Law Firm LLC (TGVN), a licensed Vietnamese law firm and IP agent, for litigation in Vietnamese courts, as well as filings with the IP office. Our close collaboration with TGVN helps to greatly improve efficiency while simultaneously reducing costs for our clients.

Experience

  • Assisted a Singapore-based e-commerce marketplace operator with due diligence, documentation preparation, and filings in relation to its acquisition of/merger with an online classifieds company, a deal that valued the combined company at USD 850 million.
  • Provide regular assistance to a global social media giant (both directly and in collaboration with other law firms worldwide) with a constant stream of legal issues concerning the company’s ongoing operations and new initiatives in Vietnam, including reviewing contracts and user agreement, and advising on numerous issues related to data privacy, processing, and protection.
  • Assisted an Indian IT company in successfully negotiating a settlement with a Vietnamese bank in a USD 10 million contract dispute related to the client’s provision of licensed banking software and related support services.
  • Successfully handled the Vietnam portion of one of 2017’s largest global mergers, assisting a multinational chemical manufacturing company in its acquisition of the assets of another chemical company’s Vietnam subsidiary as part of a chain of transactions resulting from a worldwide merger.
  • Advised a Chinese solar energy company and prepared the application dossier to incorporate its local entity to engage in the manufacturing, processing, and exporting of solar panels and modules in Vietnam.
  • Advised a technology incubator on establishing three separate WFOEs engaged in the import/export and distribution (wholesale and retail) of a variety of consumer products such as clothing and accessories, electronic devices, cosmetics, furniture, office supplies, toys, and household appliances via multiple branded retail websites.
  • Assisted a U.K. biotech company on a compliance investigation of three employees in Vietnam. We reviewed thousands of documents to find the wrongdoings and suggested remedies.
  • Advised an American financial services giant on regulatory requirements and draft legislation related to cybersecurity, payment services, and information networks.
  • Regularly advise clients on employee negotiations, disputes, and termination both in relation to existing litigation and in an effort to mitigate litigation risks.
  • Serve as lead external counsel on all legal matters in Vietnam for a multinational pharmaceutical company. Our work involves contract review, guidance on labor issues, and advice on regulatory affairs and Vietnam’s legal landscape.
  • Represented a world-leading manufacturer of coding, printing, and laser marking products and won a precedent-setting victory in which the court awarded record attorney’s fees to the plaintiff. Managing Intellectual Property magazine selected the victory as its Case of the Year for Southeast Asia in 2014.

