Vietnam - April 2026

On 1 April, Vietnam adopted Decree 109/2026, expanding the authorities’ power to sanction lawyers, law firms and other legal actors. The decree allows police and commune-level officials to impose fines and suspend or revoke lawyers’ licences for broadly worded offences, including ‘insulting’ officials and ‘obstructing’ state agencies. This gives local authorities new disciplinary powers over lawyers, including those representing clients in cases against those same authorities. Human rights experts warned that the decree’s vague provisions could enable arbitrary enforcement and deter lawyers from representing clients in politically sensitive cases or complaints against officials. Two United Nations Special Rapporteurs also raised concerns that it may violate international standards on lawyers’ independence, effective legal assistance and fair-trial rights. The decree entered into force on 18 May.

Sources: Human Rights Watch, Government of Vietnam, OHCHR