Navigating the complexities of the justice system requires the immediate expertise of a criminal lawyer in Vietnam to protect the legal rights and interests of individuals and organizations when matters with criminal signs arise. In criminal cases, having a lawyer involved from the very beginning helps clients clearly understand their rights and obligations, prepare necessary documents, orient the working method with procedure-conducting agencies, and limit unnecessary legal risks. As a prestigious law firm, Viet An Law provides criminal legal services in Vietnam, including criminal legal advice, defense lawyers for suspects and defendants, protection lawyers for victims, assistance in collecting documents and evidence, drafting petitions, complaints, and appeals, and participating in legal proceedings during the stages of resolving crime reports, investigation, prosecution, and trial. Viet An Law always accompanies clients on the basis of information confidentiality, respect for objective truth, and maximum protection of legal rights and interests in accordance with the law.
Quick summary of criminal lawyer services
| Content | Information |
| Main services | Criminal lawyer, defense lawyer, criminal legal advice |
| Supported subjects | Suspects, defendants, denounced persons, victims, persons with related interests |
| Stage of participation | Crime report, investigation, prosecution, trial, appeal, post-judgment |
| Lawyer’s work | Advising, researching dossiers, collecting documents, participating in legal proceedings, debating at court |
| Scope of support | Vietnamese people and foreigners involved in criminal matters in Vietnam |
| Contact | Hotline/Zalo/WhatsApp/Viber: (+84) 961 571 818 |
A Vietnam criminal lawyer is a legal professional with expertise in criminal law and criminal procedure who participates in a case to protect the legal rights and interests of participants in legal proceedings. Depending on the case, the lawyer may participate as a defense counsel for a denounced person, a person recommended for prosecution, a suspect, or a defendant, or as a protector of the legal rights and interests of a victim, a civil plaintiff, a civil defendant, and a person with related rights and obligations.
In certain criminal cases, the law stipulates that the accused person must have a defense counsel, particularly for cases with a severe penalty bracket, or when the accused is a person under 18 years old, or a person with physical or mental defects who cannot defend themselves. The participation of a lawyer in these circumstances contributes to ensuring the right to defense, the right to lawful protection, and objectivity in the process of resolving the case.
Clients should contact a criminal defense lawyer in Vietnam immediately when signs related to a criminal matter arise, and should not wait until the case has been transferred to the trial stage. The early participation of a lawyer helps to correctly assess the nature of the matter, determine the rights and obligations of related persons, prepare necessary documents, and limit errors during the process of working with competent agencies.
Some cases that should have the support of a lawyer for criminal cases in Vietnam include:
Viet An Law provides criminal defense services Vietnam residents and foreigners can rely on, serving individuals, enterprises, denounced persons, persons recommended for prosecution, suspects, defendants, victims, and persons with related rights and obligations in a criminal case. Depending on the procedural stage and the status of the dossier, the lawyer will advise on a suitable handling plan and protect the legal rights and interests of the client in accordance with the law.
| Service | Content supported by Viet An Law |
| Criminal legal advice | Advising on charges, penalty brackets, criminal liability, and aggravating or mitigating circumstances |
| Criminal defense lawyer | Participating in protecting the interests of denounced persons, suspects, and defendants during the proceedings |
| Protection of victims | Assisting in claiming compensation and protecting the legal interests of victims in criminal cases |
| Reviewing dossiers and documents | Examining documents, evidence, testimonies, petitions, and elements beneficial to the client |
| Advising on consequence remediation | Proposing plans for compensation, damage remediation, and requesting a reduction in criminal liability |
| Drafting petitions | Drafting letters of denunciation, petitions claiming innocence, petitions for mitigation, appeal petitions, and letters of complaint |
| Post-judgment advice | Advising on suspended sentences, postponement of sentence execution, expungement of criminal records, amnesty, and reduction of sentence serving time |
The differentiating factor of the criminal law firm in Vietnam services at Viet An Law is that we do not process dossiers in a generalized direction, but evaluate each case according to the client’s procedural role, the case resolution stage, the existing documents, and the legal objectives to be achieved. This approach helps clients clearly understand their rights, prepare a working plan with procedure-conducting agencies, and limit unnecessary legal risks.
