As part of Vietnam’s comprehensive judicial reform efforts, on 12 April2025, the Central Committee of the Communist Party issued Resolution No.60-NQ/TW, aiming to streamline the State apparatus, including the restructuring of the People’s Court system. Based on this Resolution, the Supreme People’s Court submitted to the National Assembly a Draft Law amending and supplementing several articles of the Law on the Organization of the People’s Courts, proposing a new three-tier court structure consisting of:

·      The Supreme People’s Court

·      Provincial-level People’s Courts

·      Regional People’s Courts (replacing district-and municipal-level courts)

This legal update outlines key points from the Draft Law, including:

Organizational Restructuring:

The existing High People’s Courts are to be abolished, and district-level courts will be consolidated into Regional People’s Courts with broader geographical jurisdiction. Certain regional courts may include specialized divisions such as Bankruptcy and Intellectual Property Courts.

Redefining Jurisdiction:

The Supreme People’s Court will take on appellate jurisdiction—previously handled by the High People’s Courts. Meanwhile, provincial-level courts will see their first-instance jurisdiction narrowed, but be granted additional authority to conduct cassation and reopening procedures for decisions made by regional courts.

Practical Impacts:

• Positive: A leaner court system, greater specialization in adjudication, improved operational efficiency, and support for digital transformation across the judiciary.

• Challenges: Potential overload during the transition period, access-to-justice concerns in remote areas, and the need for alignment across related legal instruments.

This marks one of the most significant reforms to the structure of the judiciary in nearly two decades and is expected to have far-reaching implications for dispute resolution practices in Vietnam.

This article was prepared by Ms. Luong Trung Van Nhi – Partner with Ms. Nguyen Yen Vy – Trainee Associate, LNT & Partners.

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