Vietnam: Disputes arising from NDA – who volunteers to put “Wukong’s magical circlet” on?

Reading Time: 7 minutesIn the case of a company that has sued its employee (“Employee”) for breaching a Non-Disclosure and Non–Competition Agreement limiting the Employee from working for the company’s competitors (non–competition agreement), several controversial assessments and legal precedents have followed. As made by the Commercial Arbitration Council (CAC), these have delivered different opinions to the concerned parties, […]

Vietnam: When subsidiaries go bankrupt – can creditors “seek compensation” from parent companies?

Reading Time: 6 minutesIt is normal and recommended to allow a subsidiary which operates ineffectively and falls into insolvency to go bankrupt for the sake of a healthy business environment. However, except for subsidiaries which are only the front companies to conceal non-transparent or illegal business activities of parent companies, the bankruptcy of an enterprise causes losses to […]

Vietnam: May the buffalo sue the tractor?

Reading Time: 5 minutesThe panel hearing the case between Vinasun and Grab appears to be taking the more prudent approach before giving a ruling. It has adjourned the first-instance hearing until 22/11/2018; to have more time to verify and collect evidence before providing its conclusion regarding the alleged VND41 billion damage suffered by Vinasun. However, whatever the result […]

Vietnam: “Battle” against plastic carrier bags: Experience from England

Reading Time: 5 minutesIncreasing the environmental protection tax rate in regards to production from VND40,000 up to VND200,000/kilogram of produced plastic carrier bags as drafted by the Ministry of Finance appears to only make an impression on figures. Since the end of the period of 2014-2016, during a training course at a UK university, I have witnessed an […]

Vietnam: Work Permit – The Key Point in Resolving Labour Disputes with Foreign Employees

Reading Time: 9 minutesOne of the requirements for foreigners to work in Vietnam is to be granted a work permit by the competent Vietnamese authorities (Article 169.1.(d) of the 2012 Labor Code).  However, due to the practical, day-to-day demands of business, many companies do not comply with this regulation and often sign labor contracts with foreign employees without […]

Vietnam Legal Alert: New Regulations Further Restrict the Scope of Local Lending in Foreign Currency

Reading Time: 2 minutesThe State Bank of Vietnam (the “SBV”) issued Circular No. 42/2018/TT-NHNN dated 28 December 2018 (“Circular 42”) that amends and supplements specific articles of Circular No. 24/2015/TT-NHNN of the SBV dated 8 December 2015 (“Circular 24”) regulating lending in foreign currencies to resident borrowers by credit institutions and foreign bank branches established and operating in […]

Vietnam Legal Update: Proposed New Solar Feed-In-Tariff

Reading Time: 4 minutesOn 22 February 2019, the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam (the “MOIT”) publicized a draft Decision (the “Draft Decision”) that will replace Decision No. 11/2017/QD-TTg issued by the Prime Minister of Vietnam dated 11 April 2017 ( “Decision 11”) on mechanisms to encourage the development of solar power projects in Vietnam. The Draft […]

Vietnam Legal Update: New Competition Law Will be Effective Soon

Reading Time: 6 minutesOn July 1, 2019, the new Law on Competition (“2018 Law”) will take effect and it has some significant differences from the existing Law on Competition (“2014 Law”).  While certain details are yet to be determined, below we will outline some of the significant differences that businesses should note between the two laws.  In addition, […]

Vietnam Legal Update: Changes To Wind and Solar Power Feed-in-Tariff Deadlines

Reading Time: 2 minutesOn 10 September 2018, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 39/2018/QD-TTg (“Decision 39”), amending Decision No. 37/2011/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister dated 29 June 2011 on mechanisms to support the development of wind power projects in Vietnam. Under Decision 39, the wind FIT (excluding VAT) will be VND 1,928 per kWh (equivalent to US cents […]

Vietnam Legal Updates: Bankruptcy Settlement Procedures

Reading Time: 3 minutesThe Ministry of Justice, the Supreme People’s Procuracy and the Supreme People’s Court issued Joint Circular No. 07/2018/TTLT-BTP-VKSNDTC-TANDTC dated 12 June 2018, on cooperation in enforcement of court’s decisions on bankruptcy settlements (“Joint Circular 07”), which came into effect on 1 August 2018. Joint Circular 07 sets forth new guidelines on cooperation in the procedures […]