Legal Updates & Publications

On 10 December 2025, the National Assembly of Vietnam officially passed Law No. 108/2025/QH15 on Tax Administration (the Law on Tax Administration 2025) to replace Law No. 38/2019/QH14 on Tax Administration issued on 13 June 2019, as amended and supplemented by Law No. 56/2024/QH15 dated 29 November 2024 (collectively, Law on Tax Administration 2019). The Law on Tax Administration 2025 will take effect from 1 July 2026, save for the provisions in Article 13 and Article 26 respectively on the requirements of declaration, finalisation, deduction of tax and use of electronic invoices imposed upon business households and individual businesses, which will take effect from 1 January 2026. 

On 10 December 2025, the National Assembly of Vietnam passed the Law on Cybersecurity 2025 (Law on Cybersecurity 2025), which will come into force on 1 July 2026. The Law on Cybersecurity 2025 consolidates two cornerstone statutes, Law No. 86/2015/QH13, entitled the Law on Cyber-Information Security, passed by the National Assembly of Vietnam on 19 November 2015, as amended from time to time (Law on Cyberinformation Security 2015) and Law No. 24/2018/QH14, entitled the Law on Cybersecurity, passed by the National Assembly of Vietnam on 12 June 2018 (Law on Cybersecurity 2018), into a single, unified legal framework. 
 

On 10 December 2025, the National Assembly of Vietnam officially enacted the Law on Artificial Intelligence (Law on AI), which will come into force on 1 March 2026. The Law on AI is expected to establish a breakthrough legal framework for artificial intelligence (AI), with the aim of creating a favourable legal environment to promote innovation and enhance national competitiveness while managing risks, and protecting national interests, human rights and digital sovereignty. While the final promulgated version of the Law on AI has not yet been officially released, in this legal update, we will highlight notable provisions based on the latest draft Law on AI submitted for approval.

We are delighted to present our latest publication in our series of business guides - the Frasers Banking & Finance Guide. 

On 7 August 2025, the Government of Vietnam issued Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP (Decree 219) on the employment of foreign nationals in Vietnam. The decree took immediate effect, replacing Decree No. 152/2020/ND-CP (as amended by Decree No. 70/2023/ND-CP). Decree 219 marks a significant shift in policy, aimed at reducing administrative burdens and fostering the engagement of skilled foreign workers. The most notable reform is the consolidation of procedures, which has streamlined and shortened the work permit application process. Alongside this, the decree introduces reduced job posting requirements, expanded exemptions, and more flexible qualification standards — together signalling Vietnam’s intent to attract and retain talent in priority sectors such as science, technology, and innovation.

In an effort to further improve the procedural legal framework, enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of judicial activities, and solidify ongoing judicial reform directions, the National Assembly has passed the Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Civil Procedure Code, the Law on Administrative Procedures, the Law on Juvenile Justice, the Bankruptcy Law, and the Law on Mediation and Dialogue at Court (the Law Amending CPC).

On 24 June 2025, the National Assembly of Vietnam officially enacted Law No. 81/2025/QH15 on amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on the Organisation of People’s Courts (the Law Amending LOC), which came into effect on 1 July 2025. 
 

On 14 June 2025, the National Assembly of Vietnam officially passed the amended Law on Corporate Income Tax (the Amended CIT Law) with overwhelming support (94.56% approval). The new legislation introduces key reforms to enhance the transparency, effectiveness, and fairness of Vietnam’s corporate tax regime while promoting investment in priority sectors. 

On 17 June 2025, the National Assembly of Vietnam officially passed Resolution 204/2025/QH15 on Value Added Tax (VAT) reduction (Resolution 204), extending and broadening the scope of the temporary VAT reduction policy aimed at stimulating domestic consumption and supporting businesses. 

On 1 July 2025, the Government of Vietnam issued Decree No. 180/2025/ND-CP regulating mechanisms and incentives for public-private partnerships (PPP) in the areas of science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation (Decree 180). The Decree was issued pursuant to Resolution No. 193/2025/QH15 of the National Assembly (Resolution 193), which provides for special pilot mechanisms and policies to promote breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation. The Decree aims to utilise private sector resources in strategic sectors through varied PPP models, offering substantive incentives and clarity on intellectual property rights, revenue sharing, and access to data. It applies to central and local state agencies, public service units, as well as domestic and foreign organisations and individuals participating in investment activities, scientific research, technology development, innovation and digital transformation.

On 25 June 2025, during its 9^th session, the 15^th National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam officially passed Law No. 90/2025/QH15 (Law No. 90), marking a significant legislative milestone. This law introduces comprehensive amendments to eight foundational laws that govern Vietnam’s economic, investment, fiscal, and public procurement frameworks. The amendments reflect the Vietnamese Government’s ongoing commitment to institutional reform, enhanced legal consistency, and the promotion of innovation and private sector participation - particularly in sectors deemed critical to national development, such as science, technology, and digital infrastructure. Law No. 90 introduces amendments to the following legal instruments:

On 2 July 2025, following a phone call between Vietnam’s Party General Secretary To Lam and US President Donald Trump, both governments announced preliminary terms in their trade negotiations. The announcement came shortly before the original 9 July deadline, which President Trump extended to 1 August by executive order. The US will apply a 20% tariff on imports from Vietnam, replacing the previously proposed 46% rate, and a higher 40% tariff on goods classified as transshipments. In exchange, Vietnam will allow tariff-free access for certain US goods and commit to a reciprocal trade framework, with full details yet to be disclosed.

On 26 June 2025, the National Assembly of Vietnam officially enacted the Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL), which will come into force on 1 January 2026. Compared to Decree No. 13/2023/ND-CP of the Government dated 17 April 2023 on personal data protection (Decree 13), the PDPL provides clearer regulations to enhance the data privacy landscape in Vietnam while still ensuring the free flow of data. We highlight the key provisions introduced by the PDPL in our Legal Update.

We are pleased to present the first edition of our Vietnam Business Guide, drawing on over 30 years of practical legal experience advising local and international clients in Vietnam.

Explore our latest legal guides for practical insights into navigating transactions and doing business in Vietnam.

Vietnam Business Guide

Mergers & Acquisitions Guide     

Frasers Banking & Finance Guide

Further to our previous legal update on the Draft Law amending certain articles of the Law on Enterprises, the National Assembly, at its 9th session on 17 June 2025, has officially passed the Law No. 76/2025/QH15 on 17 June 2025 amending a number of articles of the Law on Enterprises No. 59/2020/QH14 (collectively, Amended Law on Enterprises), which will take effect on 1 July 2025.