Enhancing effectiveness of legal support for businesses

Resolution No. 68-NQ/TW on private sector development sets a target for Vietnam to reach 2 million operating enterprises by 2030. To encourage the growth of the private sector and the business community, a range of solutions have been and continue to be implemented to build further momentum for enterprises to expand their production and business activities.

For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), state support measures play an important role in fostering development. Photo: Vuong The

Providing legal support for SMEs, along with close and effective coordination among organizations and agencies to strengthen enterprises’ legal capacity, is considered a key solution at present.

Weaknesses of small and medium-sized enterprises

Dong Nai is among the country’s leading localities in economic development, creating favorable conditions for the establishment and growth of tens of thousands of enterprises, the majority of which are SMEs.

Although prospects for future production and business development remain promising, SMEs still face numerous barriers, ranging from limited management capacity and difficulties accessing capital to challenges in developing strategies and connecting with markets. Notably, a longstanding weakness among SMEs is the lack of dedicated legal departments to handle issues arising in daily business operations.

At the national level, Dau Anh Tuan, Deputy Secretary General and Head of the Legal Department of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), noted that businesses are highly concerned about legal risks in their production and business activities. These risks stem not only from inconsistent changes in legal policies but also from the possibility that purely economic or civil relations could be criminalized. As a result, many enterprises, particularly SMEs, lack sufficient internal legal capacity and may become entangled in criminal proceedings when disputes arise.

According to Dau Anh Tuan, early legal advisory services should be established at government departments, sectors, and business associations to help enterprises identify potential legal risks and address them at an early stage, while also supporting them throughout the resolution process. Once private enterprises no longer fear legal risks, they will be more confident in investing, innovating, and contributing further to the economy.

At the local level, Dong Nai has been strengthening solutions to support businesses. On December 31, 2025, the provincial People’s Committee issued Plan No. 235/KH-UBND on legal support for SMEs in 2026. The plan aims to implement a project to improve the quality and effectiveness of legal support for enterprises during the 2021–2030 period in the province, while addressing the existing legal challenges faced by SMEs.

The key objective is to facilitate access to legal information, enabling enterprises to quickly grasp legal regulations and enhance their knowledge of business law. The plan also includes training programs to improve the professional skills of legal staff and enterprise managers. These efforts are expected to raise awareness and help enterprises proactively prevent legal risks while operating more effectively.

To fully benefit from the province’s support policies, enterprises are encouraged to actively send personnel to participate in training courses and legal knowledge workshops organized by the province. They should also regularly update legal information from official online sources and apply it in corporate governance. When encountering legal difficulties, enterprises are advised to proactively contact competent authorities and business associations for timely assistance.

Coordinated implementation of support solutions

Experts note that limited scale and scarce legal resources, combined with a legal system that is increasingly comprehensive and frequently updated, have created several bottlenecks for many enterprises. Most SMEs lack specialized legal departments, and their ability to access, update, and apply new legal regulations remains limited, posing potential risks.

Alongside the province’s overall policies, relevant organizations in Dong Nai have been stepping up coordination to support enterprises in legal matters. In recent years, bodies such as the Dong Nai Bar Association, the Dong Nai Business Federation, and the Dong Nai Young Entrepreneurs Association have signed cooperation agreements to provide legal training and support for local businesses.

Meanwhile, the Dong Nai Lawyers Association has developed and implemented its legal support plan for enterprises in 2026. The plan focuses on promoting legal dissemination aligned with practical needs, strengthening direct legal consultation and assistance, providing feedback on policies related to production and business activities, and expanding cooperation with departments, sectors, and business associations to establish an effective, coordinated support network.

At the same time, the Dong Nai Young Entrepreneurs Association has been promoting initiatives to support startup enterprises. The association plans to establish the Dong Nai Startup Support Center under its management.

According to Dang Quoc Nghi, Chairman of the Dong Nai Young Entrepreneurs Association, the center is envisioned as a non-profit organization with key functions including enterprise management training, consulting on business model development, providing legal advisory services, connecting startups with investors and investment funds, and building a network of experts and mentors to foster the development of the province’s startup ecosystem.

By Vuong The - Translated by M.Nguyet, Minho