| Document | Related content |
| Criminal Procedure Code 2015 | Right to defense, defense counsel, protector of legal interests |
| Law on Lawyers | Principles of practice, legal service contracts, lawyer remuneration |
| Decree 123/2013/ND-CP | Regulations on lawyer remuneration in criminal cases |
| Penal Code | Basis for determining charges, penalty brackets, and criminal liability |
The rights of a defense counsel are stipulated in Article 73 of the Criminal Procedure Code, including meeting and questioning the accused person, being present when taking testimonies, collecting and presenting evidence, and participating in questioning and debating at court.
A criminal lawyer plays an important role in protecting human rights, citizen rights, and the legal interests of parties in a criminal case. The participation of a lawyer contributes to helping the procedural process be carried out objectively and lawfully, avoiding the unjust conviction of innocent people and not letting criminals go unpunished.
In a criminal case, the lawyer can assist the client in analyzing the dossier, evaluating evidence, advising on defense strategies, participating in interrogations, working with procedure-conducting agencies, debating at court, requesting the application of mitigating circumstances, or complaining and appealing when there are lawful grounds.
| Stage | Work of the criminal lawyer |
| Resolving crime reports and denunciations | Advising on rights, participating in working sessions, presenting documents and evidence, making recommendations, and complaining if necessary |
| Investigation stage | Meeting and questioning the accused person; participating in interrogations; requesting the collection of evidence; recommending changes to preventive measures |
| Prosecution stage | Researching the dossier, evaluating the indictment, proposing evidence and mitigating circumstances, or grounds for exculpation |
| Trial stage | Participating in the court session, questioning, debating, presenting defense arguments, or protecting the interests of the victim |
| After the first-instance judgment | Advising on appeals, requesting a reduction of penalties, postponing sentence execution, expunging criminal records, or related procedures |
Procedures for retaining a defense lawyer in a criminal case in Vietnam
| Step | Content |
| Step 1 | The client or their relatives contact the lawyer |
| Step 2 | Providing case information, summons, and procedural decisions if any |
| Step 3 | The lawyer evaluates the case stage and the scope of work |
| Step 4 | Signing a legal service contract |
| Step 5 | The lawyer carries out procedures to register for defense or participate in protecting interests |
| Step 6 | The lawyer participates in working sessions, researches the dossier, litigates, and supports the client |
The cost of hiring a lawyer for criminal proceedings in Vietnam depends on the nature of the case, the procedural stage, the lawyer’s scope of work, the location of participation in the proceedings, and the complexity of the dossier. Unlike many regular legal services, the remuneration of a lawyer participating in legal proceedings in a criminal case is not only agreed upon by the lawyer and the client but must also comply with the ceiling rate prescribed by law.
According to the provisions of the Law on Lawyers and Decree 123/2013/ND-CP, lawyer remuneration in a criminal case can be calculated by the hour or as a lump sum per case, but the highest rate for one hour of the lawyer’s work must not exceed 0.3 times the statutory base wage prescribed by the Government. From July 1, 2026, the statutory base wage is 2,530,000 VND per month. Regarding lawyer remuneration for participating in proceedings in a criminal case, the law stipulates a limit on hourly remuneration. In case of calculation by the hour, the highest rate for one hour of the lawyer’s work does not exceed 0.3 times the statutory base wage.
