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Minh Khê wrote this Vietnamese article, published in Luật Khoa Magazine on May 21, 2025. Thúc Kháng translated it into English for The Vietnamese Magazine.

The 9th session of the 15th National Assembly is underway in Hà Nội, running from May 5 to June 30. Lasting 37 days, it is expected to be the legislative body's session with the largest workload to date. National Assembly Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn confirmed its significance at the opening, stating, "This is a session with many very important content in all fields: constitutional making, legislation, supreme supervision, and deciding on important national issues."

On the agenda, lawmakers are scheduled to review and decide on 54 separate issues. This includes three resolutions on constitutional matters and 51 other laws and resolutions, in addition to providing opinions on six other draft laws.

This entire legislative push is guided by the Party's "strategic quartet," a set of four key resolutions focused on developing science and technology (Resolution 57), enhancing international integration (Resolution 59), reforming lawmaking and enforcement (Resolution 66), and promoting the private economic sector (Resolution 68).

Constitutional Overhaul and Administrative Reform One of the 9th session's key objectives is the amendment of the 2013 Constitution, the country's highest legal document. According to the timeline, the National Assembly will approve final resolutions on both the Constitution and the 2025 Local Government Organization Law before June 30. The process this year has been uniquely swift; on the opening day of May 5, the National Assembly adopted Resolution 195 to establish a drafting committee, approving the draft amendments with a unanimous 452/452 vote.

These amendments focus on two main issues: clarifying the role and structure of the Việt Nam Fatherland Front and restructuring the local government model into a two-level system. Other significant changes include granting the Prime Minister the authority to directly appoint the Chairpersons of provincial People's Committees (UBND), a role previously decided by the People’s Councils (HĐND). Additionally, the People’s Councils will no longer have the right to question the Chief Justice of the People's Court or the Director of the People’s Procuracy.

The public was given approximately one month, from May 6 to June 5, to provide feedback on the draft before it is expected to be passed by June 30 and take effect on July 1.

Running in parallel with the constitutional changes is a major reform of the 2025 Local Government Organization Law, presented by Minister of Home Affairs Phạm Thị Thanh Trà on May 7. This draft law provides the framework for the new two-level administrative system, defining the specific powers of provincial and grassroots authorities.

It is expected that by June 24, the National Assembly will pass a resolution based on this law to merge and reduce the country's administrative units to 34 provincial-level units and 3,321 grassroots units. This new two-level government model is scheduled to be officially implemented nationwide on July 1.

While the speed of the 2025 amendment is notable, frequent constitutional reform is common in Việt Nam. The nation has had seven official constitutions, with five enacted since 1946. Excluding the 1959 Constitution, which lasted 21 years, most have been amended or replaced every 10 to 12 years.

The creation of the current 2013 Constitution serves as a key example. The process began in 2011 as a plan to simply amend the 1992 Constitution. However, after two years of research, the National Assembly shifted its direction from a partial revision to drafting an entirely new constitution, which was ultimately approved on November 28, 2013.

Development of the Private Sector A major policy shift is underway to position Việt Nam's private sector as the "pioneering force" of the new era—a term first emphasized by General Secretary Tô Lâm in a speech on March 17. This vision was quickly translated into policy, beginning with the Politburo's Resolution 68 on May 4, which set the development orientation for the private economy until 2045.

Following this, the National Assembly quickly passed Resolution 198/2025 on May 17, establishing a comprehensive framework to promote the private economic sector. The resolution is built on five strategic pillars: improving the business environment, expanding access to resources, promoting digital transformation, developing human resources, and encouraging new business establishment.

The new framework introduces a wide range of benefits for businesses. To reduce bureaucratic hurdles, Resolution 198 requires regulatory agencies to cut inspection and audit times by 30% and limits routine inspections to once per year.

A host of financial incentives have also been rolled out:

For Green Initiatives: Businesses focused on green, circular, or ESG principles will receive support for loan interest rates at 2% per year. For Startups & SMEs: Innovative startups and high-tech companies are now exempt from taxes for their first two years and receive a 50% reduction in land rental fees for four years. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are exempt from taxes for their first three years. For Innovation: To spur innovation, businesses can now deduct research and development (R&D) expenses at 200% of the actual cost and can allocate up to 20% of their taxable income to a dedicated science and technology fund. The government has also announced the "10,000 CEO" training program, which aims to develop a new generation of business leaders by 2030.

This policy push builds on the private sector's already vital role in Việt Nam’s economy. Currently, the country's 940,000 businesses and five million business households contribute over 30% of state budget revenue, 82% of employment, and approximately 50% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The government has set ambitious targets to significantly expand this contribution. By 2030, the goal is for Việt Nam to have two million businesses contributing nearly 60% of GDP. By 2045, the target increases to over three million businesses contributing more than 60% of GDP. A specific focus is the formation of 1,000 businesses in technology, digital transformation, and green transition by 2030, which will be bolstered by mechanisms allowing private enterprise to participate in national projects, along with financial and logistical support.

VinSpeed's Bid for the North-South Expressway A significant development from the private sector has emerged with an ambitious proposal from VinSpeed, a newly-formed subsidiary of Vingroup, to lead the development of the mega North-South expressway project. The total investment for the project is estimated at a staggering $61.35 billion (approximately 1,560,000 billion dong).

The company has put forward a special investment model with highly favorable terms. VinSpeed would provide just 20% of the capital ($12.27 billion), with the remaining 80% ($49.1 billion) to be financed by a 35-year loan from the state budget at a 0% interest rate.

