Real estate and construction in Vietnam
Baker McKenzie's real estate practice has expertise in complex and high-value transactions and advisory work to developers. The multidisciplinary team led by Fred Burke also has experience in real estate finance and relevant tax matters. Special counsel Gia Long Nguyen focuses on hotels and resorts, including handling transnational work in this space and Richard Kim in Hanoi is popular among Korean clients.
Practice head(s):
Fred Burke
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The team is responsive, has good industry knowledge and gives pragmatic advice.’
‘Fred Burke and Gia Long Nguyen are extraordinary in always being on top of things and their industry knowledge. They offer pragmatic advice and are able to connect locality with international clients like ourselves.’
Key clients
Viglacera Land
HTL International
Wyndham Destinations Asia Pacific
Nam Ninh Trading and Investment Co. Ltd.
Hotel Plaza Company Limited
Tiyasiri
Mandarin Oriental
Fifth Avenue Vietnam Properties LLC
Phu Long Real Estate Corporation
Work highlights
- Advised Viglacera Land on a hotel management agremeent concerning a project on Quan Lan island.
- Advised HTL International on a transaction involving a 13ha industrial estate in Binh Duong province.
- Advised Wyndham on the bulk sale and purchase of 70 vacation club memberships to a Vietnamese developer for inclusion in condominium purchase benefit packages.
- Advising Nam Ninh Trading and Investment, which currently owns The Reed Hotel in Ninh Binh, on entering into hotel management agreements with Melia Hotels International.
Rajah & Tann LCT Lawyers covers a continuum of work in the space ranging from large deals through to construction disputes. Group head Vu Thi Que is instructed by major developers and Chinese and Japanese investors into the Vietnamese real estate. Tran Thi Phuong Thao undertakes vast transactional work in this space across industry sectors. Construction and property arbitration matters are handled by foreign counsel Logan Leung.
Practice head(s):
Vu Thi Que
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Mapletree
Keppel Land
AECOM
DP Architects
Work highlights
- Advised Mapletree Logistics Trust on its SG$43m purchase and lease back of warehouse facilities in Binh Duong province from Unilever.
At ZICO Law, the team is skilled in handling a large number of complex real estate-related transactions, including for foreign investors. The firm's Hanoi office managing partner, Phuong Nguyen, has expertise concentrated in structuring development projects and acquisitions for a client base including Japanese companies. Tay Zi Li advises property developers on acquisition and project finance matters. The team also contains Kevin Hawkins and Phuc Nguyen. Named individuals are based in Ho Chi Minh City unless otherwise stated.
Practice head(s):
Phuong Nguyen,
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
HongKong Land Ltd
Sotetsu Holdings Inc
Work highlights
- Advising Hongkong Land on a mixed-use project in a prime location in the central district of Ho Chi Minh City.
- Advising Sotetsu Holdings on a hotel project in Vietnam.
At Allen & Overy LLP, Duc Tran handles large cross-border investments for investors from elsewhere in ASEAN, as well as real estate finance and work for real estate funds. Managing partner Adam Moncrieff's broader finance practice includes real estate finance and Hai Ha is a notable senior associate.
Practice head(s):
Duc Tran; Adam Moncrieff
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
VinaCapital
Gaw Capital Partners
China Fortune Land Development (CFLD)
CapitaLand
Work highlights
- Advised CapitaLand on its SG$81.4m million purchase of a residential site in District 2 of Ho Chi Minh City.
Frasers Law Company's real estate practice provides clients, including foreign investors, with a full service around real estate deals. Led by Mark Fraser, Justin Gisz is the name to note for construction law advice. Hotels are one area of expertise.
Practice head(s):
Mark Fraser; Justin Gisz
Other key lawyers:
Vo Ngoc Minh Truc
Key clients
Ascina Capital
Cushman Wakefield
VinaCapital
Theodore Alexander
NVT Consulting Co., Ltd.
Navitas Ltd.
ON Semiconductor/V Trac
OFO
Advantage Partners
Bacardi Vietnam
VINA-CPK Co. Ltd.
Kimball Electronics
Origin Energy Australia
Work highlights
- Advised InterContinental Hotels Group on its IHG Ha Long Bay project.
Real estate and construction are core areas for VILAF, which handles multimillion-dollar transactions led by practice heads Nguyen Truc Hien and Dang Duong Anh. Notable expertise includes real estate financing, contracts and advisory work to long-standing sector-leading clients. In the Hanoi office, Tran Phong represents international sponsors and lenders on large scale-work and is reputable in advising international business on restructuring.
Practice head(s):
Nguyen Truc Hien; Dang Duong Anh
Other key lawyers:
Tran Tuan Phong
Key clients
CapitaLand
Vingroup
VinaCapital Group
Gamudaland
Creed Group
Hoa Lam
Nam Long Development Corporation
NoValand
Hoa Lam
Work highlights
- Advising Creed Group in relation to its investment in a residential complex project in Vietnam.
- Assisting Marubeni Corporation in relation to a claim against An Hoa Paper in an EPC contract.
ATS Law Firm has experience advising clients on development projects and real estate transactions. Vu Thi Thu Ha advises foreign investors, and Hanoi-based Tran Minh Chau is also a key member of the team.
Work highlights
- Assisting Phu Hai Son on management contracts concerning a complex of 5-star hotels, resorts and condominiums in Nha Trang with an affiliate of the Accor Group.
Audier & Partners Vietnam L.L.C. regularly advises construction companies, developers and investors on projects and transactions. Nicolas Audier is the key name in the practice, as is Bernadette Fahy in Hanoi who has a specialism in advisory work to the hotel industry.
Practice head(s):
Nicolas Audier
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Accor
Central Group
Neovia
DFDL Legal & Tax has experience in various real estate developments. Managing director Jérôme Buzenet leads the team, which handles advisory work on land acquisition, construction contracts and joint venture agreements. Tran Thi Vu Hanh advises foreign investors investing in Vietnam and elsewhere in the region; head of the Hanoi office Huynh Dai Thang is also active.
Practice head(s):
Jerome Buzenet; Tran Thi Vu Hanh
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Belt Road Capital Management
APX Capital Limited
Coco Beach
Work highlights
- Advised Belt Road Capital Management on its investment in a real estate project in Ho Chi Minh City.
- Advised Coco Beach on the sale of its project company.
At Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu, Hanoi-based Keigo Sawayama and Motohisa Nakagawa in Ho Chi Minh City undertake cross-border real estate matters for Japanese investors. This includes development projects, investments in existing buildings, leasing advice and construction matters.
Key clients
Tokyo LLC
Takara Leben Co., Ltd.
Work highlights
- Advising Takara Leben on an investment in a company building two condominium buildings in Hai Phong.
Nishimura & Asahi's real estate team provides advice on construction and investment deals for a range of Japanese clients. Kazuhide Ohya oversees the Ho Chi Minh City office, and Taro Hirosawa in Hanoi has wide-ranging experience in cross-border transactions. Hikaru Oguchi is the main partner to contact.
Practice head(s):
Hikaru Oguchi
Vina Legal has experience advising clients on urban development projects. Hanoi-based managing partner Duong Quang Long and Nguyen Bao Huy make up the core team.
Key clients
Colas Rails S.A
Vinh Tan 1 Power Company
Aon Vina Co., Ltd
BS Heidelberg Group
Sunshine Group
Vietnam National Textile and Garment Corporation
Thaigroup
VIG Group
Vietnam Multimedia Corporation
Cuu Long Infrastructure Development and Project Management Corporation
Power Consulting Joint-Stock Company