VILAF

Banking & Finance, Capital Markets, Corporate/M&A and Project & Infrastructure

Founding Partner

Phong is recommended as  a top-tier  lawyer  in the  banking & finance and capital  market practice (Legal 500, IFLR 1000 and AsiaLaw) and the M&A practice (Legal 500, Chambers & Partners and ALB Asia).

Phong has been recognised as a market leader by IFLR 1000 in banking & finance, corporate and infrastructure & energy. Who’s Who Legal recognised him as an expert in Energy and Aviation sectors and IFLR1000 has ranked him as an Asia Best Lawyer since 2019 (Vietnam’s top 4 lawyers). Legal 500 honoured him in the Legal 500 Asia Pacific Hall of Fame, among top 7 foreign and Vietnamese lawyers in this elite lawyer group for Vietnam. Phong is listed in the Vietnam’s top 100 lawyers list of Asia Business Law Journal and ranked ALB Asia 2021's Top 15 M&A Lawyers and ALB 2023’s Super 50 TMT Lawyers.

With 30 years’ board experience in law practice, Phong has represented numerous international sponsors and lenders in relation to foreign invested projects in oil & gas, power, chemical, automobile, aircraft, sea-port, highway, telecommunication, insurance, real estate development, retail and distribution, and consumer goods industries. He is reputable in advising international businesses and banks on corporate restructuring and financing, share subscriptions, mergers and acquisitions transactions, ECA and syndicated financing, asset financing, and project financing in Vietnam. He has been involved in most BOT and high-profile infrastructure projects in Vietnam including AES – Son My 2 LNG to Power Project and Son My Terminal Project, Marubeni Corporation and WTO – Omon II LNG to Power Project, the Consortium of Sponsors – Quang Ninh LNG to Power Project, the Sponsor – Hai Phong LNG to Power Project, Taekwang Power (previously K-Exim and K-Sure as the potential ECAs) – Nam Dinh 1 Power Project, Marubeni Corporation/KEPCO - Nghi Son 2 Power Project, Sumitomo Corporation - Van Phong 1 Power Project, AES – Mong Duong 2 Power Project, VAPCO – Vung Ang 2 Power Project, OneEnergy/Mitsubishi - Vinh Tan 3 Power Project, Chinese sponsors - Vinh Tan 1 Power Project, ITACO - Kien Luong 1 Power Project, Chevron - gas pipeline project, Premier Oil - gas transportation, Shell downstream projects, Phu My 2.2 Power Project, Wartsila BOT Power Project, Binh An BOT Water Project. His banking clients include Citibank, Standard Chartered Bank, SMBC, BTMU, CBA, etc. He also assisted the arrangers and Black Spade Acquisition Co in connection with the successful closing of US$23 billion SPAC combination and the Nasdaq listing of Vietnam EV maker VINFAST (VFS). Additionally, he represented issuers and arrangers in many landmark transactions, including Vingroup’s convertible and SGX-listed bonds, Vinacomin’s international bonds, and Vingroup’s strategic M&A deals with GIC, Credit Suisse, Hanwha, Warburg Pincus, SK, and Masan. His experience further extends to the Rule 144A international placements and HOSE listings for Vincom Retail and Vinhomes, as well as various overseas IPOs/listing transactions.

Vietnamese, English

IBA, AmCham, VBF, VBLC, APLMA

Hanoi Law University, LL.B., 1995

Tulane University (US), LL.M., 2002 with distinction, Fulbright Scholarship

Phong is a highly regarded attorney for his admirable capacity to provide practical solutions that well suit the clients' needs.  The Legal 500, commented “Tran Tuan Phong, the founding partner, with his broad, strategic, balanced view is the uniquely top lawyer in the field. Creative and deep experienced team led by the founding partner, Mr. Tran Tuan Phong, providing excellent advice from various angles to see the possible solutions to difficult subjects in the projects and energy sector in Vietnam, especially at the juncture of delicate development of various energy projects in the country” (2021 Edition), “Phong Tran is possessing strong banking and capital market acumen to competently advise on complex regional and international transactions.” (2024 Edition) and “Phong is excellent in problem-solving and strategy planning” (2025 Edition). The AsiaLaw, 2020 Edition, said Phong “Very innovative and problem solving as well as understanding the client's issue and providing excellent advice.” Phong is highly rated by market commentators, who say he has “very positive and problem-solving” with “deep knowledge of the power sector and project finance deals.” (IFLR 1000 2021 Edition) and he is “a highly respected projects lawyer who is widely recognised as a specialist in infrastructure and power project financing and acquisitions” (Chambers & Partners 2023 Edition). Phong is “profound and versatile knowledge; high ethics” (IFLR 1000 2022 Edition), “Always provides professional advice” (IFLR 1000 2025 Edition) and widely recognised as “a specialist in infrastructure and power project financing and acquisitions.” (Chambers and Partners 2022 Edition). Clients recently commented Phong that “He’s creative and can understand and structure complex transactions to achieve commercial success” (Chambers and Partners 2024 Edition), “Mr. Phong made a road for success for IPP and BOT businesses based on his deep knowledge and good relationship with regulatory authorities” (Chambers and Partners 2025 Edition) and “Phong’s strategic approach and practical insights significantly contributed to achieving favourable outcomes in complex transactions.” (Chambers and Partners 2026 Edition)