VILAF remains a stand-out law firm in Vietnam and houses one of the best legal teams in the country. With over 90 lawyers and 15 partners, it has one of the largest teams of English-speaking business lawyers in Vietnam. The firm prides itself on its international experience and in-depth expertise, not only in terms of its legal services but also its sensitivity to Vietnam’s political and legal culture. The frontrunners at the firm include banking and finance lawyer Duyen Ha Vo, corporate and M&A partners Anh Dang and Phong Tran, as well as dispute specialist Quynh Pham. Counsel Ha Hai joined the firm in February 2025 from A&O Shearman, bringing expertise in M&A, private equity, corporate, construction, real estate, energy, project and infrastructure matters.
Client feedback
"Responsive and concise in advice." – Banking and finance
"The VILAF team, led by partner Lam Nguyen, has deep knowledge of project financing for renewable projects in Vietnam. They can identify key issues that need to be addressed to create a 'bankable' project." – Energy
"They understand our intentions very well, are prompt in their responses and provide practical solutions." – Regulatory
Lam Nguyen
"Lam Nguyen is very knowledgeable on renewables-related policy, law and deal structuring."
"Lam Nguyen understands our concerns and intentions very well. His quality of work is high, and he always meets deadlines, no matter how tight they are."
Duyen Ha Vo
“She takes a keen interest in the commercial aspects of transactions and offers practical advice."
Work highlights
Representing EVN Power Generation Corporation 1 in a significant maritime collision case involving damage to its port facility. Successfully secured a favourable first-instance judgment establishing vessel owner liability, though quantum determination remains under review following appeal. The case involves complex aspects of maritime law, state-owned enterprise regulations and damage assessment procedures, including negotiations with the vessel's P&I club and coordination with technical surveyors.
Work highlights
Advised Japan Investment Corporation on Vietnamese merger control aspects of its acquisition of Fujitsu's chip-packaging unit, Shinko Electric Industries. Working alongside Japanese counsel, the firm secured critical competition clearance from the Vietnam Competition Commission ahead of the tender offer announcement. The strategic semiconductor industry transaction required extensive coordination among multiple parties across jurisdictions, with complex analysis of market data and corporate structures to meet Vietnamese regulatory requirements.
Advised Sumitomo Forestry Group on its landmark joint venture investment in The One World project, a 50-hectare mixed-use development in Binh Duong province. The complex transaction involved multiple Japanese investors including Kumagai Gumi and NTT Urban Development acquiring a 49% stake, with AEON Vietnam joining as retail development partner. The deal's innovative structure – encompassing phased joint ventures, milestone-linked deposits and guarantee arrangements – earned recognition as a standout M&A transaction at the Vietnam M&A Forum 2024.
Key clients
Huize Holding, SCB X Group, Shizen International
Work highlights
Advised Vinpearl JSC on a $200 million loan facility from Deutsche Bank and other foreign lenders, secured by a $212 million guarantee from Vietinbank. The financing formed part of a complex debt restructuring strategy to refinance exchangeable bonds due 2026, running parallel with the issuance of new exchangeable bonds due 2029. The time-sensitive transaction required coordinated closing of multiple workstreams to meet the September 2024 put option deadline for existing bondholders, marking a significant milestone in Vietnamese corporate debt management.
Key clients
Long Son Petrochemicals, Malayan Banking
Work highlights
Advised Citibank and ING Bank on a $821 million financing package for Vietnam's first liquefied natural gas power project, Nhon Trach 3 and 4. The transaction comprised a $522 million, 12-year ECA-backed facility supported by K-SURE and SERV, alongside a $300 million bridge loan. The complex financing structure involved multiple lenders and security arrangements for the landmark project, which features one of the world's largest gas turbine units at 500MW and achieves over 60% LNG process efficiency. The development marks Vietnam's first LNG-to-power project to reach both construction and financing stages.
Advising Nghi Son 2 BOT Company on Vietnam's pioneering $2.8 billion thermal power plant project in central Vietnam, developed by Marubeni Corporation, KEPCO and Tohoku. The landmark project represents several firsts for Vietnam: the country's first international public tender for foreign power investors, one of the initial imported coal projects, and a groundbreaking financing structure including equity bridge loans. The supercritical technology facility showcases innovative solutions across multiple regulatory frameworks, from land use and environmental compliance to complex multi-source financing arrangements backed by Japanese and Korean export credit agencies.
Key clients
Long Son Petrochemicals, Mekong Energy Company, Van Phong Power Company
