With the Law on Urban Development No. 18/2026/QH16 taking effect on 1 October 2026, Ho Chi Minh City stands at a pivotal juncture in its development, with opportunities for substantial devolution of powers alongside complex legal challenges.
Mr. Trần Văn Bảy, Member of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the City’s People’s Committee, and Dr. Lê Trường Sơn, Secretary of the University’s Party Committee and Rector of Ho Chi Minh City University of Law, conduct the signing ceremony on behalf of their respective institutions
The strategic partnership with Ho Chi Minh City University of Law (ULAW) offers the City’s administration several core benefits:
Mobilising a “Reservoir of Intellectual Expertise” to Develop Tailored Institutional Frameworks
The City benefits from substantial support from ULAW’s leading experts and legal scholars in conducting legal reviews, assessing policy impacts and critically appraising draft instruments implementing the Law on Urban Development across four key areas: planning and the environment; the economy and investment; culture and social welfare; and the organisation of the civil service.
A “24–48-Hour Rapid Consultation” Mechanism to Resolve Project Bottlenecks
The City gains immediate access to an “independent, responsive advisory panel” that provides rigorous scholarly legal analysis, enabling its leadership to make timely decisions to address obstacles affecting longstanding, stalled projects involving land, public investment and public–private partnerships (PPPs).
An overview of the signing ceremony
Proactive Early Warning to Prevent International Investment Disputes
ULAW assists the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee in reviewing the legality of international contracts, developing a dispute prevention scheme and addressing complaints from foreign investors, thereby safeguarding the City’s lawful rights and interests to the fullest extent in the international arena.
Strengthening Professional Standards and Enhancing the Capacity of Justice Sector Personnel
Through professional development programmes on the law in force and commissioned research, ULAW helps Ho Chi Minh City strengthen its corps of justice sector civil servants, equipping them with contemporary legislative drafting and legal application skills to meet the demands of smart urban governance.
“Legal scholarship has a responsibility to clarify the foundations of decisions, identify risks and propose feasible solutions that translate institutional opportunities into tangible development outcomes for the City.” – Dr. Lê Trường Sơn, Rector of ULAW, speaking at the signing ceremony.
Mr. Trần Văn Bảy, Member of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the City’s People’s Committee, and Dr. Lê Trường Sơn, Secretary of the University’s Party Committee and Rector of Ho Chi Minh City University of Law, conduct the signing ceremony on behalf of their respective institutions
Prepared by: Department of Communications and Enterprise Relations