After a year of upheaval, the legal profession in Việt Nam faces another surprise blow from the authorities: Starting Aug. 1, 2026, phones, tablets, laptops, smartwatches, and devices capable of recording audio or video or transmitting or receiving electronic signals are barred from trials and court hearings without the presiding judge’s explicit permission. [1]

This new restriction is detailed in Article 4, Clause 3 of Circular 12/2026/TT-TANDTC. [2] It is no longer just a rule on paper, as the ban is already being actively enforced in courts. [3]