| Cost category | Content to note |
| Lawyer remuneration | Agreed upon in the legal service contract, but must comply with the ceiling rate for criminal cases |
| Dossier research cost | Depends on the volume of documents and evidence, the case stage, and the complexity of the dossier |
| Cost of participating in proceedings | May arise when the lawyer participates in working sessions, interrogations, confrontations, court sessions, or other procedural activities |
| Travel and accommodation costs | Applied when the lawyer must participate in proceedings outside the office area or in multiple localities |
| Petition drafting cost | Applied when the client requests the drafting of letters of denunciation, petitions claiming innocence, petitions for mitigation, appeal petitions, or related documents |
| Other arising costs | Only incurred upon prior agreement with the client |
Viet An Law does not apply a fixed fee for all criminal cases, because each dossier has different circumstances, evidence, charges, procedural stages, and requirements for protecting interests. After receiving the initial information, the lawyer will evaluate the scope of work to be performed and clearly quote the fee before signing the legal service contract.
For cases involving difficult circumstances, policy families, or signs of wrongful conviction requiring timely legal assistance, Viet An Law will consider support policies, waiving or reducing a portion of the service cost depending on the specific case. The law also encourages law practice organizations to waive or reduce remuneration for the poor and policy beneficiaries when participating in criminal cases.
It is necessary to distinguish between a lawyer hired by the client under a legal service contract and a lawyer participating in the proceedings at the request of procedure-conducting agencies. For cases where the lawyer participates at the request of procedure-conducting agencies, the remuneration is paid according to a separate mechanism, equal to 0.4 times the statutory base wage for one working day according to relevant regulations.
Clients who need to hire a criminal lawyer, a defense lawyer for suspects and defendants, or a lawyer to protect victims should contact Viet An Law early to have their dossier examined, receive advice on handling plans, and receive a fee quotation suitable for each specific case.
Criminal legal advice in Vietnam is an activity to assist Vietnamese and foreign individuals and organizations who have violated criminal laws, or victims, to clearly understand the regulations on charges, criminal liability, penalty brackets, procedural order, and the rights and obligations of the parties in a criminal case. Timely advice helps clients correctly determine the direction of handling, avoiding declaring, providing documents, or performing acts detrimental to their legal rights.
Viet An Law provides legal representation in criminal cases Vietnam wide, advising denounced persons, persons recommended for prosecution, suspects, defendants, victims, witnesses, civil plaintiffs, civil defendants, and persons with related rights and obligations in a criminal case.
| Advice group | Supported content |
| Advising on charges | Determining charges, penalty brackets, and aggravating or mitigating circumstances |
| Defense advice | Advising on defense plans, alibi evidence, and mitigating circumstances |
| Advising for victims | Claiming compensation and protecting property, health, honor, and dignity |
| Advising on leniency measures | Suspended sentences, exemption from criminal liability, mitigation of penalties, and amnesty |
| Post-trial advice | Appeals, postponement of sentence execution, expungement of criminal records, and copying judgments |
| Advising on procedural complaints | Complaining against procedural decisions and acts of competent agencies and persons |
Beyond defending the accused, a criminal lawyer also participates in protecting the legal rights and interests of victims in a criminal case. The lawyer can assist the victim in presenting requests, providing documents and evidence, requesting compensation for damages, and participating in the court session to protect their legal rights.
For the victim, having the support of a lawyer ensures that the compensation claim is presented fully and on correct grounds, limiting the omission of rights during the case resolution process.
Viet An Law provides the services of a criminal lawyer for foreigners in Vietnam in cases involving foreign elements, including foreigners who are denounced persons, suspects, defendants, victims, or persons with related rights and obligations. For this client group, the lawyer not only advises on criminal law but also supports issues related to language, personal identification documents, residence, immigration, and coordination with relatives or enterprises.
