The Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association and the Hong Kong Law Society have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen bilateral cooperation. The signing took place on 19/1 in Hong Kong, during the Hong Kong Legal Year 2026 Opening Ceremony, an event co-organized by the Hong Kong Law Society and the Hong Kong Bar Association.

Representatives of both sides sign the memorandum of understanding. *Photo: Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association*

Under the MOU, the parties agreed to promote cooperation in several key areas: professional organization management, professional exchange, professional development for member lawyers, and the expansion of international professional connections. This collaboration aims for the sustainable development of the legal profession in both Ho Chi Minh City and Hong Kong, while also enhancing the role of lawyers in an integrated global context.

Specifically, the two sides will share management experiences and facilitate practice exchanges. They will also learn about each other's legal systems and jointly organize international seminars on contemporary law. A key objective is to promote professional networking to form an international legal cooperation network.

Furthermore, the two organizations also plan to implement study tours and surveys. They will organize training courses to enhance lawyers' professional skills, expertise, professional ethics, and social role.

During the business trip, the delegation from the Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association also met with the Hong Kong Bar Association. They exchanged views and discussed prospects for future cooperation.

The president of the Hong Kong Bar Association speaks during the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong legal year.

Lawyer Nguyen Van Hau, Deputy Head of the Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association, highlighted the significance of this cooperation. He noted that following its merger, Ho Chi Minh City has become a major financial center in the region and is establishing a specialized court at the International Financial Center. In this environment of robust digital transformation and artificial intelligence development, collaboration with the Hong Kong Law Society—which boasts a developed common law system and international legal practice—will help Ho Chi Minh City lawyers enhance their competitive capacity and regional standing.

Hai Duyen