1. As New Growth Poles Converge, Institutional Requirements Arise from Day One
On 26 and 27 October 2026, Attn. Truong Trong Minh, Senior Associate – representing CDLAF, together with his colleagues, attended the Autumn Economic Forum 2026 (AEF 2026), hosted by Ho Chi Minh City, as delegates. The Autumn Economic Forum 2026 (AEF 2026) is taking place from October 26 to 29 in Ho Chi Minh City under the theme “The Convergence of New Global Growth Engines”. According to the organizers, the forum connects investment capital, technology and innovation, and brings together approximately 1,500 domestic and international delegates. The program on October 27 comprises 16 thematic sessions covering artificial intelligence (AI), the circular economy, ESG and green logistics, and the organizers expect to announce around 12 investment projects with a combined value of more than USD 13 billion.
From a legal perspective, these growth poles do not exist in isolation. A single technology project may involve data, intellectual property, foreign investment, finance and environmental standards at the same time, which means regulations from multiple fields apply concurrently. The legal framework therefore needs to be clearly defined from the earliest stage. In our work advising foreign investors, we have found that this is a priority from the very first discussions, often even before the question of investment incentives.
2. How Institutions and Law Affect Growth
This relationship can be examined through three factors, each influencing a specific set of business decisions.
1. Transparency. Businesses need to know which regulations apply, what conditions they must meet and which authority has jurisdiction, so that they can determine the documentation, timeline and compliance costs before preparing their financial plans.
2. Predictability. For long-term projects, businesses must assess how legal changes may affect timelines and costs. Predictability does not mean that the law cannot change. It means that changes should be published and clarified in a timely manner, with reasonable transition periods.
3. Effective enforcement. Regulations create value only when they are applied consistently across agencies and localities, and when disputes arise, the parties have a clear basis on which to protect their lawful rights and interests.
These requirements are consistent with the direction of Resolution No. 66-NQ/TW dated April 30, 2025, on improving the quality of law-making and law enforcement, and Resolution No. 68-NQ/TW on private sector development, both of which emphasize freedom of business and the investment environment.
3. Each Growth Pole Raises Its Own Legal Issues
Technology, AI and data. Businesses need to determine intellectual property ownership, how data is collected and used, security measures, and liability in the event of an incident. The Law on Personal Data Protection (Law No. 91/2025/QH15) took effect on January 1, 2026, and the Law on Artificial Intelligence (Law No. 134/2025/QH15) took effect on March 1, 2026. The Law on Artificial Intelligence contains separate transitional provisions for systems already in operation before its effective date, so businesses need to identify which category their systems fall into.
Finance, investment and international cooperation. The parties need to clarify investment conditions, governing law and the method of dispute resolution. Resolution No. 222/2025/QH15, effective September 1, 2025, establishes a dedicated framework for International Financial Centres in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, including a specialized court and an international arbitration center. This framework applies within the centres and does not automatically apply to every investment transaction in Vietnam. For other projects, the governing law and dispute resolution mechanism still need to be specifically agreed in the contract.
Green transition and supply chains. Businesses engaged in the circular economy or green logistics typically need to define their environmental obligations, the technical standards in their contracts, and the responsibility of each party when one link in the chain fails to meet requirements.
4. Legal Trust Is Built on Concrete Details
Consider a hypothetical scenario. A Vietnamese manufacturer of components wants to become a supplier to a foreign partner. In addition to quality and price, the partner may ask the manufacturer to demonstrate lawful rights to use the software employed in production, commit to protecting confidential technical information, clearly define liability for non-conforming shipments, and specify which law governs disputes and which body will resolve them.
Without the corresponding records, internal processes and contract clauses, the company may lose a partnership opportunity even though its product meets the requirements. This is an illustration only, and the legal conclusion in any given case depends on the specific facts and applicable regulations.
At the early stage of a project, our work mainly involves helping investors identify the applicable legal framework, the required conditions and procedures, and assess risks arising from regulations that are in a transitional period. We also work with clients to draft contract terms, define data and intellectual property obligations, and select a dispute resolution mechanism from the outset, so that initial institutional barriers are addressed before business commitments are made.
5. From Converging Resources to Sustainable Cooperation
Sustainable growth is the result of contributions from both sides. The State needs to build and enforce a legal framework that is transparent and predictable, while businesses need to proactively comply, manage risks and honor their commitments.
The convergence of new growth poles opens up many opportunities, but for those opportunities to become lasting value, a trusted institutional foundation is needed, along with players who are ready to act within the framework of the law. The spirit of this year’s forum is to strengthen the capacity of domestic businesses to cooperate with global partners in the new era. In the next article, CDLAF will examine the legal conditions that allow international cooperation between the parties to move beyond the commitment stage.
📩 BOOK A CONSULTATION WITH CDLAF’S LEGAL TEAM
Do not let procedural errors disrupt your business plans. Contact CDLAF today to receive a preliminary risk assessment from our team of Lawyers:
Hotline/Zalo: [+84 909 668 216]
Email: info@cdlaf.vn
Why choose CDLAF’s service?
- We provide effective and comprehensive legal solutions that help you save money and maintain compliance in your business;
- We continue to monitor your legal matters even after the service is completed and update you when there are any changes in the Vietnamese legal system;
- Our system of forms and processes related to labor and personnel is continuously built and updated and will be provided as soon as the customer requests it;
- As a Vietnamese law firm, we have a thorough understanding of Vietnam’s legal regulations, and grasp the psychology of employees, employers, and working methods at competent authorities;
- CDLAF’s team of lawyers has many years of experience in the field of labor and enterprises, as well as human resources and financial advisory.
- Strict information security procedures throughout the service performance and even after the service is completed.
You can refer for more information:
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- Mechanism For Disputes Settlement, Protection Of Interests And Divestment Of Minority Shareholders
- Arbitrability: Notes For Enterprises When Choosing Arbitration As A Dispute Resolution Mechanism
- Defective Arbitration Clause: Handling Guidelines And Solutions For Enterprises
- Validity of Arbitration Agreements: Notes for Enterprises
- Estimating the Cost of Closing an FDI Enterprise – Why a Legal & Tax Health Check Is Needed Before Filing for Dissolution
