How to Determine Penalty and Compensation for Damages from Breach of Commercial Contract?

When drafting a contract, especially a commercial business contract, in addition to basic provisions such as the object, scope of the contract, value and payment method, rights and obligations of the parties, dispute settlement, information confidentiality, and the regulations on the penalty for a breach of the contract and damage compensation are also very important.

Penalty for a breach of the contract

Under the provisions of the Commercial Law 2005, penalty for a breach means that the breaching party must pay a sum of money to the aggrieved party due to the breach of the violating party if the parties agree in the contract on the fine for a breach. Thus, the penalty for a breach only arises when there is a breach of the contract by the violating party and the parties have agreed on the penalty.

The law gives the right to agree on sanctions for violations to contractual parties, but this freedom to negotiate is limited. Specifically, the parties are only allowed to agree to a maximum penalty of 8% of the breached contractual obligation value, except traders providing assessment services issue assessment certificates showing incorrect results caused by their unintentional faults, they must pay penalty therefor to customers. The penalty level shall be agreed upon by the parties but must not exceed ten times the assessment service charge. In fact, the dispute settlement agency also bases on the prescribed limit of the law to handle; therefore, even if the parties agree to a higher penalty for a breach, it is not applicable in practice.

Compensation for damage

Compensation for damage means a remedy whereby the breaching party pays compensation for the loss caused by a contract-breaching act to the aggrieved party. The basis for arising damages is a breach of the contract; there is material loss and act of breaching the contract is the direct cause of the loss. Difference from penalty for a breach, liability to compensate for damages caused by breaches of contract performance obligations arises even in cases where the parties do not have an agreement on this matter. Besides, the law does not provide any regulation to limit the amount of compensation; it is based on the actual damages that the aggrieved party can prove.

When participating in the transaction, if both types of sanctions are specified in the contract, they should clearly specify the basis for the amount of compensation for the damages and the penalty for violation.

In fact, there are many cases where the parties do not agree clearly or agree on the penalty but the amount of the penalty exceeds the prescribed level, the excess could be considered invalid. The parties should also note that there will be no agreement on late payment interest on the infringement penalty and the amount of compensation damages.

We help clients overcome cultural barriers and achieve their strategic and financial outcomes, while ensuring the best interest rate protection, risk mitigation and regulatory compliance. ANT lawyers have Attorneys in Hanoi, Attorneys in Ho Chi Minh and Attorneys in Danang, will help customers conveniently drafting contracts and assist in resolving contract disputes

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Buy Apartment in Vietnam

In the complicated situation of the Covid-19 epidemic, the Government continued to implement policies to restrict entry to Vietnam, thus many transactions were canceled or delayed. That has caused many obstacles for foreign individuals and organizations wishing to perform transactions in Vietnam. We refer to the transfer of home ownership for foreign individuals who cannot enter Vietnam to participate in signing transfer contracts and other related transactions i.e. sell or buy an apartment or a house located in Vietnam.

Pursuant to the law on housing, foreign organizations and individuals have the right to own house in Vietnam, before the time limit of the homeownership, the homeowner is entitled to gift or sell their house(s) to entities eligible for the homeownership in Vietnam; if not, their house(s) shall be under ownership of the State. Regarding the house ownership term, if a foreign organization or individual sells or gifted to a domestic organization, household, individual, or a Vietnamese citizen residing overseas, the buyer or recipient will acquire a long-term ownership of the house. If the house is sold to a foreign organization or individual eligible to own housing in Vietnam, the buyer or recipient may own the house for the remaining period. When this period expires, if the owner wishes to have this period extended, the State shall consider granting an extension. The seller or giver must pay tax and other amounts to state budget as prescribed by Vietnam’s law.

In accordance with the law on housing transactions, the seller or transferor of the commercial house sale and purchase contract must meet the following conditions:

-He/she is the homeowner, or the person permitted and authorized by the homeowner to enter into housing as prescribed in this Law and law on civil; if the agreement of commercial housing is transferred, he must be the buyer for housing of the investor or the transferee of the agreement on housing sale;

-If the entity is a person, he must have full civil capacity to enter into transactions in housing as prescribed in law on civil; if the entity is an organization, it must have legal personality.

