Arbitration award is
final and binding upon the parties. The arbitral award takes effect from the
date of its issuance and is not subject to appeal and protest which is a
feature of dispute resolution through commercial arbitration. Therefore, the
regulations on annulment of arbitral award should be carefully implemented to
closely monitor these awards, ensure compliance with the laws and protect the
interests of the parties involved. This is an important matters to discuss when
lawyers specializing in dispute through commercial arbitration encounter when
requested by the client to assist the enforcement of the arbitral awards under
Vietnam laws.
Annulment of arbitral
award also known as setting aside is means that the Court as a juridical
authority is entitled to review such award upon request of parties in dispute
in case there is a ground proving that the arbitral award belongs to one of the
annulment cases under the laws. The competent court to take this action is the
provincial court of locality at which the parties agree or at which the Arbitral
tribunal given the award.
An arbitral award in
contrary to the fundamental principles of Vietnam laws is one of five grounds
to set aside. The Court is responsible for verifying and collecting evidences
to determine whether or not to annul the arbitral award; the requesting party
is responsible for other grounds.
Fundamental principles
of Vietnam laws are the basic principles impacting the formation and
implementation of Vietnam laws. Each law or code contains those principles on
its own. Arbitration awards are respected by laws, however within the boundary
permitted by laws to not infringe the interests of concerned parties and the
national interests, which has been mostly referred to by the court.
When reviewing a
request for annulment of arbitral award, the court shall determine whether the
award violates any fundamental principle and how such principle concerns or
bind the dispute settlement of arbitrator. The court shall set aside an
arbitral award in case it contains decisions in contrary to any fundamental
principle of Vietnam laws which are not abided by arbitral tribunal upon issue
of the arbitral award and the arbitral award seriously infringe upon the
interest of the state, the lawful rights and interests of either party or
parties, third parties.
In order to apply this
fundamental principle ground, the Court may review the application of
substantive law decided by the Arbitral Tribunal, as such, the Court may review
legal issues of case. In the meantime, Vietnam Courts are not entitled to
review the substantive matters resolved by the arbitral tribunal when reviewing
request of requesting parties, the Courts are permitted to refer annulment
cases stipulated by laws and evidences proving its conclusion. Therefore, the
above restriction conflicts with the ground which is annulment of arbitralawards caused by violation of fundamental principles of Vietnamese laws. In
fact, to consider whether or not to violate the fundamental principles, the
Courts seem to review the substantive matters of dispute to make an argument
for its decision.
Hence to improve the
efficiency and judicial system under Vietnam laws, it is expected that the
fundamental principle ground to cause annulment arbitral award of arbitrator should
be instructed in more detail in Vietnam laws to improve the independence of the
Arbitral Tribunal and avoid the Vietnam Court trying to re-resolve the
substantive matters.
ANT Lawyers –
Arbitration law firm in Vietnam with international standard, local expertise
and strong international network. We focus on customers’ needs and provide
clients with a high quality legal advice and services. For advice or service
request, please contact us via email ant@antlawyers.vn, or call us +84 24 730
86 529.