In recent days, social media has been abuzz with confusion over reports suggesting that the Vietnam Bar Association may be dissolved under Directive No. 11-CT/TW, issued by the Politburo on July 20, 2026, regarding strengthening the Party’s leadership and the role of mass organizations in the new development phase.
This comes amid ongoing efforts by Party and State administrative bodies to implement decisive measures aimed at streamlining the system, eliminating functional overlaps, and reducing the burden on the budget.
However, according to legal experts, based on current legal grounds, the interpretation that the Vietnam Bar Federation faces a high risk of being “shut down” is likely an overinterpretation that goes beyond the scope of Directive 11 and lacks factual basis.
Indeed, Directive No. 11 requires the entire system to review, restructure, and strengthen associations and organizations, or to suspend their operations or dissolve those that are underperforming, no longer meet practical requirements, or have engaged in illegal activities.
However, this is merely an initial screening measure applied to underperforming organizations; Directive 11 does not declare the abolition of the association system, nor does it explicitly state that the Vietnam Bar Federation falls under the category of organizations required to cease operations.
In fact, in Directive No. 11, the Politburo still emphasizes the need to maintain and harness the intellect, experience, and role of intellectuals, artists, lawyers, and other social groups through these associations.
This indicates that the management approach is not aimed at eliminating the role of the legal profession, but rather at requiring these organizations to operate more substantively, with greater efficiency and greater transparency regarding accountability.
According to legal experts, another key basis for this decision was Conclusion No. 230, dated January 5, 2026, issued by the Politburo and the Secretariat regarding the plan to restructure and streamline mass organizations.
According to the agreed-upon list, the Vietnam Bar Federation remains among the 29 mass organizations and continues to exist as an independent entity alongside the Vietnam Lawyers’ Association.
Therefore, there is absolutely no basis for hastily concluding that the Federation will be dissolved or forcibly merged.
Furthermore, the Vietnam Bar Federation’s status differs from that of mass organizations operating under standard mechanisms. The Lawyers’ Law has granted this organization a range of direct powers and responsibilities, such as representing and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of lawyers, as well as participating in the formulation of legal policies.
Therefore, if dissolution were to occur, the state would be required to completely revise the Lawyers’ Law and establish a comprehensive replacement mechanism—something that has not yet been announced.
Substantial changes may indeed be forthcoming, but they will not amount to the “elimination” of the organization as the public fears; rather, they will constitute a major overhaul of the operational methods of this “sensitive” professional organization.
The Vietnam Bar Federation will likely have to conduct an internal review, streamline intermediate layers, tighten discipline, reduce its reliance on the state budget, and subject itself to stricter and more rigorous oversight.
Subordinate units that are merely nominal or ineffective may be downsized or dissolved, but this does not mean the elimination of the entire professional representative body for the legal community.
However, we must candidly acknowledge a reality: for a long time, the legal profession has been viewed with suspicion and hostility by the Vietnamese government.
The fact that commune-level chairpersons have been granted the authority to revoke or temporarily suspend lawyers’ licenses is irrefutable evidence of this. Let’s wait and see!
Trà My – Thoibao.de