Article 195 of the 2015 Civil Code stipulates: “A person who is not an owner of property has the right to dispose of property only under the authorization of the owner or according to the provisions of law.”

Clause 2 Article 55 of the Law on Notarization 2014 stipulates: “In case both the authorizing party and authorized party cannot appear together at the same notarial practice organization, the authorizing party shall request the notarial practice organization of the place of residence of the authorizing party to notarize the authorization contract; the authorized party shall request the notarial practice organization of the place of residence of the authorized party to further notarize the original of this authorization contract and complete procedures for notarization of the authorization contract.”

In order to perform the house purchase and sale transaction or in other words to buy a apartment or sell a house in Vietnam, the parties to the house transaction need to agree to make a sale contract or a document on the transfer of a commercial house sale and purchase contract. In case a foreign house owner cannot enter directly to sign a contract, he/she may authorize another individual or organization in Vietnam to perform instead. However, the authorization document needs to be notarized at the competent authority. In case a power of attorney is notarized at a competent agency in a foreign country, it is required to be notarized, legalized, and authenticated in accordance with regulations of the foreigner country (apostille) before that document can be used in Vietnam.

ANT Lawyers is a Law firms in Vietnam ​located in the business centers of Hanoi, Danang and Ho Chi Minh City. We provide convenient access to our clients. Please contact us to book your time in advanced to let us provide our best service.

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Five types of real estate contracts abolished mandatory notarization procedure

According to the regulation of Civil Code 2015, some of the transactions which are required to implement the process of notarization and registration according to the regulation of the laws. As real estate transactions are normally at high value, the process of notarization and registration would help parties involved to be protected from falsified transactions.

As the stipulated in the Real estate trading 2014, the real estate trading agreement must be made in writing. The agreement notarizing or authenticating shall be discussed by contracting parties. However, the real estate trading agreement in which on building sale or lease purchase agreements or land transfer agreements concluded by households and individuals who conduct small-scale or irregular transactions of real estate sale, transfer, lease-out, and lease purchase shall not be required to set up enterprises, but they shall make tax declaration as prescribed need to be implemented the mandatory notarization procedure.

The procedure and dossier for notarization the real estate agreement will be implement according to the regulations of Law on notarization 2014.

Our real estate lawyers in Vietnam recommend client to have house leasing contracts voluntarily notarized to better protect their interests in disputes or any future issues.

For more information or legal advice in real estate transactions, we are glad to assist. ANT Lawyers, your lawyers in Vietnam

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What Are Regulations on Debt Trading Contracts in Vietnam?

Along with the development of socio-economic activities, right to collect debt has become an asset right, hence its transferability is also recognized. Vietnam law recognizes debt as a commodity that can be traded through a debt trading contract. However, in order for the debt trading contract to be legally valid and ensure the rights and obligations are enforced, the parties need to pay attention to the provisions on the debt trading contract.

Firstly, in terms of the right to enter into a debt trading contract, according to the provisions of the Civil Code on the sale and purchase of property rights, the property right is the right to claim debt in Vietnam. Accordingly, the right to recover debt becomes the subject of a contract that the parties can transfer as if it were a special type of property. In addition, the debt trading contract aims to transfer ownership of the right of debt recovery and at the same time transfer the debt seller’s obligations to the debt purchaser. This is a transaction that does not affect the interests of the debtor totally. Therefore, the transfer of the right to demand does not require the consent of the obligor, whereby the parties can enter into a debt trading contract without the consent of the debtor.

Secondly, in terms of the form of the debt trading contract, based on the provisions of law prescribing debt trading contract by credit institutions and foreign bank branches, debt trading contract is a written agreement on the transfer of the right to collect debt for a debt arising from a lending operation, payment on behalf of the guarantee, whereby the debt seller transfers ownership of the debt to the debt purchaser and receives payment from the debt purchaser. Therefore, the debt trading contract must be made as a written document.

