Vietnam Advances Legal Reforms and Defence Strengthening

Vietnam is accelerating efforts to ensure the consistency of its legal system and strengthen its defence-related laws. This includes amending and supplementing nine laws concerning the military and national defence. The Standing Committee of the National Assembly (NA) continued its fourth session on July 27, reviewing a draft law amending and supplementing provisions to nine military and defence laws to ensure consistency across Vietnam’s legal framework. Under Resolution No. 11/2026/UBTVQH16, the NA Standing Committee added several draft laws to the 2026 agenda for both discussion and approval at the second session of the 16th NA, scheduled for October. Party General Secretary and State President To Lam said the achievements gained so far mark a significant shift from viewing inspections solely as a tool to detect violations to recognising them as an important mechanism for improving institutions and strengthening national governance. As a proactive and responsible member, Vietnam has demonstrated its ability to build consensus, foster cooperation, and maintain balance amid an increasingly complex geopolitical environment in the region, said Beni Sukadis, Senior Coordinator at the Indonesian Institute for Defence and Strategic Studies (LESPERSSI). The official visit to Vietnam by President of the Cambodian National Assembly Samdech Khuon Sudary is expected to open a new chapter in the history of relations between the two legislatures. The visit aims to deepen people-to-people bonds, particularly through the legislative framework, while delivering on agreements reached by the two parties during their high-level meeting in Phnom Penh in February. Furthermore, Vietnam is working to strengthen cross-sector and cross-pillar coordination within ASEAN by developing monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. This effort underscores Vietnam's role as a proactive and responsible member of the bloc. Vietnam has positioned the building of national resilience as its fourth strategic shift. The objective is not to eliminate every possible risk, but to strengthen the country's ability to adapt and recover when disruptions occur. These legal reforms and defence strengthening initiatives are seen as part of Vietnam's strategy to maintain domestic stability and growth while navigating a complex international landscape. While legal reforms under the one-party system aim to enhance governance efficiency, transparency and their impact on citizens remain key considerations.