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An Law Vietnam, Diamond Plaza Building, 34 Le Duan, Ho Chi Minh City (2026)

02/10/2026

A DETAILED GUIDE: DOCUMENTATION PROCEDURES FOR FOREIGN NATIONALS SEEKING TO RETAIN CRIMINAL DEFENSE COUNSEL IN VIETNAM

Your loved one has been arrested in Vietnam. Your family is on the other side of the world. And a single incorrect document may delay the lawyer's access to the client at the most critical moment.
This is the situation we encounter most frequently when defending foreign nationals in Vietnam.
The family has decided to engage a lawyer. However, before the lawyer can formally participate in the case, the procedure-conducting authority must issue a "Notice of Defense Counsel". To obtain that notice, the file must be correct, complete, and valid from the very outset.
Common errors that cost families additional time:
• Not knowing who is entitled to request a lawyer. This right extends beyond parents and spouses to siblings and grandparents.
• The name on the birth certificate differs from the name on the passport due to a name change upon naturalization, marriage, or divorce, with no supporting proof of the name change.
• Foreign documents that have not been certified by Apostille or consular legalization, and therefore cannot be used in Vietnam.
• A self-drafted request for a lawyer in an improper format, which the procedure-conducting authority refuses to accept.
An important new development: from 11 September 2026, Vietnam officially applies the Apostille Convention. For many countries, the multi-step consular legalization process has now been reduced to just two steps, completed in the issuing country.
Meanwhile, the first days following custody or detention are the "golden time" of a criminal case. This is when the lawyer needs to meet the client, explain their rights, and prevent legal risks. Every day lost to paperwork is another day the client faces the proceedings alone.
In our complete guide, the lawyers of An Law Vietnam set out:
• The 4 steps to prepare a defense registration file, from abroad to the procedure-conducting authority in Vietnam;
• The list of mandatory documents, and how to proceed when the names on those documents do not match;
• When Apostille applies, and when consular legalization is still required;
• The fastest way for a lawyer to join the case without the family having to send any documents from abroad.
𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞:

https://anlawvietnam.com/en/defense-registration-in-vietnam/

Has your loved one just been taken into custody or detained in Vietnam? Contact An Law Vietnam to obtain a legally compliant request form and guidance on your file from the very first step.
Conscientious in every case – Ingenious in the way of thinking – Safe in each legal solution.
Contact Us An Law Vietnam | International Law Firm In Vietnam
📞 Phone: (+84) 986 995 543
📧 Email: [email protected]
📍 Head Office: Diamond Plaza, 34 Le Duan Street, Sai Gon Ward, Ho Chi Minh City
🏢 Vung Tau Branch: Vo Thi Sau Street, Vung Tau Ward, Ho Chi Minh City

01/10/2026

"Winning" a Criminal Case in Vietnam: What Is the True Cost?

A phone call in the middle of the night. Your loved one is at a police station. You do not know where they are being held, for how long, or what they have just signed.
That is where the journey begins, and most families have no idea what price they are about to pay.

In criminal proceedings, there is no "winning" or "losing" in the sense of a civil dispute. For the accused and their family, particularly where a foreign element is involved, "winning" carries only two meanings:
- Exoneration, where no crime has been committed.
- The most lenient penalty permitted by law.

Yet the path to that outcome comes at a considerable price:
Time: From the receipt of a denunciation to the first-instance trial, a case may last from 5 months to more than 2 years. For certain offences, the investigation stage alone may extend to 16 months.
Freedom of movement: A foreign national may be subject to an exit ban throughout the resolution of the case, remaining in Vietnam for many months, or even more than a year.
Financial and emotional toll: The cost of pursuing the case, the psychological strain, and the anguish of separation from loved ones weigh heavily on both the accused and their family.

What many families do not realise: the first statement is recorded within the very first hours following arrest or custody, and it will remain in the case file throughout the proceedings. A single answer lost in interpretation, a hasty signature, may never be undone.

Certain legal opportunities exist only within statutory procedural deadlines. Once missed, they are lost permanently.

With this article:
A detailed table of the time limits applicable at each stage, from institution of proceedings to trial;
The 3 factors that determine whether a case lasts 6 months or more than 2 years;
The 4 rights that foreign nationals arrested in Vietnam are often unaware they hold;
The critical moment to engage a lawyer, before it is too late.