Furthermore, the debt trading contract must be signed by the legal representative or the authorized representative of the debt purchase and sale parties. Therefore, according to this provision, the debt trading contract does not require the parties to be notarized or authenticated. If necessary, the parties can agree on the notarization or authentication of the debt trading contract. In addition, the parties can make an agreement that the contract can be made in a foreign language and the parties need to consent on which language of the contract will be used in case of a dispute arisen. In addition, in case the debt purchaser and debt seller are organizations with legal status, in addition to the legal representative to sign, the contract needs to be stamped. These are strict regulations on the established form to ensure the legality of the contract’s form.

Thirdly, when drafting a debt trading contract, it must contains the following principal contents: (i) Time for signing the debt trading contract; (ii) Names and addresses of the parties to the debt trading contract; (iii) Name and title of the representative of the parties to the debt trading contract; (iv) Name and address of the debtor and related parties (if any) to the purchased or sold debt; (v) Details of debt purchased and sold: Loan amount, loan period, purpose, book value of the debt up to the time of debt purchase and sale; (vi) Security measures for the debtor’s payment obligation for the purchased or sold debt (if any); (vii) Debt selling price, payment method, payment term; (viii) Time, method and procedures for transferring debt documents and records, including dossiers and documents on debt security (if any); The time the debt purchaser becomes the subrogator, the debt seller has obligations; (ix) Rights and obligations of debt sellers and debt buyers; (x) Liability of the parties for breach of contract; (xi) Settlement of arising disputes. These are the basic and mandatory contents of a debt trading contract. In addition, the parties can make agree on other contents in the debt trading contract that are not contrary to the provisions of the laws.

In addition, during the implementation of the debt trading contract, the law allows the parties to agree to amend, supplement or cancel the content of the debt trading contract. However, the decision to amend, supplement or cancel must be based on ensuring compliance with the provisions of law.

Therefore, the establishment of a debt trading contract in Vietnam is basically the same as other property rights transfer transactions. However, debt is a special object of property rights, therefore the parties need to strictly comply with the provisions of law on the content and form of the contract to ensure the legality of the contract as well as the rights and obligations of the parties. It is suggested to engage lawyers with specialization in debt recovery and dispute resolution to assist drafting or reviewing debt trading contract for its effective usage.

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Sport Betting in Vietnam

Law on amendments to Physical Training and Sports No. 26/2018/QH14 is in valid as of February 1st, 2019. The highlight that must be noted is sports betting as provided in Article 67a. This activity is officially governed by laws. Sports betting is a form of entertainment with rewards in which bettors predict the results of sporting events used for betting purpose.

The sports betting has a long history, but it had not been recognized by the State for a long time. Therefore, the betting was considered a violation of laws and was liable to administrative and criminal remedies. Before sports betting is restricted and just allowed to bet on horse racing, greyhound racing and pilot international soccer as specified in the Decree 06/2017/ND-CP effective from March 31st, 2017 on business of betting on horse racing, greyhound racing and international soccer. After the amendment law takes effect, the sports are allowed to bet will be extended according to the List of sports activities allowed to trade in betting issued by the Government.

What Conditions Required for Sports Betting?

Relating to condition of sports betting business in Vietnam, the enterprises need to be granted a certificate of eligibility for betting business. This is one of the conditional business lines under the strict management.

Regarding horse racing and greyhound racing, the enterprises need to obtain the Certificate of investment registration for the project for construction of horse and/or greyhound racecourses and the Certificate of eligibility for betting business. For horseracing, the charter capital requirement is VND 1 trillion ($44.2 million), while for greyhound racing it is VND 300 billion ($13.2 million). Locations of horse and/or greyhound racecourses are conformable to the socio-economic development planning of the area where such racecourses are located. Therefore, if the project attracts more than one investor, the investor for the project for the construction of horse racecourses and/or greyhound racecourses which covers the business of betting on horse racing and/or greyhound racing shall be selected through bidding process according to law.

