Vietnam adjusts legal framework for international agreements amid administrative changes
The new decree outlines how local governments will manage agreements affected by restructuring.
THE HANOI TIMES — The Vietnamese Government has issued Decree No. 177/2025/ND-CP to provide legal clarity on how to handle international agreements affected by the country's ongoing administrative reforms.
Employees at Japanese-invested Katolec Vietnam Co., Ltd. work on an electronics production line in Quang Minh Industrial Park, Hanoi. Photo: Pham Hung/The Hanoi Times
The regulation applies to agreements signed before 1 July 2025 under the names of district-level People’s Committees, departments, provincial-level authorities, and border communes. It covers multi-agency agreements, with provincial-level People’s Committees responsible for inheriting obligations, updating administrative unit names, and consulting foreign partners under the 2020 Law on International Agreements.
Provincial chairpersons may revise, suspend, terminate, or replace inherited agreements with new ones in coordination with foreign signatories when original terms no longer reflect administrative realities. The authorities are authorized to act if violations occur to safeguard Vietnam’s legal and diplomatic interests.
The decree assigns responsibilities to agencies with new mandates from administrative restructuring, requiring them to review agreements tied to their functions, assess changes to Vietnam’s rights or obligations, and, if needed, initiate amendments with the other party.
This proactive approach aims to prevent gaps in international cooperation and reinforce Vietnam’s credibility, with legal succession ensuring continuity, transparency, and compliance amid domestic reforms.
