Introduction of Front-End Engineering Design in Vietnam: Toward International Standards
Vietnam has entered a decisive phase in its infrastructure modernization, marked by the acceleration of large-scale, structuring projects such as metro lines, international airports, high-speed railways, and plans for a nuclear power plant.
To meet the complex technical, legal, and financial requirements of such projects, the country is progressively aligning its legal and regulatory framework with international standards.
As part of a series examining these legal developments, this first article looks at one of the principal drivers of this ongoing transformation: the introduction of Front-End Engineering Design (“FEED”), a methodology that helps define project parameters, reduce construction risks, and provide a robust foundation for tendering and financing.
Decree No. 123/2025/ND-CP - Elaborating on general technical design and specific mechanisms for certain railway projects - dated 11 June 2025 (“Decree 123”) introduced, for the first time, a legal framework for FEED in Vietnam. Currently limited to a number of pilot projects , its broader application is expected to be formalized through the draft Construction Law scheduled to come into effect in 2026 (“Draft Law”).
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