Regarding international soccer, the procedures is similar to horse racing and greyhound racing. However, The Government allows one enterprise to pilot the business of betting on international soccer. The duration of pilot international soccer betting business shall be 05 years since the date on which the Certificate of eligibility for international soccer betting business is issued. After such period, the Government shall consider whether or not to continue the pilot international soccer betting business upon the assessment of the collected results. The list of international football matches and tournaments which are selected to provide the basis for the business of betting on international football is stipulated in the Decision No. 1064/QĐ-BVHTTDL issued by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Which Authorities Will Approve the Sports Betting Activities?

The Ministry of Finance will publicize the conditions, dossiers, procedures for organizing bidding to select enterprises to pilot international football betting business according to the provisions of law. To be able to participate in bidding, the enterprises need to meet the following conditions:

(1) The minimum charter capital shall be VND 1 trillion ($44.2 million)or an equivalent amount;

(2) Having a plan on investment in the technological system, technical equipment and business software to ensure their accurate, safe and stable operation;

(3) There shall be a feasible plan on the business of betting on international soccer and ticket selling methods and locations;

(4) Committing to community assistance.

There are 135 countries in the world officially legalizing sports betting activities. Betting is increasingly on the rise, along with the development of information technology and entertainment. In Vietnam, sports betting is put under the strict management.

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What Procedures an Enterprise Complies on Publishing Business Information?

Provisions on announcing of business information are stipulated in the Law on Enterprise and other decrees which company has to comply as part of compliance procedures.

After being granted an enterprise registration certificate, under the Enterprise Law, an enterprise must publicly announce it on the National Business Registration Portal according to the order, procedures and pay fees as required. The application for publication of enterprise registration information is a compulsory procedure, made at the time an enterprise submits its enterprise registration dossier. Information about publication of enterprise registration information is posted on the National Business Registration Portal. The content to be published includes the contents on the enterprise registration certificate and the lines of business. In addition, for joint stock companies with foreign investors, a list of founding shareholders and foreign investors is required. In case of changes in enterprise registration contents, the corresponding changes must be publicly announced on the National Business Registration Portal.

Provisions on form, time and content of announcement are different from those in the Law on Enterprise, specifically, within a period of thirty days from the date of being granted an enterprise registration certificate, an enterprise must publish information in one of the forms posted on the business information network of the business registration agency or one of the written or electronic newspapers in three consecutive issues. The main content to be published includes: Company’s name; Address of the head office of the enterprise, branch or representative office; Lines of business; Charter capital of limited liability company and partnership company; number of shares and value of contributed capital and number of shares to be issued with joint stock company; initial investment capital for private enterprises; legal capital for enterprises conducting lines of business requiring legal capital; Full name, address, nationality, ID card number, passport or other legal personal identification number, establishment decision number or business registration code of the owner, member or shareholder foundation; Full name, permanent address, nationality, ID card number, passport number or other legal personal identification of the legal representative of the enterprise; Place of business registration.

For publication fees, according to the provisions of Circular no. 47/2019/TT-BTC stipulating the rates, collection, payment, management and use of information provision charges of enterprise information that takes effect from the date of On September 20, 2019, the enterprise registration fee and the enterprise registration content announcement fee are VND 100,000/time, instead of the VND 300,000/time as stipulated in Circular no. 215/2016/TT-BTC regulating the rates, collection, remittance, management and use of charges for provision of enterprise information and enterprise registration fees.

In addition, there are some enterprises that do not need to publish their business information on the National Business Registration Portal before going into operation, but make other forms of announcement. For example, for a law-practicing organization, within thirty days after being granted operation registration papers, law-practicing organizations must publish on daily newspapers of central or local registry of law practice or newspaper for three consecutive issues. For credit institutions, foreign bank branches, representative offices of foreign credit institutions and other foreign institutions engaged in banking activities, they must be published on the State Bank’s media, and in a daily newspaper written in 03 consecutive issues or an electronic newspaper of Vietnam at least thirty days prior to the scheduled date of operation of opening information as prescribed in Article 25 of the Law on Credit Institutions 2010.

