Vu Thanh Minh

Ms. Thanh Minh Vu is a seasoned legal professional with over 17 years of experience in external and in-house counsel roles. She holds the position of Partner at LNT & Partners and serves as the Managing Partner of the Hanoi office. In addition, she leads the firm's Financial Services practice group.

Throughout her career, Minh has provided expert counsel to a diverse clientele, including foreign investors, domestic companies, and regulatory agencies in Vietnam. Her areas of specialization encompass tax, investment, banking and finance, M&A, infrastructure, and labor matters. Her client portfolio spans international conglomerates, publicly listed companies, financial institutions, and private enterprises.

Before joining LNT & Partners, Minh was Head of the Legal Department at Vietnam Chemical Finance JSC (VCFC), a credit institution now known as Lotte Finance.

Minh's exceptional legal acumen has earned her recognition on the international stage. She has received accolades such as 'Rising Star (Corporate M&A)' by Asialaw Leading Lawyer in 2023, 'Future Stars (Energy and Construction)' by Benchmark Litigation in 2023, and 'Recommended Lawyer in Banking and Finance, and Project and Energy' by Legal 500 Asia Pacific in 2022. Her achievements also include being named a 'Rising Star (Corporate M&A)' by Asialaw Leading Lawyer in 2022, 'Recommended Lawyer in Banking and Finance, Project and Energy, and Corporate and M&A' by Legal 500 Asia Pacific in 2021, and 'ALB Asia 40 Under 40' by Asian Legal Business, Thomson Reuters, in 2021.

Minh has played a pivotal role in significant financial transactions, and her insights on novel legal issues have been featured in Vietnam Investment Review and Vietnam News. Clients appreciate her adaptability in navigating Vietnam's rapidly evolving regulatory landscape and her ability to provide clarity on intricate legal matters. Numerous ranking associations acknowledge her rising star status in many sectors. Minh is also honored to serve as a visiting lecturer at the Academy of Justice in Vietnam

• Advised two steps loan agreements from JBIC and significant Japanese banks for Vietcombank to set up two credit lines totaling up to USD500 million to support green energy and environmental preserving projects in Vietnam.
• Advised Dakdrinh Hydropower JSC (PV Power DHC) on a $95 million loan agreement with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and Natixis Bank to refinance the 125MW Dakdrinh Hydropower Plant Project, the largest-scale project on the hydropower ladder system on the Tra Khuc river basin and a key work in the national electricity development planning. This is the first loan of AIIB, a multilateral development bank with 103 member countries, in the field of infrastructure and is a loan without government guarantee.
• Advised in obtaining unconditional clearance from Vietnamese authorities for a strategic acquisition exceeding $30 billion. This landmark deal involved General Electric (GE), one of the world's leading multinational companies active in the Power, Renewable Energy, Aviation, and Healthcare industries, completed the global sale of its GE Capital Aviation Services business (GECAS) to the global leader in aircraft leasing, AerCap Holdings N.V.
• Advised PetroVietnam Power Corporation (PV Power), Vietnam's second largest power producer, on the sale and purchase contract of DLC Complex Project's office building with DLC Real Estate Co., Ltd (DLC).
• Advised BW Industrial Development Joint Stock Company (BW) on its transaction to lease 74,000sq.m of prime landbank in the Bac Tien Phong Industrial Zone in Quang Ninh, developed by DEEP C Industrial Zones (DEEP C). Given its prime location, extensive expressway networks, and excellent connectivity to densely populated centres, major manufacturing clusters, ports and airports, the project will be most ideally suited to export manufacturers and tenants seeking alternative port-based locations to Hai Phong
• Advised PetroVietnam Power Corporation (PVPower) on the equitisation of, and sale to a strategic investor of PetroVietnam’s shares in, PVPower.
• Advised China Construction Bank (HCMC Branch) on a USD 73 million syndicated loan for the development of Hailide’s USD 150 million fiber textile complex in Tay Ninh (Vietnam).
• Advised Eximbank, Shinhan Bank and Bangkok Bank on a VND 595 billion syndicated loan to finance for the development of a power plant.
• Advised Vietcombank on a USD 75 million loan to Saigon Hanoi Bank.
• Advised a local counsel for a Chinese bank on a USD 150 million revolving loan to a state-owned bank in Vietnam.
• Advised a bank in a project finance for an oil rig for PetroVietnam Drilling Overseas.
• Advised Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) on the negotiation of an offtake agreement with Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical LLC (NSRP).
• Assisted the merger in Vietnam in terms of obtaining the State Bank of Vietnam's approval and other approvals for the transaction. The deal is global in scope and valued at USD 3.8 billion. It is also innovative because this was the first time two foreign banks have merged in the territory of Vietnam.
• Advised a foreign credit institution on an acquisition of a weak performing local credit institution. The deal is completely novel and unprecedented.
• Advised Vietnam Public Joint Stock Commercial Bank (PVCombank) on a USD 140 million loans with China Development Bank (Beijing) using LMA form.
• Advised Vietcombank on a two-step loan agreement with JBIC, worth up to $ 200 million.
• Advised Renova, Inc. and Power Construction No.1 JSC on contracts related to wind power plant development.
• Advised Samsung Vina Electronics Co., Ltd on application for licensing for SamSung Pay application.
• Advised on merger and acquisition procedure between Doosan Vina and Genera Electric. Advised on state divestment of Hanoi Beer Alcohol and Beverage Joint Stock Corporation.

• Banking
• Competition
• M&A
• Financial services regulatory
• Investment funds

• Banking
• Energy
• Oil and gas
• Utilities
• Tech and telecoms

• Vietnam Bar Federation
• Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association
• International Bar Association

• VietnamBanks Association – Banking Legal Club

• LL.B., Hanoi University of Law, (2008)
• LL.M., Hanoi National University, Vietnam, (2012)