➜ 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐰, 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭: https://anlawvietnam.com/en/criminal-case-in-vietnam/

𝐃𝐨 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐋𝐞𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐘𝐨𝐮
The first hours after an arrest or being taken into custody are when the first statement is recorded, and that statement will remain in the case file throughout the proceedings. For foreign nationals, the language barrier and unfamiliarity with Vietnamese law make this risk even greater.

Every stage of the proceedings has its time limits. Certain legal opportunities exist only within those time limits:
➜ Requesting a change of preventive measures: replacing pre-trial detention with a guarantee or a deposit of money as security;
➜ Requesting re-examination or re-valuation: where the initial conclusions show signs of a lack of objectivity;
➜ Collecting and supplementing evidence and mitigating circumstances: before the case file is transferred to the next stage.
Contact An Law Vietnam as soon as your loved one is taken into custody or summoned.
An Law Vietnam stands with clients and their families from the very first statement to the day the judgment is enforced.

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐔𝐬 𝐀𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐰 𝐕𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐧𝐚𝐦 | 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐚𝐰 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐦 𝐈𝐧 𝐕𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐧𝐚𝐦
📞 Phone: (+84) 986 995 543
📧 Email: [email protected]
📍 Head Office: Diamond Plaza, 34 Le Duan Street, Sai Gon Ward, Ho Chi Minh City
🏢 Vung Tau Branch: Vo Thi Sau Street, Vung Tau Ward, Ho Chi Minh City

02/04/2026

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐌𝐬. 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐢 𝐍𝐡𝐮 𝐃𝐨𝐧𝐠, 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐚𝐰𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐚𝐨 𝐓𝐚𝐦 𝐀𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐰 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐦 𝐋𝐋𝐂 | 𝐀𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐰 𝐕𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐧𝐚𝐦, 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞 “𝐍𝐓𝐋 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬.”
On April 1, 2026, at the first-instance trial held at the People’s Court of Area 1 (Facility 2, Ho Chi Minh City), 𝐌𝐬. 𝐃𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧 demonstrated exceptional professional competence, a confident demeanor, and sharp advocacy skills before the Trial Panel and the representative of the Procuracy.

With profound legal insight and extensive practical experience, she successfully:
• Constructed a well-grounded and coherent system of legal arguments
• Effectively analyzed key facts and circumstances of the case
• Maximized all favorable factors for the client

Notable outcome:
The Trial Panel partially accepted the defense’s arguments, applied mitigating circumstances for criminal liability, and imposed a sentence at the lower end of the applicable penalty bracket—clearly reflecting the effectiveness of the defense strategy.
This achievement is not only the result of a single case but also a testament to:
• Professional responsibility
• Legal ethics
• A steadfast commitment to justice
Moreover, it reinforces the reputation of 𝐁𝐚𝐨 𝐓𝐚𝐦 𝐀𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐰 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐦 𝐋𝐋𝐂 | 𝐀𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐰 𝐕𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐧𝐚𝐦 in the field of criminal defense in Vietnam, while highlighting the image of a “resilient – dedicated – principled female lawyer committed to justice and the protection of clients’ rights.”
Do not squander valuable time; any delay, particularly in the absence of competent criminal defense counsel, may materially and adversely affect the posture and ultimate disposition of the case.
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐔𝐬 𝐀𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐰 𝐕𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐧𝐚𝐦 | 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐚𝐰 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐦 𝐈𝐧 𝐕𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐧𝐚𝐦
📞 Phone: (+84) 986 995 543
📧 Email: [email protected]
📍 Head Office: Diamond Plaza, 34 Le Duan Street, Sai Gon Ward, Ho Chi Minh City
🏢 Vung Tau Branch: Vo Thi Sau Street, Vung Tau Ward, Ho Chi Minh City

26/01/2026

Criminal Procedure in Vietnam | From Initiation to Trial
(Updated 2025)
Criminal procedure is one of the most important pillars of the Vietnamese legal system, playing a central role in the detection of crimes, investigation, prosecution of criminal liability, while at the same time safeguarding human rights, civil rights, and social order.
Pursuant to the 2015 Criminal Procedure Code, criminal proceedings consist of the following stages:
initiation – investigation – prosecution – trial – enforcement of judgments – review of judgments....