In addition to disclosing corporate information, there is also a procedure for disclosure of information on the stock market that is applicable to public companies and bond issuers (except for government bond issuers and bonds), government-guaranteed bonds and local government bonds), securities companies, fund management companies, branches of foreign fund management companies in Vietnam, public funds. These companies and organizations must comply with the law on securities in the Securities Law announcing on the company’s website and information disclosure system of the State Securities Commission.

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What Are New in Real Estate Trading Business From 2021?

The Law on Investment 2020 takes effect from January 1, 2021 with many new highlights, including the amendment of conditions for real estate business in the Law on Real Estate Trading 2014.

Specifically, amending regulations on real estate business conditions in the Law on Real Estate Trading 2014 as follows: “Any organizations and individuals trading in real estate must set up enterprises or cooperatives (hereinafter referred to as an enterprise), except for the case specified in Clause 2 of this Article. ”

Clause 1, Article 10 of the 2014 Law on Real Estate Business stipulates that “Any organizations or individuals wish to conduct real estate trading shall set up enterprises or cooperatives (hereinafter referred to as enterprises) and have legal capital not smaller than VND 20 billion, excluding cases prescribed in Clause 2 of this Article.”

In addition, the Law on Investment 2020 also amends regulations on the competence to permit the transfer of all or a portion of real estate projects. For real estate projects approved by investors or granted an investment registration certificate in accordance with the Law on Investment, the competence and procedures for the transfer of all or a portion of the project comply with regulations of the Law on Investment. For real estate projects not falling into the above cases, the competence to permit the transfer of all or a portion of real estate projects is as follows: Provincial People’s Committee decides to allow the transfer of all or a portion of the real estate projects for projects decided by the provincial People’s Committee to invest; The Prime Minister shall decide to permit the transfer of all or a portion of real estate project to projects for which the investment is decided by the Prime Minister.

In case organizations, households or individuals sell, transfer, lease, or lease purchase real estate on a small scale, rarely, it is not required for real estate enterprise to be set up, but they must declare and pay taxes according to the provisions of law.

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Capital Conditions in Air Transportation Business | ANT Lawyers

Air transportation is the conditional business line and conducted by air transportation enterprises. Air transportation business includes air transportation activity, advertising, marketing and sale of air transportation products on the market for the purpose of making profit.

Therefore, trading in this business line is subject to strict rules of law. The conditional business lines in the field of civil aviation are detailed in Decree 92/2016/ND-CP dated July 1st 2016.

Accordingly, in the field of air transportation, business must meet capital requirements as follows:

The minimum capital requirement to establish and maintain air transportation business:

Operating up to 10 aircrafts: 700 billion VND for enterprises engaging in international air transportation; 300 billion VND for enterprises only engaging in domestic air transportation;

Operating between 11 and 30 aircrafts: 1,000 billion VND for enterprises engaging in international air transportation; 600 billion VND for enterprises only engaging in domestic air transportation;

Operating more than 30 aircrafts: 1,300 billion VND for enterprises engaging in international air transportation; 700 billion VND for enterprises only engaging in domestic air transportation;

The minimum capital requirements to establish and maintain general air transportation business: 100 billion VND.

Air transportation business that has foreign investment must meet the following conditions:

The foreign parties take up less than 30% of charter capital;

Must have at least one Vietnam individual or legal entity hold the largest part of the charter capital. In case Vietnam legal entity has foreign investment capital, the foreign capital share should not exceed 49% of the charter capital of the legal entity.

The transfer of share and capital contribution of air transportation business without foreign investment to foreign investor shall be made only after 02 years from the date of issuance of the air transportation business license.

