On September 14, 2025, the School of Law, Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) held an international scientific conference titled “Reforming Property Law in the New Era: International and Vietnamese Perspectives.”

The event attracted the participation of administrators, scholars, legal experts, and lawyers from various countries. Representing VNU were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Bao Son – Vice President of VNU, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Trong Diep – Party Secretary and Chairman of the School Council, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trinh Tien Viet – Acting Rector, Prof. Ignacio Tirado – Secretary-General of UNIDROIT, Prof. Meiling Huang – Director of the Asian Transnational Law Center, as well as many students, graduate students, and lecturers from the School of Law.

The conference sessions focused on both theoretical and practical aspects of property law. In the opening session, Prof. Ignacio Tirado emphasized the importance of an internationally standardized property law system for economic growth, reaffirming UNIDROIT’s mission to support countries in developing transparent and modern legal frameworks. Following that, Prof. Meiling Huang discussed global ownership and common resource rights, proposing a “shared rights” model instead of a purely “ownership-based” approach, aiming to build a more flexible and sustainable global legal order.

Vietnamese contributions also left strong impressions. Mr. Pham Tuan Hiep (Ministry of Science and Technology) presented reforms in managing state-funded scientific research assets, while Ms. Trinh Thi Huong (Ministry of Finance) discussed the linkage between property law and the Party’s Resolution No. 68 on private sector economic development.

During the discussion session on legal reform in the new era, various international perspectives were shared. Prof. Chen Xiaomin (China) compared two models of ownership definitions in civil law (French and German), noting that the German model is more modern as it emphasizes the role of the individual subject. In Vietnam, Mr. Nguyen Minh Duc (US-ASEAN Business Council) highlighted the legal gap concerning digital assets and data, as current regulations focus on security rather than ownership recognition. He suggested treating data as a form of trade secret and strengthening enforcement through technology. Prof. Xiong Bingwan (Renmin University of China) introduced the “bundle of rights” approach, allocating rights throughout the data lifecycle to foster the digital economy while expanding traditional property law principles. From Japan, Prof. Megumi Hara analyzed the legal framework for “crypto-property,” recognizing it as a new form of civil asset with ownership, security, and dispute resolution implications.

A notable highlight was the introduction of the Vietnamese translation of the UNIDROIT Principles on Digital Assets and Private Law, marking a significant academic milestone. The session emphasized the role of modern property law in promoting economic growth and ensuring sustainable access to credit. Prof. Ignacio Tirado presented the Principles as a standardized legal framework for digital assets, building upon successful international instruments such as the Cape Town Convention, aimed at reducing credit costs, increasing transparency, and attracting investment.

For Vietnam, the Principles are expected to expand access to affordable capital for enterprises and support digital economic development. Additionally, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Kien and the translation team (School of Law, VNU) introduced the Vietnamese version of the Principles, providing an essential academic and practical tool for legislators, researchers, and businesses in Vietnam to engage with and align to international legal standards on digital assets.