On the morning of May 26, 2026, within the framework of Vietnam ADR Week 2026 (Vietnam ADR Week 2026 – VAW 2026) co-organized by the Vietnam International Arbitration Center (VIAC) and the Vietnam Lawyers Association, the Workshop "Resolving International Trade Disputes in the Context of Fluctuating Global Trade - Trends & Positioning Vietnam's Role" officially opened in Hanoi.
The event attracted a large number of delegates from state agencies, international organizations, law firms, businesses, and domestic and international experts. In particular, nearly 20 regional arbitration and mediation organizations came to Vietnam to attend the Conference.
Speaking at the opening of the Conference, Prof. Dr. Le Hong Hanh - Chairman of the Vietnam International Arbitration Center (VIAC) emphasized that the world is entering a special time when the global trade architecture is being reshaped by geopolitical competition, rapid restructuring of the global supply chain and the strong rise of technology. Vietnam is standing at the center of these movements.
With an economy that has surpassed the 500 billion USD mark and growth prospects among the most dynamic in Asia, Vietnam is not only an observer but also an active participant in global change. The increase in foreign investment and the depth of trade relations also lead to an increase in the scale and complexity of trade disputes. This poses an increasingly high requirement for dispute resolution mechanisms: to be effective, flexible and capable of creating results that are not only legally correct but also have practical trade significance," Prof. Dr. Le Hong Hanh emphasized.
Immediately after the opening ceremony, the Workshop recorded an important milestone with the signing of the Cooperation Agreement (MOU) between VIAC and international arbitration organizations, including the Singapore International Arbitration Center (SIAC), the Korea Commercial Arbitration Council (KCAB) and the Myanmar International Arbitration Center (MIAC). This activity continues to affirm VIAC's efforts to expand its international cooperation network, promote connection with the regional and international arbitration community, and contribute to enhancing Vietnam's position on the international trade dispute resolution map.
The focus of the Workshop is the Discussion Session with the theme "Positioning Vietnam in the regional arbitration picture: Development progress, potential and forward direction", under the coordination of Mr. Vu Anh Duong - Standing Vice President cum Secretary General of VIAC.
The discussion session gathered experienced experts and practitioners in the field of arbitration and ADR, including Mr. Christopher Wing TO; Ms. Dinh Anh Tuyet - Founding and Executive Lawyer of IDVN Law Office, VIAC Arbitrator; Mr. Nguyen Van Hue - Member of the Standing Committee, Head of the Research, Development and Dissemination of Law Department, Vietnam Lawyers Association; and Mr. Dang Xuan Hop - Chairman of HopDang’s Chambers, VIAC Arbitrator.
In the context of international arbitration activities continuing to shift strongly to the Asian region, the discussion session brought many multi-dimensional perspectives on Vietnam's current position on the regional arbitration map and development prospects in the coming time. The speakers said that Vietnam is facing many favorable opportunities to become an attractive destination for international trade dispute resolution activities, thanks to a highly open economy, an increasingly large role in the global supply chain, and the continuous improvement of the legal environment and ADR ecosystem.
Besides that potential, experts also frankly exchanged views on the requirements set for Vietnam in the next stage, from continuing to improve the legal framework, improving the quality of the team of arbitrators and lawyers, to strengthening professionalism, transparency and efficiency in arbitration proceedings.
Many opinions also emphasized the important role of support from the judicial system, as well as the requirement to build sustainable trust from the business community and international investors if Vietnam wants to improve its competitiveness with major arbitration centers in the region. The workshop recorded many multi-dimensional contributions from domestic and international delegates, thereby contributing to opening up more perspectives and orientations for the development of arbitration and ADR in Vietnam in the coming time.
