The Specialised Court within Vietnam’s International Financial Center (SC) is one of the new dispute resolution mechanisms introduced under Resolution 222/2025/QH15. It is expected to become a superior legal instrument that enhances the attractiveness of Vietnam’s International Financial Center by establishing a specialised, transparent, and internationally aligned judicial system.
On October 6, 2025, the Supreme People’s Court organised a Seminar to gather opinions on the Draft Law on Specialised Court, with participation from leaders of the Supreme People’s Court, central ministries, domestic and international experts.
Lawyer Nguyen Manh Dung took part in the event and presented his paper on the application of substantive and procedural law, as well as procedural rules of the Specialised Court. From a professional perspective, Mr. Dzung provided comments on several specific issues:
1. Procedural Rules and Litigation Procedures at the SC
Drawing on experience from models such as the Singapore International Commercial Court (SICC) and the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts, Mr. Dzung proposed that the SC should be empowered to issue its own detailed procedural rules, based on general principles and foundational provisions set out in the Law.
He also emphasised that the SC should adopt widely used procedures in common law systems, such as Case Management Conferences (CMC), cross-examination, and evidence disclosure, etc. — procedures that are currently missing or inconsistent with international standards in the present draft.
2. Application of Substantive Law
Mr. Dzung suggested that the SC should apply the principle of the “Proper Law of Contract” where parties have made such a choice, and recommended amending current provisions to ensure that the Specialised Court can apply substantive laws suitable for international commercial transactions and judicial practices that international judges are accustomed to.
Mr. Dzung’s contributions were highly appreciated for their practicality, feasibility, and alignment with international integration trends. His insights are expected to assist in the development and promulgation of the Law on Specialised Courts and related regulations and rules — ensuring they are in line with international practices while fitting Vietnam’s context. This would help the the Specialised Court model operate effectively in practice, contributing to Vietnam’s emergence as a comprehensive and competitive regional dispute resolution center.
Read Mr Nguyen Manh Dzung’s full paper here.