Enterprises have to send the share and capital transfer proposal to foreign investor to Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam, which includes: The transferee, transfer condition, the number of transferring shares and capital contribution; Development plans for aircraft teams, business plan, development strategies referred to in Paragraph 1, Article 9 of the Decree 92/2016/ND-CP (if any).

Within 05 working days from the date of receiving the proposal from business, Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam will report to the Ministry of Transportation the appraisal results.

Within 05 working days from the date of receiving the appraisal result report of the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam, the Ministry of Transportation will consider approval or disapproval and clearly state the reasons.

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Aviation and Aviation Support Service in Vietnam | ANT Lawyers

Foreign investors could promote and participate in aviation and aviation related services in Vietnam through setting up representative office, setting up company, engaged in business cooperation contract or joint venture.

Civil aviation industry in Vietnam has really developed in the last 20 years. Until now, many Vietnam domestic airlines provide aviation services such as Vietnam Airline, Vietjet Air, Jetstar Pacific, etc that brings more choices to customers as well as business and investment opportunities to Vietnam and foreign investors.

The foundation of aviation and aviation support services are governed under Civil Aviation Act 2006 which was amended in 2014.

The differences of aviation and aviation support service?

Most of us are aware of aviation throughout use them for our demand to travel or transport goods. Air transport operations include two type of air transportation business and general aviation business. In detail, air transport business is the transportation of passengers, baggage, cargo and postal items by air for the purpose of profit, and general aviation business is general aviation activities. Air transport service business is conditional business activity that requires plans to ensure availability of aircraft for operations, organizational apparatus, business plans, development strategies and capital requirements. Depending on the scale of business operation of air transport enterprise, capital requirements is significant. Because of the typical elements of aviation especially air transport service, participants in the air transportation business have to sufficient financial resources as well as capacity management and administration.On the other hand, aviation support service include air navigation service business; airport service business; aviation staff training, coaching and mentoring service business; services relating to design, manufacture, maintenance, testing of aircraft, engines, propellers and equipment thereof within Vietnam and so on. Those are also the conditional business activities depending on the type of service that requires different conditions for the strategic plan, organizational structure, capital requirement or foreign ownership of the charter capital. For example aviation staff training, coaching and mentoring service business requires investor to ensure requirements concerning the facilities, equipment, components and lecturers as well as about training courses, training or coaching materials.

Opportunities of aviation and aviation support service?

As a country with over 90 million people like Vietnam along with the development of economy and the increasing of Vietnamese’s life quality, the aviation service business is growing because of demand hence aviation support service business is also developing in natural way. Vietnam has increasingly created favorable conditions for not only organizations and individuals of Vietnam but also foreign investors to cooperate and invest in civil aviation.

The aviation support services have been fairly common in the world, but not really developed in Vietnam especially services relating to design, manufacture, maintenance aircraft therefore when domestic enterprises have demand, they frequently hire service abroad. Besides, aviation staff training, coaching and mentoring service requires foreign experts. There are significant opportunities for foreign investors who have knowledge, skill and experience in this field to access and provide aviation support services to domestic and international airlines in Vietnam.

Vietnam has been investing heavily in airport infrastructures expansion preparing for growing of airlines fleets and frequency which means more opportunities for aviation and aviation related services are opening. The law in aviation and aviation related services are continuously changing. ANT Lawyers in Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City continue to follow and provide update to its clients in legal aspect of aviation and aviation related services in particular and transportation in general in Vietnam for the legal understanding, compliance and business cooperation and investment purpose in regulatory and policy research, contract review, dispute in transactions or employment matters, incorporation.

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Aviation and Aviation Support Service in Vietnam | ANT Lawyers

Foreign investors could promote and participate in aviation and aviation related services in Vietnam through setting up representative office, setting up company, engaged in business cooperation contract or joint venture.

Civil aviation industry in Vietnam has really developed in the last 20 years. Until now, many Vietnam domestic airlines provide aviation services such as Vietnam Airline, Vietjet Air, Jetstar Pacific, etc that brings more choices to customers as well as business and investment opportunities to Vietnam and foreign investors.

