The conference brought together more than 120 participants, including representatives from government agencies, arbitration and mediation institutions, legal practitioners, academics, businesses, and international experts from Germany and Australia. Against the backdrop of Ho Chi Minh City's ambition to become an International Financial Centre, the event served as a platform for exchanging international experiences and discussing policy recommendations to strengthen Vietnam’s dispute resolution ecosystem.
In the opening session, representatives of RISE and KAS Vietnam underscored the importance of effective, transparent, and predictable ADR mechanisms in strengthening investor confidence, enhancing competitiveness, and supporting sustainable economic growth. They also highlighted the value of international cooperation and the exchange of best practices in advancing Vietnam’s ongoing legal and institutional reforms.
Addressing the conference, Dr. Andrea Maria Sühl, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Ho Chi Minh City, emphasized the crucial role that strong legal institutions and efficient dispute resolution mechanisms play in facilitating international trade and investment. Her participation reflected the close and enduring partnership between Germany and Vietnam, particularly in the fields of economic development, legal cooperation, and investment promotion.
The plenary session featured contributions from leading Vietnamese and international experts, including Ms. Carolina Morales Cruz from the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) and legal specialists from the College of Law, Australia. Discussions focused on global trends in arbitration and mediation, international models for dispute resolution hubs, developments in international commercial arbitration, and the contribution of ADR to strengthening national competitiveness. Speakers shared experiences from established ADR jurisdictions and explored how these lessons could inform Vietnam’s legal and policy framework.
A recurring theme throughout the conference was the potential development of Ho Chi Minh City as a future ADR hub, drawing on international experience to provide high-quality arbitration and mediation services that support the city’s broader economic and financial ambitions. Participants discussed the institutional, legal, and professional capacities required to establish a trusted dispute resolution ecosystem capable of serving both domestic and international stakeholders.
The afternoon programme was organized into parallel thematic forums on arbitration and mediation, providing a more focused exchange on practical and emerging challenges. In the arbitration forum, experts discussed ways to strengthen confidence in arbitration, examined possible operational models for an ADR hub in Ho Chi Minh City. Participants emphasized the importance of legal certainty, professional expertise, and institutional credibility in enhancing the effectiveness of arbitration mechanisms.
The mediation forum focused on strengthening trust in commercial mediation and enhancing its role within Vietnam’s dispute resolution framework. Discussions covered the institutionalization of mediation, practical experiences from businesses using ADR mechanisms, challenges in implementing mediated settlements, and the application of mediation in infrastructure-related disputes. Attention was given to Online Dispute Resolution (ODR), with experts sharing international experiences on digital dispute resolution processes, data protection, and the enforceability of settlement agreements in an increasingly digital business environment.
Throughout the conference, participants emphasized the need to further improve the legal framework governing arbitration and mediation, strengthen the implementation and enforceability of ADR outcomes, and expand awareness and expertise among businesses and legal professionals. ADR was widely recognized as an effective tool for reducing litigation costs, shortening dispute resolution timelines, preserving commercial relationships, and creating a more attractive and predictable investment environment.
Building on the successful partnership between KAS Vietnam and RISE, the conference reaffirmed the shared commitment of both institutions to promoting legal reform, knowledge exchange, and international cooperation. The recommendations generated during the event are expected to contribute to ongoing policy discussions on ADR reform and support the development of a transparent, reliable, and internationally connected business environment in Vietnam.