Particularly serious legal consequences for foreign nationals
Unlike Vietnamese citizens, foreign nationals convicted of criminal offenses in Vietnam often face additional consequences, including:
➜ Deportation from Vietnam after serving the sentence
➜ Long-term or permanent entry bans
➜ Revocation of visas, temporary residence cards, and work permits
These consequences seriously affect:
➟ Operating enterprises
➟ Investment licenses
➟ International personal and professional reputation
This is why a lawyer’s legal strategy cannot end with the judgment, but must continue to be calculated through the enforcement stage.
Given the extensive impacts not only addressed in this article but also on mental well-being and reputation, the advice is clear:
“You may save on many things, but never on your lawyer.”

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: https://anlawvietnam.com/en/criminal-procedure-in-vietnam-from-initiation-to-trial/
Contact Us An Law Vietnam | International Law Firm In Vietnam
📞 Phone: (+84) 986 995 543
📧 Email: [email protected]
📍 Head Office: Diamond Plaza, 34 Le Duan Street, Sai Gon Ward, Ho Chi Minh City
🏢 Vung Tau Branch: Vo Thi Sau Street, Vung Tau Ward, Ho Chi Minh City

25/01/2026

Is Bail in Vietnamese Criminal Procedure a Realistic Possibility?
(Bail in Vietnamese Criminal Procedure – Legal Analysis & Practical Guidance)

Is Detention in Vietnam Inevitable Once Criminal Charges Are Filed? The Truth About Bail
When foreign nationals face a criminal investigation in Vietnam, the first question is often the most alarming:
“Will I be automatically detained?”
At An Law Vietnam | International Law Firm In Vietnam, we encounter this concern daily. Many foreign clients believe that once criminal charges are filed, detention is unavoidable. This belief is understandable—but legally incorrect.
Vietnamese criminal law does not impose automatic detention simply because a person has been charged. Pre-trial detention is only one of several preventive measures. Importantly, Vietnamese criminal procedure explicitly allows for bail (guarantee release)—a lawful alternative to detention when statutory conditions are satisfied.
Bail is not a loophole, nor is it a privilege reserved for a select few. It is a legally recognized and practically achievable option when the case is assessed correctly and addressed early. Bail exists to balance the authorities’ need to manage criminal proceedings with the protection of personal liberty and lawful rights of suspects and defendants.
Drawing on extensive hands-on experience in handling hundreds of criminal cases involving both Vietnamese and foreign clients, An Law Vietnam provides practical, strategy-driven guidance on:
When bail is legally available,
Which authorities have decision-making power,
How prior criminal history is assessed,
And why early defence strategy and experienced criminal counsel are decisive.

👉 This article goes beyond legal theory. It helps readers identify real legal opportunities, avoid common bail application pitfalls, and protect their rights throughout investigation and prosecution in Vietnam.
Read the full article here:
https://anlawvietnam.com/en/bail-in-vietnamese-criminal-procedure/
Contact An Law Vietnam | International Law Firm In Vietnam
📞 Phone: (+84) 986 995 543
📧 Email: [email protected]
📍 Head Office: Diamond Plaza, 34 Le Duan Street, Sai Gon Ward, Ho Chi Minh City
🏢 Vung Tau Branch: Vo Thi Sau Street, Vung Tau Ward, Ho Chi Minh City

11/01/2026

Which Drugs Are Illegal in Vietnam?
Drugs are a general term referring to addictive substances capable of altering human cognition, psychological state, and physiological functions after only one or several uses. They represent one of the most serious threats to public health, social order, and the sustainable development of any nation.
In Vietnam, in addition to so-called “traditional” drugs such as he**in, o***m, and cannabis, recent years have witnessed the rapid emergence of synthetic drugs and disguised narcotics in the form of candies, beverages, milk tea, blotter paper, and similar products. These substances have caused particularly severe consequences, especially among young people, students, university students, and foreign nationals residing in Vietnam.