PROFESSIONALS

RELATED INSIGHTS

July 23, 2026
Aviation law experts from Tilleke & Gibbins’ Vietnam offices have prepared the Vietnam chapter of Aviation Finance & Leasing 2026 from Chambers and Partners. Covering nearly 40 jurisdictions worldwide, the guide addresses key legal considerations for aircraft lessors, lessees, and financiers. Alongside the Vietnam chapter, Tilleke & Gibbins also provided the Thailand chapter for this year’s edition. The Vietnam chapter delivers detailed insights into the legal environment affecting aircraft sale and purchase, aircraft and engine leasing, and aircraft debt finance. Some of the topics it examines include: sale and lease agreement terms taxation lease registration and enforcement lease assignment/novation insurance and reinsurance debt structuring securities liens The guide also covers other issues influencing the day-to-day activities of aviation industry participants in Vietnam. Chambers and Partners’ Global Practice Guides provide in-house counsel with authoritative analysis of practical legal matters impacting business, enabling readers to compare legislation and relevant procedures across leading jurisdictions. The Vietnam chapter of Aviation Finance & Leasing 2026 is available as a PDF through the button below. The full guide can be accessed for free on the Chambers and Partners website.
July 14, 2026
Tilleke & Gibbins has contributed the Thailand and Vietnam chapters to Investigations in Southeast Asia, a comprehensive guide published by Drew Network Asia (DNA). The resource provides a practical overview of anticorruption laws, corporate investigations, and compliance frameworks across six key Southeast Asian jurisdictions. Designed for in-house counsel, compliance officers, and risk management professionals, the guide offers actionable insights for navigating complex cross-border regulatory challenges and establishing effective, regionally coordinated compliance and investigation strategies. The guide begins with a regional perspective on enforcement trends and cross-border cooperation initiatives. Jurisdiction-specific chapters follow a standardized structure—covering primary corruption offenses, enforcement authorities, corporate liability, investigation procedures and dawn raids, whistleblower protections, and recommended compliance measures. In addition to country-by-country analysis, the publication highlights best practices for conducting internal investigations, managing digital evidence, and handling parallel proceedings involving multiple regional or international regulators. The guide serves as a practical reference for organizations operating in Southeast Asia. Because legal and regulatory risks depend on specific industry sectors and operational contexts, readers seeking tailored advice are encouraged to contact the authors listed in each chapter. The full guide is available for download through the button below or directly from the DNA website.
July 13, 2026
When Decree No. 186/2026/ND-CP (Decree 186) takes effect on July 15, 2026, it will introduce the most significant reform of Vietnam’s administrative IP enforcement framework since Decree 99/2013/ND-CP was issued in 2013. These changes are expected to make administrative enforcement faster, more accessible, and better suited to the realities of modern IP disputes. Below are the principal reforms and their practical implications for rights holders and enforcement practitioners. The End of Notarization and Consular Legalization Among the most welcome procedural changes is the abolition of the notarization and consular legalization requirement for powers of attorney (POA) submitted in administrative enforcement proceedings. Under the previous regime, foreign rights holders were generally required to execute a POA, then have it notarized and consular legalized (if seeking customs recordal). In practice, this process frequently delayed enforcement by four to eight weeks, often long enough for infringing goods to disappear before authorities could intervene. Decree 186 removes this bottleneck, now requiring only an original or certified copy of the POA. If the document is in a foreign language, a Vietnamese translation is sufficient, provided it is certified by a competent authority or confirmed by the authorized Vietnamese IP representative. Consular legalization and notarization are no longer required. For rights holders, the practical impact is substantial. Administrative enforcement files that previously took weeks to prepare can now be completed in a matter of days, allowing much faster responses in time-sensitive matters such as warehouse raids, border interventions, and trade-fair enforcement. The decree also introduces a useful administrative simplification. Where an original POA has already been submitted to the same enforcement authority and remains valid, applicants may rely on a copy of that earlier submission by identifying the previous case file. This eliminates unnecessary duplication for rights holders pursuing multiple enforcement actions before the same
July 10, 2026
Vietnam has taken a significant step in regulating its e-commerce sector with the issuance of a new decree guiding the country’s recently enacted Law on E-Commerce. Decree No. 248/2026/ND-CP, issued on June 30, 2026, and taking effect the following day, addresses mandatory platform policies, registration requirements for offshore platforms, additional obligations on platform operators, and market access conditions for foreign investors. Mandatory Policy Contents The decree sets out detailed guidance on the required contents of various platform policies, covering pricing, payment, display priority, livestream sales, delivery, returns, method of service provision, and service termination and refunds. Clarification of Obligations for Platform Operators The decree provides clarification of the obligations applicable to platform operators. Notably, intermediary e-commerce platform operators with online ordering functions must: Collect specific information to implement electronic identity verification of sellers; Cooperate with regulators by reporting online through the state e-commerce management system and by blocking, suspending, or removing content upon request of a competent authority; Maintain a mechanism to store contract data, including price, product or service information, and parties’ information, for at least three years from the date of contract conclusion; and If qualifying as a “large digital platform” under consumer protection law, maintain an online system for receiving and handling complaints and requests, and comply with enhanced content-removal requirements. Registration Requirements for Offshore Platforms Offshore e-commerce platforms, whether direct-sales, intermediary, social-network-based, or integrated, that conduct e-commerce activity in Vietnam must register with the Ministry of Industry and Trade if the platform: Allows Vietnamese-language selection; Uses a “.vn” domain; or Reaches 100,000 or more transactions with Vietnam-based buyers within a calendar year. Notably, the registration requirement now captures not only traditional intermediary platforms, but also direct-sales platforms. Foreign Investment Conditions Foreign investors holding a controlling interest in an intermediary e-commerce platform, a social media platform
AWARDS & RANKINGS
April 16, 2026
Tilleke & Gibbins has been recognized in the In-House Community (IHC) Firms of the Year 2025, with acknowledgments across a broad range of practice areas in Thailand and Vietnam. The results are based on feedback from in-house counsel across Asia Pacific, reflecting client perspectives on the quality and responsiveness of legal services. In Thailand, the firm received recognition in 13 categories, including 12 Firm of the Year awards and one Honorable Mention. The Firm of the Year recognitions cover: Antitrust / Competition Capital Markets Corporate & M&A Employment Energy & Projects Intellectual Property International Arbitration Litigation & Dispute Resolution Restructuring & Insolvency Taxation Technology, Media & Telecommunications Most Responsive International Law Firm – Thailand The firm also received an Honorable Mention for Real Estate & Construction. In Vietnam, Tilleke & Gibbins was recognized in seven categories. The firm received Firm of the Year awards in: Employment Intellectual Property Litigation & Dispute Resolution Technology, Media & Telecommunications Most Responsive International Law Firm – Vietnam In addition, the firm received Honorable Mentions for International Arbitration and Real Estate & Construction. The IHC Firms of the Year recognitions are based on voluntary survey responses, client feedback, testimonials, and independent research conducted by the IHC team, rather than a submission-based or benchmarking methodology. While not intended to be exhaustive, the results provide a useful snapshot of client sentiment within the in-house legal community. The full results are available on the IHC website.
March 9, 2026
Tilleke & Gibbins has been shortlisted in multiple firmwide and individual categories at the Legal 500 Southeast Asia Awards 2026, including Regional Firm of the Year, reflecting the firm’s work across Southeast Asia and the continued development of its regional practices. In the individual categories, Aye Thuzar Hlaing has been shortlisted for Myanmar Associate of the Year (Corporate and M&A), and Linh Duy Mai has been shortlisted for Vietnam Associate of the Year (Intellectual Property). Tilleke & Gibbins has also been shortlisted in the following firm categories: Regional Firm of the Year Thailand – Law Firm of the Year Thailand – Law Firm of the Year (Litigation) Myanmar – Law Firm of the Year Vietnam – Law Firm of the Year Vietnam – Law Firm of the Year (Labor and Employment) Laos – Law Firm of the Year The winners will be announced on April 30, 2026, at the Legal 500 Southeast Asia Awards ceremony in Singapore. To browse the full shortlist for the Legal 500 Southeast Asia Awards 2026, please see the Legal 500 website.

Hanoi Office

Hanoi Office

789 Office Building, 9th Floor, 147 Hoang Quoc Viet Street, Nghia Do Ward, Hanoi

Ho Chi Minh City Office

Ho Chi Minh City Office

Viettel Tower A, 25th Floor, Suite 2506, 285 Cach Mang Thang Tam Street, Hoa Hung Ward, Ho Chi Minh City