TAND khu vực sau 1/7/2025 — thẩm quyền cụ thể (Luật sư Lê Bình Phương phân tích)Regional People's Courts from 1 July 2025 — Jurisdiction in Detail (Analysis by Lawyer Lê Bình Phương)

Reference translation for convenience. The Vietnamese version is the authoritative text.

Overview

The administrative reform effective 1 July 2025 abolished the district level and restructured the court system. District-level People’s Courts (TAND cấp huyện) no longer exist; they have been replaced by regional People’s Courts (TAND khu vực). Citizens, lawyers, and businesses need to understand the new jurisdiction clearly.

Relevant Legal Provisions

Law on Organisation of People’s Courts 2024 (Law No. 34/2024/QH15): From 1 July 2025, the People’s Court system comprises: the Supreme People’s Court, provincial-level People’s Courts, regional People’s Courts, and military People’s Courts.

Consolidated Civil Procedure Code 2025 — Article 35: Regional People’s Courts have first-instance jurisdiction over all civil, marriage and family, commercial business, and labour disputes — including cases involving foreign elements or assets located abroad.

Exceptions reserved for the People’s Courts of Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City: Applications to set aside or register arbitral awards.

Specialised Intellectual Property Division: The IP Division of Regional People’s Court No. 2 Hanoi and Regional People’s Court No. 1 Ho Chi Minh City have nationwide first-instance jurisdiction over intellectual property matters.

Analysis and Application

According to lawyer Lê Bình Phương, regional People’s Courts have jurisdiction over four categories of cases:

Category 1 — First-instance jurisdiction over all civil, marriage and family, commercial business, and labour disputes:

• Civil: land, inheritance, contracts, compensation for damage…
• Marriage and family: divorce, child custody, division of assets, child support…
• Commercial business: commercial contracts, company disputes…
• Labour: employment contracts, dismissal, disciplinary action…

Notably: From 1 July 2025, cases involving foreign elements (previously heard at the provincial level) are transferred to regional People’s Courts.

Category 2 — Applications for resolution of civil matters: Declarations of disappearance, presumed death, loss of civil capacity, recognition of uncontested divorce…

Category 3 — Setting aside individual decisions in civil proceedings: Regional People’s Courts may set aside an erroneous administrative decision when adjudicating a civil case.

Category 4 — IP Division: The two specialised IP Divisions handle all intellectual property and technology transfer cases nationally.

New Procedural Flow

Filing → Regional People’s Court (first instance) → Appeal → Provincial-level People’s Court (appeal) → Petition → Judicial Council of the provincial-level court or the Supreme People’s Court (cassation).

Territorial Jurisdiction

• Real property disputes: regional People’s Court where the land is located;
• Divorce: regional People’s Court where the defendant resides;
• Cases involving a foreign party: regional People’s Court where the plaintiff resides or where the assets are located.

Real-World Situation

Divorce involving a foreign element: Before 1 July 2025: filed at the provincial-level People’s Court. After: filed at the regional People’s Court where the plaintiff resides.

Intellectual property dispute: Filed at the IP Division of Regional People’s Court No. 1 Ho Chi Minh City (southern region) or Regional People’s Court No. 2 Hanoi (northern region).

Frequently Asked Questions

Which cases does a regional People’s Court have jurisdiction to hear?

First-instance jurisdiction over all civil, marriage and family, commercial business, and labour disputes — including cases involving foreign elements. Citizens no longer need to go to the provincial level.

How does a regional People’s Court differ from the former district-level court?

It is not simply a rename. Jurisdiction is broader, territorial coverage is larger, and there is a dedicated IP division.

What happens to cases still being heard at a district-level court before 1 July 2025?

They are transferred to the regional People’s Court with territorial jurisdiction and continue from the stage already reached.

Important Notes

Check the Court’s public services portal (toaan.gov.vn) to identify the correct regional People’s Court — do not use the old administrative district names.

Related Articles

• Court jurisdiction from 1 July 2025
• Overseas Vietnamese with land disputes in Vietnam
• Unilateral divorce procedure

Conclusion

From 1 July 2025, regional People’s Courts are the sole first-instance tier for almost all disputes — including those involving foreign elements. Provincial-level People’s Courts now handle only appeals and cassation. The reform simplifies procedure but requires an up-to-date understanding of the new framework.

See also: Who is Lawyer Lê Bình Phương?