The foundation of aviation and aviation support services are governed under Civil Aviation Act 2006 which was amended in 2014.

The differences of aviation and aviation support service?

Most of us are aware of aviation throughout use them for our demand to travel or transport goods. Air transport operations include two type of air transportation business and general aviation business. In detail, air transport business is the transportation of passengers, baggage, cargo and postal items by air for the purpose of profit, and general aviation business is general aviation activities. Air transport service business is conditional business activity that requires plans to ensure availability of aircraft for operations, organizational apparatus, business plans, development strategies and capital requirements. Depending on the scale of business operation of air transport enterprise, capital requirements is significant. Because of the typical elements of aviation especially air transport service, participants in the air transportation business have to sufficient financial resources as well as capacity management and administration.On the other hand, aviation support service include air navigation service business; airport service business; aviation staff training, coaching and mentoring service business; services relating to design, manufacture, maintenance, testing of aircraft, engines, propellers and equipment thereof within Vietnam and so on. Those are also the conditional business activities depending on the type of service that requires different conditions for the strategic plan, organizational structure, capital requirement or foreign ownership of the charter capital. For example aviation staff training, coaching and mentoring service business requires investor to ensure requirements concerning the facilities, equipment, components and lecturers as well as about training courses, training or coaching materials.

Opportunities of aviation and aviation support service?

As a country with over 90 million people like Vietnam along with the development of economy and the increasing of Vietnamese’s life quality, the aviation service business is growing because of demand hence aviation support service business is also developing in natural way. Vietnam has increasingly created favorable conditions for not only organizations and individuals of Vietnam but also foreign investors to cooperate and invest in civil aviation.

The aviation support services have been fairly common in the world, but not really developed in Vietnam especially services relating to design, manufacture, maintenance aircraft therefore when domestic enterprises have demand, they frequently hire service abroad. Besides, aviation staff training, coaching and mentoring service requires foreign experts. There are significant opportunities for foreign investors who have knowledge, skill and experience in this field to access and provide aviation support services to domestic and international airlines in Vietnam.

Vietnam has been investing heavily in airport infrastructures expansion preparing for growing of airlines fleets and frequency which means more opportunities for aviation and aviation related services are opening. The law in aviation and aviation related services are continuously changing. ANT Lawyers in Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City continue to follow and provide update to its clients in legal aspect of aviation and aviation related services in particular and transportation in general in Vietnam for the legal understanding, compliance and business cooperation and investment purpose in regulatory and policy research, contract review, dispute in transactions or employment matters, incorporation.

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Maritime Insurance: Complexity and Disputes | ANT Lawyers

In the insurance sector, the insurance of goods transported by sea is much more complex and causes most disputes in the process of claim settlement.

Marine insurance is the insurance operations related to the operation of the ship, the human or the goods are transported on the sea or the insurance operation risks at sea, on land, in river relating to sea voyage.

The import and export activities of Vietnam are growing strong in recent years. Therefore, the revenue from cargo insurance is growing well. Insured clients are companies export and import of goods, logistics companies, shipping companies, the investors and contractors of projects…

Risks for cargo insurance is not high, mainly are risks occurred during transportation. The loss ratio of the market is quite low, which was 27% in 2012, 21.6% in 2013 were 21.6% (excluding the losses that are being resolved), with the causes mainly are deficiencies and damages in transportation process.

Understanding the principles of the compensation in maritime insurance will help us to limit the disputes. When incident happen, insurance lawyers in shipping, transportation sector are always called in for advice and dispute resolution.

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What Admiralty and Maritime Legal Matters in Vietnam Involve? | ANT Lawyers

Admiralty and maritime lawyers in Vietnam may represent and defend the interests of commercial ship owners and charters involving the total spectrum of maritime casualties, accidents and disputes which may arise in reference to commercial ocean shipping.

