Procedures
A 2012 Civil Procedure Law with People's Courts at four levels
The Law on Civil Procedure of 2012 governs civil litigation before the People's Courts, which sit at district, provincial, appellate and supreme levels. Village mediation units handle a substantial volume of minor disputes before any court involvement, and this pre-court layer is a genuine feature of the system rather than an optional step.
Governing law
- Law on Civil Procedure, No. 13/NA of 2012 — Civil litigation procedure.
- Law on People's Courts, 2017 — Court structure and jurisdiction.
In practice
Village Mediation Units attempt resolution of minor civil disputes before court filing. District People's Courts hear most first-instance civil claims; provincial courts hear larger matters. Appeal lies to the Appellate Court and then to the People's Supreme Court. The Law on Civil Procedure sets time limits for filing and for each procedural stage. Skipping village mediation where it applies can result in a filing being refused. Enforcement of judgments runs through the Ministry of Justice enforcement offices and is slow in practice.