Furthermore, VinSpeed is requesting several unprecedented conditions:

A 99-year operation period for the expressway. The total state loan would not be considered part of Vingroup’s financial obligations. Exclusive rights to develop urban areas on the land along the expressway route to generate project funding. VinSpeed was only established in May 2025 with a charter capital of 6,000 billion dong—an amount that is less than 1% of the counterpart capital it would be required to provide for the project.

On May 15, The government instructed ministries to complete their evaluation reports on the proposal by May 22. The 15th National Assembly is scheduled to continue discussions and make a final decision on this proposal in its next session.

A Series of Approved Economic and Social Policies From May 5 to May 17, the National Assembly reviewed and discussed the majority of the 45 key items on its packed agenda. This legislative blitz covered wide-ranging economic and social fields, including amendments to the 2013 Constitution, 34 separate laws, and 11 resolutions.

According to National Assembly Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn, the approval of so many legal documents demonstrates a clear determination to reform the institutional framework and improve the legal system to meet the country's development requirements.

Luật Khoa Magazine reporters compiled a list of legal documents approved by the National Assembly:

Related to the Constitution and State Organizational Structure Proposal to amend and supplement certain articles of the 2013 Constitution Establishment of the Drafting Committee to amend and supplement certain articles of the 2013 Constitution Draft Law on Local Government Organization (amended) Draft Law on Civil Servants (amended) Draft Law amending and supplementing certain articles of the Law on the Organization of the People's Courts Draft Law amending and supplementing certain articles of the Law on the Organization of the People's Procuracy Draft Law amending and supplementing certain articles of the Law on the Election of National Assembly and People's Council Representatives Proposal on shortening the term of the 15th National Assembly and People’s Councils for the 2021-2026 term Proposal on the date of the national election for the 16th National Assembly and People’s Council Representatives for the 2026-2031 term Draft Resolution on amending and supplementing certain articles of the National Assembly session rules Related to Economy–Budget Draft Law amending and supplementing certain articles of the Law on the Use of Energy Efficiently Draft Law on Atomic Energy (amended) Draft Law amending and supplementing certain articles of the Law on Planning Draft Law amending and supplementing certain articles of the Law on Enterprises Draft Law on Special Consumption Tax (amended) Draft Law on Corporate Income Tax (amended) Draft Resolution replacing the Resolution on the pilot mechanism for the development of Hai Phong city Draft Law on Management and Investment of State Capital in Enterprises Draft Resolution on extending the exemption from agricultural land use taxes Draft Resolution on reducing value-added taxes Draft Law on the State Budget (amended) Draft Resolution on specific mechanisms and policies to promote the private economic sector Draft Law amending and supplementing certain articles of the Law on Public Procurement Draft Law amending and supplementing certain articles of the Law on Public-Private Partnership Investments Draft Law amending and supplementing certain articles of the Customs Law Draft Law amending and supplementing certain articles of the Law on Export and Import Taxes Draft Law amending and supplementing certain articles of the Law on Investments Draft Law amending and supplementing certain articles of the Law on Public Investments Draft Law amending and supplementing certain articles of the Law on the Management and Use of Public Assets Adjustments and supplements to the state budget estimate for 2025 Related to Culture–Society–Education–Science Technology Draft Law on Personal Data Protection Draft Law on Science, Technology, and Innovation Draft Law amending and supplementing certain articles of the Law on Product and Goods Quality Draft Law on Teachers Draft Law on Employment (amended) Draft Law on Digital Technology Industries Draft Law amending and supplementing certain articles of the Advertising Law Draft Law amending and supplementing certain articles of the Law on Standards and Technical Regulations Key Expressway Projects Under National Assembly Review On May 19, the National Assembly continued its review of two major highway investment projects: the Quy Nhơn–Pleiku expressway and the Biên Hòa–Vũng Tàu expressway. According to the Government's proposal, the combined investment for these two projects totals over $2.53 billion (more than 63,000 billion VND).

The proposed Quy Nhơn–Pleiku expressway is the larger of the two, with a projected cost of over $1.7 billion (43,700 billion dong). Its planned 125 km route would run 45 km through Bình Định province and 85 km through Gia Lai, with construction slated to begin in 2025 for completion by 2029.

For the Biên Hòa–Vũng Tàu expressway, lawmakers are considering a significant budget increase. The project initially cost approximately $687 million (17,800 billion dong), but that estimate has since risen by more than $142 million. The Prime Minister has now formally proposed that the National Assembly approve an increased total investment of $830 million (over 21,500 billion dong) to move the project forward.

Important Resolutions Approved by the National Assembly As of now, the National Assembly has approved five resolutions, including:

Resolution 194 on amending and supplementing certain articles of the 2013 Constitution. Resolution 195 on the establishment of the Drafting Committee to amend and supplement certain articles of the 2013 Constitution. Resolution 196 on adjusting and supplementing the state budget estimate for 2025. Resolution 197 on special mechanisms and policies in lawmaking and enforcement. Resolution 198 on specific mechanisms and policies to promote the private economic sector. The 9th session of the 15th National Assembly is being conducted in two phases. The first was scheduled to conclude on May 29, with the session resuming for its second phase from June 11 to June 30.

During the upcoming second phase, the National Assembly will decide on several more of the country's most significant issues. Key items on the agenda include setting the date for the next general election for the 16th National Assembly, giving final approval to the amendments of the 2013 Constitution, and voting on the proposal to merge provinces and cities into the new two-level government model.