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Advancing Mediation: SIMC's Outreach Mission in Vietnam to Elevate ADR Practices

February 16, 2024
Visit to VIAC (L-R): Vu Anh Duong, George Lim SC, Thu Nguyen, Chuan Wee Meng, Phan Trong Dat
Visit to VIAC (L-R): Vu Anh Duong, George Lim SC, Thu Nguyen, Chuan Wee Meng, Phan Trong Dat.

As part of SIMC’s outreach effort in promoting mediation as an alternative dispute resolution (ADR), SIMC’s Chairman, Mr. George Lim SC, and SIMC CEO, Mr. Chuan Wee Meng, visited Vietnam, in particular the two major commercial hubs Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The trip was also a follow-up visit to Vietnam since the signing of a MOU with the Vietnam Mediation Centre (VMC) on August 30 last year during the Singapore Convention Week.

With the number of commercial disputes in Vietnam being on a steady rise, this visit focused on understanding and addressing the heightened scope for the use of commercial mediation in Vietnam.

 

On January 17, SIMC and VMC jointly organised a seminar on "International Dispute Resolution in the Post-Pandemic Era: Trends and Challenges" in Hanoi. SIMC presented Singapore’s perspective in promoting mediation as an ADR and highlighted the works undertaken by the Singapore government judiciary, as well as key ADR organisations to position Singapore as a dispute resolution hub in this region. Singapore’s success in promoting mediation regionally and globally is attributable to the joint efforts of all stakeholders.  

Highlighting their experience, Mr. Phan Trong Dat, Acting Director of VMC shed light on the role that VIAC and VMC have played in promoting the use of mediation in Vietnam and suggested that positive developments may be expected in the future.  

 

At the event hosted by VMC Hanoi (L-R): Phan Trong Dat, Chuan Wee Meng , George Lim SC, Tony Nguyen
At the event hosted by VMC Hanoi (L-R): Phan Trong Dat, Chuan Wee Meng, George Lim SC, Tony Nguyen.
 
At the VMC Ho Chi Minh city event.
At the VMC Ho Chi Minh City event.

During the Ho Chi Minh seminar hosted by VMC, a panel discussion, led by Mr. Tony Nguyen, Ms. Hoang Nguyen Ha Quyen, Mr. George Lim SC, and Mr. Chuan Wee Meng, focused on 'Making Mediation Worthwhile: Counting the Costs of Real and Intangible Benefits and Incentives; Techniques from Mediation Stories'. This insightful session aimed to educate and share with the present business leaders and lawyers the ethical obligations for achieving a speedy resolution. 

 

Mr. George Lim SC and Mr. Chuan Wee Meng also took the opportunity to visit some of our partner law firms which have offices in Vietnam, these include: 

  • BKL – Mr. Yonggeun Bae, Mr. Samuel Vu and Mr. Anh Dung Tran
  • Hanoi Bar Association – Mr. Dao Ngoc Chuyen, (Hanoi Bar Association Chairman), Mr. Nguyen Hung Quang, (NHQuang & Associates), and Mr. Hung Tran Anh (Bross & Partners)
  • Kim & Chang – Mr. Youn Joon Han, Mr. Nguyen Duc Minh and Mr. Joo Ho Lee
  • Rajah & Tann LCT Lawyers – Ms. Que Vu

The visit particularly focused on exchanging perspectives with legal practitioners in the region, such as BKL, Kim & Chang, and Rajah & Tann LCT Lawyers. The SIMC representatives met with members of the Hanoi Bar Association as well as the Viet-CEDR accredited mediators in both cities. 

Visit to BKL (L-R): Mr. Chuan Wee Meng, Mr. George Lim SC, Mr. Yonggeun Bae, Mr. Samuel Vu, Mr. Anh Dung Tran.
Visit to BKL (L-R): Mr. Chuan Wee Meng, Mr. George Lim SC, Mr. Yonggeun Bae, Mr. Samuel Vu, Mr. Anh Dung Tran.
 

 

For those seeking additional insights, we recommend exploring the following related readings:

The MOU signing between Singapore and Vietnam that initiated this meeting: "Singapore International Mediation Centre partners dispute resolution institutions in India, Indonesia, Japan, Türkiye and Vietnam".

To read VMC’s recount of the event, read their article here: "Vietnam International Arbitration Center (VIAC) and Vietnam Mediation Centre (VMC) welcomed representatives of Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC)".

To understand Vietnam’s legal and regulatory framework for commercial mediation: "Vietnam Series: Four Key Features of the Commercial Mediation Framework".