Legal System of Vietnam

Vietnam is located in East N Southeast Asia. It is geographically situated in southeastern asia, bordering the gulf of thailand, gulf of tonkin, and south china sea, as well as china, laos, and cambodia. The country achieved independence on 2 september 1945 (from france). The capital is Hanoi (Ha Noi).

Government Overview

Government Type: communist party-led state Chief of State: President Luong CUONG (since 21 Oct 2024) Head of Government: Prime Minister Pham Minh CHINH (since 26 July 2021) Cabinet: Cabinet proposed by the prime minister, confirmed by the National Assembly, and appointed by the president Administrative Divisions: 58 provinces (tinh, singular and plural) and 5 municipalities (thanh pho, singular and plural)

provinces: An Giang, Bac Giang, Bac Kan, Bac Lieu, Bac Ninh, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Ben Tre, Binh Dinh, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Binh Thuan, Ca Mau, Cao Bang, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Dien Bien, Dong Nai, Dong Thap, Gia Lai, Ha Giang, Ha Nam, Ha Tinh, Hai Duong, Hau Giang, Hoa Binh, Hung Yen, Khanh Hoa, Kien Giang, Kon Tum, Lai Chau, Lam Dong, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Long An, Nam Dinh, Nghe An, Ninh Binh, Ninh Thuan, Phu Tho, Phu Yen, Quang Binh, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Quang Ninh, Quang Tri, Soc Trang, Son La, Tay Ninh, Thai Binh, Thai Nguyen, Thanh Hoa, Thua Thien-Hue, Tien Giang, Tra Vinh, Tuyen Quang, Vinh Long, Vinh Phuc, Yen Bai

municipalities: Can Tho, Da Nang, Ha Noi (Hanoi), Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) National Holiday: Independence Day (National Day), 2 September (1945) Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Legal System

The legal system of Vietnam is described as civil law system with European influences International Law: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Constitutional Framework

The constitution has the following history: several previous; latest adopted 28 November 2013, effective 1 January 2014 Amendment Process: proposed by the president, by the National Assembly’s Standing Committee, or by at least two thirds of the National Assembly membership; a decision to draft an amendment requires approval by at least a two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly membership, followed by the formation of a constitutional drafting committee to write a draft and collect citizens’ opinions; passage requires at least two-thirds majority of the Assembly membership; the Assembly can opt to conduct a referendum

Judicial Branch

Highest Court(s): Supreme People’s Court (consists of the chief justice and 13 judges) Judge Selection: chief justice elected by the National Assembly upon the recommendation of the president for a 5-year, renewable term; deputy chief justice appointed by the president from among the judges for a 5-year term; judges appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly for 5-year terms Subordinate Courts: High Courts (administrative, civil, criminal, economic, labor, family, juvenile); provincial courts; district courts; Military Court

Legislative Branch

The legislative structure consists of unicameral

Citizenship and Suffrage

Citizenship by Birth: no Citizenship by Descent: at least one parent must be a citizen of Vietnam Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Historical Background

Vietnam’s early history included periods of occupation by outside forces and eventual power consolidation under Vietnamese dynastic families. A succession of Han Chinese emperors ruled the area, which was centered on the Red River Valley, until approximately the 10th century. The Ly Dynasty (11th-13th century) created the first independent Vietnamese state, which was known as Dai Viet, and established their capital at Thang Long (Hanoi).

This article provides a summary of the legal system and governmental structure of Vietnam based on the CIA World Factbook. The Factbook is a public domain publication of the United States Central Intelligence Agency.