On June 24, 2025, the 15th National Assembly of Vietnam passed Law No. 81/2025/QH15 amending and supplementing the Law on Organization of the People’s Courts (hereinafter referred to as “the Amended Law”).  

Source: VNexpress.vn

The Amended Law entered into force on July 1, 2025, and has a significant impact on the structure and operation of the court system. The following highlights the significant changes  in the organization of the Court system in Vietnam. 

1. Reform of the hierarchical structure of the court system 

Article 1 of the Amended Law stipulates that the system of the People’s Courts shall comprise: 

• The Supreme People’s Court; 

• 34 Provincial People’s Courts [1] and the Specialized Courts located at the International Financial Center; 

• 355 Regional People’s Courts; 

• Central Military Court, Military Zone and equivalent Military Courts, and Regional Military Courts (collectively referred to as “Military Courts”). 

Accordingly, the judicial system is now organized into a three-tier hierarchy based on adjudicative jurisdiction: (i) The Supreme People’s Court, (ii) Provincial-level People’s Courts, and (iii) Regional People’s Courts. As of July 1, 2025, the three High People’s Courts  have ceased, and district-level People’s Courts are no longer  part of the judicial system.  

Pursuant to Article 60 of the Amended Law, each Regional People’s Court will comprise the following specialized divisions: Criminal Court, Civil Court, Economic Court, Administrative Court, and Family and Juvenile Court; in addition, Bankruptcy and Intellectual Property Courts may be established at certain regional courts. 

2. Redistribution of judicial power 

In line with the structural reform, he Amended Law also redistributes the judicial power following the reform of the court system: 

• Supreme People’s Court: Now expressly vested with appellate jurisdiction over criminal cases in which first-instance judgments rendered by provincial-level courts have not yet taken legal effect, which have been protested in accordance with the law. [2] 

• Provincial-level People’s Courts: To conduct cassation and retrial of legally effective judgments and decisions rendered by Regional People’s Courts that have been protested in accordance with the law. [3] Additionally, the Provincial Court continues its first-instance jurisdiction over serious criminal cases involving penalties of over 20 years’ imprisonment, life imprisonment or the death penalty. [4] 

• Regional-level People’s Courts: Take over first-instance jurisdiction in criminal, administrative, civil, and other proceedings, following the dissolution of district-level courts. [5]

[1] Please kindly refer to Resolution No.81/2025/NQ-UBTVQH issued by The Standing Committee of the National Assembly dated 27 June 2025 for the List of Provincial and Regional Court. 

[2] Article 1.3 of the Amended Law amending Article 46.3 of the Law on the Organization of the People’s Courts. 

[3] Article 1.7 of the Amended Law amending Article 55.3 of the Law on the Organization of the People’s Courts. 

[4] Article 1.7 of the Amended Law amending Article 55.1 of the Law on the Organization of the People’s Courts. 

[5] Article 1.8 of the Amended Law amending Article 59 of the Law on the Organization of the People’s Courts. 

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