Recommendations from An Law Vietnam | Drug Crime Defense Attorney in Vietnam
In the current context, drug-related issues in Vietnam are subject to particularly strict enforcement. Vietnamese law imposes severe criminal penalties for drug offenses, applied uniformly to both Vietnamese citizens and foreign nationals.
However, based on the defense experience of An Law Vietnam | The Best Criminal Law Firm In Vietnam, many cases involve individuals who acted unintentionally, under coercion, or without full awareness that their conduct involved drugs. Without timely legal assistance, such critical mitigating factors are easily overlooked during criminal proceedings.
👉 Early involvement of a criminal defense lawyer is a decisive factor, enabling:
➜ Clarification of the nature of conduct and actual role of the accused
➜ Identification and application of mitigating circumstances
➜ Maximum protection of lawful rights and interests from the investigation stage
DO NOT WAIT – Any delay may seriously affect the outcome of your case without legal counsel.
An Law Vietnam | Drug Crime Defense Attorney in Vietnam does not merely review files; we strategically utilize evidence to build legal advantages tailored to your situation.
________________________________________
Legal Advice from Drug Crime Defense Attorney in Vietnam
➜ If you or your loved ones are involved in drug-related offenses in Vietnam—especially foreign nationals—contact An Law Vietnam | Drug Crime Defense Attorney in Vietnam immediately for timely, confidential, and professional legal assistance.
➜ Our team has extensive experience defending complex criminal cases, particularly drug cases involving foreign elements, and is prepared to protect you at every procedural stage.
➜ With over 20 years of specialized experience, we are committed to developing effective defense strategies and prioritizing the protection of our clients’ lawful interests.
➜ We provide strategic, reliable, and confidential legal services exclusively for foreign nationals in Vietnam.
Remember ⇒ You may economize on many things—but never on your lawyer.
Do Not Waste Valuable Time! Any delay without legal counsel may irreversibly affect your case outcome.
________________________________________
𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: https://anlawvietnam.com/en/what-drugs-are-illegal-in-vietnam/
Contact An Law Vietnam | The Best Criminal Law Firm In Vietnam
📞 Phone: (+84) 986 995 543
📧 Email: [email protected]
📍 Head Office: Diamond Plaza, 34 Le Duan, Saigon Ward, Ho Chi Minh City
🏢 Branch Office: Vo Thi Sau, Vung Tau Ward, Ho Chi Minh City

16/12/2025

I Understand the Law – So Should I Go to Court Without a Lawyer?
Criminal Law Firm | Defense Attorney Lawyers Vietnam
________________________________________
This article is for those who are:
➤ Currently under investigation, prosecution, or trial
➤ Believe that they “understand the law” and can defend themselves
➤ Are considering whether they need to hire a lawyer or not
The content below is written from the real-life experience of criminal litigation lawyers. It is not academic in nature, not intended to reassure, but rather to warn about real legal risks.
➜ So, how well do you really understand procedural law?
➜ Do you know how a summons for taking statements must be issued?
➜ Do you know how to properly arrange a statement-taking session?
➜ Do you know the local procedural rules regarding who sits on the Trial Panel?
➜ Do you know when is the appropriate deadline to file an objection to a motion? Do you even know how to find the procedural rules of the Trial Panel, the Procuracy, or the Investigative Authorities?
These are simple matters – for experienced litigation lawyers, they deal with these questions every single day!
➜ As a self-represented defendant, you are expected and required to master substantive law and procedural law – including the law of evidence – to the same extent as a lawyer. Most likely, you cannot. This article by An Law Vietnam – Defense Attorney Lawyers Vietnam will point out the issues you must face when choosing to represent yourself!

In practice, with many years of professional experience at An Law Vietnam – Criminal Law Firm, we have noticed a common pattern among most Vietnamese clients:
Most clients who come to lawyers too late once believed that:
“I understand the law, I can handle it myself,” or even “I know this official, I live near that person.”
By the time they realize the risks:
➜ The right to remain silent has been lost
➜ Statements have already been recorded
➜ Unfavorable evidence has been legalized
➜ The judgment is already foreseeable due to seemingly harmless actions that are actually critical in a case
At this point, when you return to An Law Vietnam – Defense Attorney Lawyers, 'yes' – we may only be able to mitigate damages. No one can fully reverse the situation caused by unnecessary procedural mistakes.
There's a saying among international lawyers: “He who represents himself has a fool for a client” – Abraham Lincoln

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: https://anlawvietnam.com/en/is-it-permissible-to-go-to-court-without-a-lawyer-in-vietnam/
Contact Us;
📞 Phone: (+84) 986 995 543
📧 Email: [email protected]
📍 Head Office: Diamond Plaza, 34 Le Duan Street, Sai Gon Ward, Ho Chi Minh City
🏢 Vung Tau Branch: Vo Thi Sau Street, Vung Tau Ward, Ho Chi Minh City

An Law Vietnam

02/10/2026

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