Legal assistance:

Free support packages and an increasingly sophisticated legal data system not only resolve obstacles promptly but also open up avenues for sustainable development, especially amidst the pressures of digital transformation and fierce competition.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) need free support packages and a comprehensive legal data system for sustainable development. (In the photo: Garment production for export at Son Ha Garment Joint Stock Company.)

From the need to understand correctly and do things correctly.

A survey by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) shows that only about 25% of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have access to legal support, despite the Legal Support Program for SMEs having been implemented for over 10 years.

To ensure businesses "understand and comply" with the law, from the end of 2025, ministries and agencies have accelerated the organization of hundreds of training courses, dialogues, and the distribution of documents on taxation, electronic invoices, environment, land, food safety, e-commerce, intellectual property, etc. The Ministry of Industry and Trade has updated legal documents on e-commerce, import and export, and competition. The Ministry of Finance has increased guidance on tax policies and handling common situations; provided support in business registration, investment, and bidding; and standardized many documents in the form of videos, infographics, and legal handbooks to make them more accessible to businesses.

In particular, the Ministry of Justice is promoting the application of digital technology. According to Do Xuan Quy, Chief of the Office and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry has implemented several projects such as: “Building a large database on law,” “Applying artificial intelligence in the drafting and review of legal documents,” and “Vietnam Law Digital Platform.” The National Law Portal, operational from May 2025 to the end of November 2025, recorded over 1,130,556 visits; the AI legal system processed hundreds of thousands of inquiries, supporting citizens and businesses in accessing information quickly, accurately, and in a user-friendly manner.

Thanks to these models, the number of businesses accessing legal support is expected to increase significantly in 2025, especially household businesses and family enterprises. However, businesses also suggest the need for more industry-specific documentation, increased direct dialogue, and clearer accountability for policy explanations from each agency.

Bringing legal knowledge closer to businesses.

According to Ngo Quynh Hoa, Deputy Director of the Department of Legal Dissemination, Education and Legal Aid (Ministry of Justice), the above proposals have been acknowledged by the Ministry of Justice and incorporated into the orientation of the inter-sectoral legal support program for small and medium-sized enterprises in the next phase. The focus will be on developing a national digital legal support platform, which is expected to integrate: legal data by sector, a specialized Q&A repository, and digital training materials.

The inter-sectoral legal support program for the period 2026-2031 will build upon previous regulations and expand its scope to include household businesses and cooperatives. The focus will shift from "mass knowledge dissemination" to "support tailored to needs, problems, and industries." Ministries, sectors, and localities will regularly survey, collect feedback, and analyze data to accurately identify the legal difficulties faced by businesses.

Areas undergoing significant change, such as land, taxation, investment, labor, environment, quality standards, international trade, and digital transformation, will be prioritized. Support activities will be in-depth, highly practical, and avoid being spread too thinly.

In addition, a new decree replacing Government Decree No. 55/2019/ND-CP dated June 24, 2019, on legal support for small and medium-sized enterprises will be issued, expanding its scope and adding household businesses and cooperatives – a group that accounts for a large proportion of the economy but has limited access to systematic legal support. The financial policy for legal consulting services will also be revised to be more substantive. The circular replacing Circular No. 64/2021/TT-BTC is expected to increase spending limits, ensuring commensurate service quality and attracting lawyers and experts to participate in the consulting network.

According to legal expert Le Quang Vinh, the implementation process has shown that machines cannot replace humans. Therefore, along with the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in disseminating legal information, it is necessary to standardize the team of legal consultants. Regulatory agencies must review capabilities, eliminate inefficient units, and select organizations and individuals with practical experience, in-depth knowledge, and the ability to provide professional advice. This is especially important for small and medium-sized enterprises – the majority of which do not have a legal department.

Mr. Le Quang Vinh emphasized that support must be tailored to each individual and area. For household businesses and micro-enterprises, providing advice at markets, wholesale markets, or commune/ward People's Committees will be much more effective than organizing it in large halls because "people feel it's not as familiar and are reluctant to travel."

"With strong and coordinated support, the program will help small and medium-sized enterprises, business households, and cooperatives minimize the risk of legal violations, increase competitiveness, improve market access, and achieve sustainable development," Mr. Le Quang Vinh affirmed.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/ho-tro-phap-ly-be-do-cho-doanh-nghiep-nho-va-vua-phat-trien-725254.html