| Service | Supported content for foreigners |
| Advising on rights and obligations | Explaining rights, obligations, and the criminal procedural order in Vietnam |
| Criminal defense lawyer | Protecting the interests of foreigners who are denounced persons, suspects, and defendants |
| Protecting foreigners who are victims | Assisting in claiming compensation and protecting legal interests when a foreigner is a victim in a case |
| Supporting dossiers and translations | Coordinating the handling of personal papers, passports, visas, residence documents, and necessary translations |
| Working with relatives and enterprises | Assisting the family, company, or related organization in clearly understanding the legal status of the matter |
| Post-case advice | Advising on arising issues regarding residence, immigration, a work permit in Vietnam, visas, and temporary residence cards after the case is resolved |
The differentiating factor of criminal lawyer services for foreigners at Viet An Law is the ability to combine criminal advice, civil advice, damage compensation, and legal issues related to residence in Vietnam. Viet An Law helps foreigners and their relatives clearly understand the procedural process, prepare appropriate dossiers, and have a plan to protect their legal interests in each stage of the matter.
Viet An Law supports clients in drafting documents to serve the criminal procedural process, including:
| Step | Implementation content | Result |
| Step 1 | Receiving case information | Determining the need for advice, defense, or protection of interests |
| Step 2 | Reviewing initial documents | Preliminary evaluation of charges, procedural stage, and legal risks |
| Step 3 | Advising on a handling plan | The client clearly understands their rights, obligations, and direction of resolution |
| Step 4 | Signing a legal service contract | Determining the scope of work, cost, and lawyer’s responsibilities |
| Step 5 | Lawyer participates in proceedings | Working with procedure-conducting agencies and protecting client interests |
| Step 6 | Tracking and supporting post-case | Advising on appeals, sentence execution, expungement of criminal records, or related procedures |
Viet An Law, with nearly 20 years of practice, is an experienced legal advisory unit across many fields, including dispute resolution in Vietnam, criminal law, and criminal procedure for Vietnamese people and foreigners involved in criminal matters in Vietnam. Upon receiving a case, the lawyers of Viet An Law always prioritize information confidentiality, respect for objective truth, and the protection of the legal rights and interests of the client.
Clients choose Viet An Law because:
It is advisable to retain a lawyer immediately upon the occurrence of a crime report, denunciation, summons for a working session, temporary custody decision, prosecution decision, or when the client needs to protect their interests in a criminal case.
A lawyer can participate from the stage of resolving crime reports and denunciations, investigation, prosecution, trial, and post-judgment procedures in accordance with the law.
Yes. A criminal lawyer can participate in defending a suspect or defendant, researching the dossier, collecting documents, presenting evidence, debating at court, and protecting the legal interests of the accused person.
Yes. A victim should have a lawyer’s support to protect their interests, claim compensation for damages, and participate in the procedural process according to regulations.
The lawyer does not absolutely guarantee the outcome of the case. The lawyer performs services based on legal provisions, documents, evidence, the progression of the case, and professional responsibility.
The cost of a criminal lawyer depends on the nature of the case, the procedural stage, the scope of work, the location of participation, and the complexity of the dossier. Viet An Law will quote the fee after receiving and evaluating the initial information.
Yes. Relatives or lawful representatives can contact a lawyer to receive advice on the procedures for hiring a defense lawyer in accordance with the law.
A lawyer can meet and question the accused person in accordance with the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code and according to the order implemented by the competent agency.
Yes. A lawyer can advise on the grounds for an appeal, draft the appeal petition, and participate in protecting the client’s interests during the appellate stage.
Yes. Foreigners involved in criminal matters in Vietnam should have a lawyer’s support to clearly understand their rights, obligations, the procedural order, language issues, residence documents, and their legal interests.
Clients needing criminal legal advice, looking to hire a defense lawyer, seeking a lawyer to protect a victim, or requiring assistance in resolving a criminal case should contact Viet An Law to be supported promptly by a legal specialist and a trusted criminal lawyer in Vietnam.
Hotline/Zalo/WhatsApp/Viber: (+84) 961 571 818
Email: info@vietanlaw.com
Offices: Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City
Scope of support: Criminal legal advice and criminal lawyers nationwide.
Supported subjects: Vietnamese people and foreigners who are victims or commit crimes in Vietnam.