Additionally admiralty and maritime lawyers in Vietnam are frequently appointed by a broad vary of domestic and international marine insurance corporations directly or through our international partner law firms in UK, US and Australia to represent and defend the interests of their insureds in reference to casualties involving each commercial and recreational vessels.

When legal proceeding arises from a maritime casualty or dispute admiralty and maritime lawyers in Vietnam commit the total range of the firm’s resources and therefore the intensive litigation expertise of our attorneys to attain the most effective potential outcome for the client. The attorneys additionally counsel ship owners, charters, marine insurers and clients on risk avoidance, regulative necessities and strategic legal solutions.

An overview of the a number of the kinds of maritime claims, casualties and transactions that admiralty and maritime lawyers regularly handle is as following:

Casualty Defense, Investigation and Litigation

· Collisions

· Cargo damage

· Personal injury and death (seamen, longshoremen and passengers)

· Property damage

· Product liability

· Shipowner’s limitation of liability

Marine Liability Insurance

Commercial Disputes

· Bills of Lading

· Charter party disputes

· Vessel mortgage foreclosure

General Average and Salvage Claims

Vessel Regulatory Matters

· Regulatory compliance

· Civil fines and penalties

· Security issues

Maritime Contracts

· Contracts of affreightment, bills of lading and charter parties

· Drafting and advice

Recreational Boating

· Injuries and Property Damage

· Product Liability

· Sales and documentation

· Subrogation

ANT Lawyers has law been partnering with a number of UK, US, and Australian law firms in advising clients in admiralty and maritime in Vietnam.

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Conditions for Foreign Experts to Work in Vietnam | ANT Lawyers

On December 30th, 2020, Decree 152/2020/ND-CP has been issued regulating on foreigners working in Vietnam and recruiting, managing Vietnamese employees working for foreign organizations and individuals in Vietnam. Decree 152 clearly defines the forms and conditions for foreign employees to be eligible to work in Vietnam, and provides conditions for exemption from work permits in Vietnam, recruitment of foreign employees, renew and re-issue work permits.

According to current regulations, foreign citizens come to work in Vietnam for the purposes of performing employment contracts; performing intra-company transfer program; performing contracts or agreements on business, trade, finance, banking, insurance, science and technology, culture, sports, education, vocational training and health; providing services under contracts; offering services; working for foreign non-governmental organizations or international organizations in Vietnam that have been granted with operating licenses in accordance with the Vietnam law; working as volunteers; taking charge of establishing the commercial presence; working as managers, executives, experts, technical workers; performing packages or projects in Vietnam; or accompanying members of foreign representative bodies in Vietnam who are authorized to work in Vietnam under an international treaty to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a signatory as their relatives.

For the conditions for foreign employees to work in Vietnam, Decree 152 has some notable new points, which according to Clause 3, Article 3 of this Decree, an expert who wish to work in Vietnam requires a foreign worker who obtains at least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent and at least 03 years’ experience in his/her training field in corresponding with the job position/job assignment that he/she will be appointed in Vietnam or obtains at least 5 years’ experience and a practicing certificate in corresponding with the job position that he/she will be appointed in Vietnam. There are opinions that this regulation makes it difficult for many foreign experts to come to Vietnam to work because in fact there are many experienced people who do not have appropriate qualifications and certificates.

Foreign experts, managers, executives or foreign technicians working in Vietnam for up to 30 days and no more than 3 times a year may be exempted from work permits. Cases eligible for exemption from work permits (or a certificate of exemption from work permits) must be notified to the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs or the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs of the provinces and centrally-run cities regarding personal information of the foreign worker and the expected start /end date, at least three days prior to the first scheduled working date in Vietnam.

At least 30 days from the expected date of employment of the foreign employee, the employer (except contractors) is responsible for determining the demand to use foreign workers for each job position that the Vietnamese employee has not yet met requirements of the position and report to the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs or the People’s Committee of the province where the foreign worker is expected to work. During the implementation process, if there is a change in the demand for foreign employees, the employer must also report at least 30 days in advance.

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