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Contract lawyers in Vietnam: what to know before you hire
A guide by LawzanaOfficial sources checked 28 October 2026.
Agree clear payment, delivery and dispute terms before signing. If a contract is breached, check notice deadlines and the dispute clause, then consider negotiation, mediation, court or arbitration.
This guide covers law and procedure in Vietnam.
Contract form
Depends on the deal
Oral agreements are possible, but special writing and notarization rules still apply. [1]
Civil contract claims
Usually three years
Count from when you knew or should have known your rights were infringed. [1]
Commercial claims
Usually two years
Count from infringement, except for the case in Article 237(1)(e). [2]
When a lawyer can help
Draft or review an agreement
You want clear terms for a sale, service, loan or lease before committing.
Handled by: Negotiate directly with the other party and check any special formalities before signing.
Lawyer recommended
Review the parties' capacity, payment terms, performance duties and dispute clause. [1]
Handled by:
Negotiate directly with the other party and check any special formalities before signing.
Lawyer recommended
Agree changes or bring a contract to an end
Both sides want to change the terms, or you want to leave an existing agreement.
Handled by: Seek an agreed amendment or termination first; use the contract's dispute route if agreement fails.
Lawyer recommended
Draft the amendment or exit terms and assess notice obligations before you stop performing. [1][3]
Handled by:
Seek an agreed amendment or termination first; use the contract's dispute route if agreement fails.
Lawyer recommended
Recover an unpaid private loan
A borrower has not repaid money that is due under your agreement.
Handled by: Seek repayment by agreement; prepare evidence to support any court claim.
Lawyer recommended
Organize proof of the loan, calculate the claim and prepare the court papers. [1][4]
Handled by:
Seek repayment by agreement; prepare evidence to support any court claim.
Lawyer recommended
Deal with defective goods or a supplier breach
Commercial goods are short, defective or delivered contrary to the agreement.
Handled by: Complain to the supplier within the applicable period, then negotiate, mediate or use court or arbitration.
Lawyer recommended
Prepare the complaint and assess performance, compensation and any agreed penalty. [2]
Handled by:
Complain to the supplier within the applicable period, then negotiate, mediate or use court or arbitration.
What experience do you have with agreements like mine?
How would you approach negotiation and a possible dispute?
Who would handle my matter day to day?
Can you explain the documents and communicate with me in English?
When could you start, and how would you keep me updated?
Can we meet remotely or in person?
What to bring
The draft or signed agreement, including attachments and amendments.
Relevant emails, messages and notices.
Invoices, receipts and payment records.
A short timeline and a note of the outcome you want.
Any court papers or settlement proposals you have received.
Costs and free help
Official charges and free public services
Ordinary first-instance private debt claim
VND 300,000 or 5% within these bands
For first-instance civil monetary claims, fees are VND 300,000 up to VND 6 million, or 5% of the full disputed value above VND 6 million through VND 400 million. If the entire claim succeeds, the defendant bears the fee, subject to exemption or non-liability. [8][7]
Advance for an ordinary civil monetary claim
50% of estimated fee, minimum VND 300,000
The court estimates the fee using the value of the disputed property the parties ask it to resolve. [7][8][4]
Questions about lawyer charges
Is there a charge for the first consultation?
Will you charge a fixed fee, an hourly rate or another basis?
What work, taxes and expenses would the quote include?
Can you provide a written scope and explain when additional charges could arise?
Recovering an unpaid private loan
1
Try to agree repayment
Propose a repayment amount and schedule. Record any agreement clearly before deciding whether to bring a claim. [1]
2
Prepare the claim and choose the court
Gather and submit proof of the loan and unpaid balance to support your court claim. [4]
3
Submit the petition and evidence
File the claim and available evidence directly at the court or by post. Electronic filing is another option where the court provides an online portal. [4]
4
Act on the court's fee notice
Unless exempt or not liable to pay, pay the advance and return the receipt within seven days of receiving the notice under Article 195. Missing this can lead to return of the claim, except where an objective obstacle or force majeure prevented compliance. [4]
5
Attend mediation and any trial
Take part in mediation if it is held. You can agree a lawful settlement voluntarily. If the dispute proceeds to trial, present the evidence supporting your claim. [4]
6
Appealing a first-instance judgment
15 days from pronouncement; justified absence at pronouncement: from receipt or posting. [4]
Common questions
Must every contract be written or notarized?
No. Civil transactions may be verbal, written or made through specific acts. Electronic data messages prescribed by electronic transaction law count as writing. Where the law requires writing, notarization, authentication, registration or permission for a transaction, those requirements must be followed. [1]
How long do I have to bring a contract claim?
For court disputes over contracts, the entitled party has three years from when they knew or should have known their lawful rights and interests were infringed. Commercial disputes have a two-year period from infringement, except the case under Article 237(1)(e) involving a logistics provider that, after a complaint, receives no notice of court or arbitration proceedings within nine months of delivery. Courts apply limitation only on a party's request made before the first-instance judgment or decision. [1][2]
Do commercial complaints have shorter deadlines?
Unless the parties agree a period, quantity complaints have three months from delivery and quality complaints six months from delivery. For goods under warranty, quality complaints have three months from warranty expiry. Other breach complaints have nine months from due performance or, for warranted goods, warranty expiry. Separate logistics provisions concern non-receipt of complaint notice within 14 days of delivery to the recipient and, after a complaint, non-receipt of notice of court or arbitration proceedings within nine months of delivery. [2]
Is an agreed commercial breach penalty unlimited?
No. An agreed contractual penalty, including the total for multiple breaches, is capped at 8% of the value of the breached obligation, except under Article 266. For a commercial inspection provider that negligently issues an incorrect inspection certificate, the agreed penalty cannot exceed ten times the inspection service fee. [2]
Can I end a civil contract without the other party's agreement?
Unilateral termination is permitted where the other party seriously breaches its contractual obligations, the parties have agreed to it or the law provides for it. Notify the other party immediately. Failure to notify makes you liable for resulting damage. Terminating without one of these grounds makes the terminating party the party in breach. [3][1]
Renewing a contract in Vietnam requires a formal written amendment or a new agreement to satisfy the Civil Code 2015 and Commercial Law 2005 requirements for validity.
Price adjustment clauses must be linked to objective indices ( such as the General Statistics Office of Vietnam's CPI) to remain enforceable during...
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Penalty Caps: Under the Commercial Law 2005, monetary penalties for breaches are capped at 8% of the value of the breached obligation portion, unless otherwise specified in specialized laws.
Arbitration Preference: International brands should favor the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre (VIAC) over local courts to ensure neutrality, confidentiality, and faster...
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Notice Periods: Employees can resign without cause by giving 30 to 45 days' notice. Employers cannot unilaterally dismiss you without legal grounds.
Visa and TRC Cancellation: Your Temporary Residence Card (TRC) and Work Permit expire when your employment ends. You must return them to your employer and secure an exit...
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