Transgender Rights under International Human Rights Law and the Incorporation Process in Vietnam: Barriers, Challenges and Paths Forward
Summary: 1. Introduction. – 2. Methodology. – 3. The Right to Gender Reassignment under International Human Rights Law and Trends of Countries. – 4. Views and Public Opinions on Recognising Transgender Rights in Vietnam. – 4.1. Is Transgenderism a Personal Right?. – 4.2. What are the Conditions for Being Recognised as a Transgender Person?. – 4.3. How Many Times Can an Individual Change his/her Gender?. – 5. Vietnam’s Efforts in Building a Legal Basis to Ensure Transgender Rights. – 5.1. Changes in Perception and Ideas Toward Codifying Transgender Rights. – 5.2. Vietnam's Efforts in Recognising Transgender Rights and Implementing International Commitments. – 6. Discussion on the Challenges to the Recognition of Transgender Rights and the Implementation of the Laws on Transgender in Vietnam. – 6.1. The Impact of Confucian Ideology on Transgender Rights. – 6.2. Social Barriers and Challenges: Stigma and Discrimination Against Transgender People. – 6.3. Barriers and Challenges in Performing and Enforcing Laws Related to Transgender People. – 6.4. Barriers and Challenges Related to Beliefs and Religions. – 7. Conclusion.
Background: On 24 November 2015, during its 13th term, the National Assembly adopted the 2015 Civil Code, which introduced fundamental amendments concerning individual personal rights. Among the provisions that drew significant domestic and international attention was Article 37, which legalised gender transition procedures. This development marked a breakthrough in the recognition and protection of personal rights, particularly human rights, and positioned Vietnam as the 62nd country worldwide and the 11th in Asia to permit individuals to change their gender. Nonetheless, as gender transition remains a relatively new legal regulation, placed in the context of Vietnam, the recognition and implementation of this right for individuals still face numerous obstacles and challenges.
Methods: The article employs a combination of different legal research methods, including analysis, historical inquiry, synthesis, evaluation, and comparative study. In addition, through the analytical–comparative method, the article situates the discussion within the framework of international standards, thereby providing an objective assessment of the compatibility of Vietnam’s legislation with international norms. On this basis, the article lays the groundwork for proposals to enhance the domestic legal framework and outline a roadmap towards the full recognition of this right in the near future.
Abstract
Background: On 24 November 2015, during its 13th term, the National Assembly adopted the 2015 Civil Code, which introduced fundamental amendments concerning individual personal rights. Among the provisions that drew significant domestic and international attention was Article 37, which legalised gender transition procedures. This development marked a breakthrough in the recognition and protection of personal rights, particularly human rights, and positioned Vietnam as the 62nd country worldwide and the 11th in Asia to permit individuals to change their gender. Nonetheless, as gender transition remains a relatively new legal regulation, placed in the context of Vietnam, the recognition and implementation of this right for individuals still face numerous obstacles and challenges.
Methods: The article employs a combination of different legal research methods, including analysis, historical inquiry, synthesis, evaluation, and comparative study. In addition, through the analytical–comparative method, the article situates the discussion within the framework of international standards, thereby providing an objective assessment of the compatibility of Vietnam’s legislation with international norms. On this basis, the article lays the groundwork for proposals to enhance the domestic legal framework and outline a roadmap towards the full recognition of this right in the near future.
About Authors
Authors information
Van Hoi Nguyen*
PhD, Hanoi Law University (HLU)
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0509-1605
Corresponding author, responsible for writing – review & editing; conceptualisation; resources; project administration
Toan Thang Nguyen
Assoc. Prof.Dr, Hanoi Law University (HLU)
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6197-9385
Co-author, responsible for conceptualisation; methodology; writing – original draft.
Thi Hoai Thuong Mac
PhD, Hanoi Law University (HLU)
macthihoaithuong.hlu@gmail.com
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0674-9130
Co-author, responsible for conceptualisation, writing – original draft.
Thi Hong Yen Nguyen
Assoc. Prof.Dr, Hanoi Law University (HLU)
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2703-2363
Co-author, responsible for methodology; writing – original draft.
Competing interests: No competing interests were disclosed.
Disclaimer: The authors declare that their opinion and views expressed in this manuscript are free of any impact of any organizations.
Rights and Permissions
Copyright: © 2024 Van Hoi Nguyen, Toan Thang Nguyen, Thi Hoai Thuong Mac and Thi Hong Yen Nguyen. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Editors
Managing editor – Dr. Olena Terekh. English Editor – Julie Bold. Ukrainian language Editor – Lilia Hartman.
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АНОТАЦІЯ УКРАЇНСЬКОЮ МОВОЮ
Дослідницька стаття
ПРАВА ТРАНСГЕНДЕРНИХ ОСІБ ЗГІДНО З МІЖНАРОДНИМ ЗАКОНОДАВСТВОМ У СФЕРІ ПРАВ ЛЮДИНИ ТА ПРОЦЕС ЇХ ВПРОВАДЖЕННЯ У В'ЄТНАМІ: ПЕРЕШКОДИ, ВИКЛИКИ ТА ШЛЯХИ РОЗВИТКУ
Ван Хой Нгуєн*, Тоан Тханг Нгуєн, Тхі Хоай Тхуонг Мак, Тхі Хонг Єн Нгуєн
АНОТАЦІЯ
Вступ. 24 листопада 2015 року, під час своєї 13-ої сесії, Національна асмамблея ухвалила Цивільний кодекс 2015 року, який вніс фундаментальні зміни щодо особистих прав людини. Серед положень, що привернули значну увагу на внутрішньому та міжнародному рівні, була стаття 37, яка легалізувала процедури зміни статі. Цей крок став рушійним у визнанні та захисті прав людини, зокрема особистих прав, завдяки чому В'єтнам посів 62-ге місце у світі та 11-те в Азії серед країн, у яких дозволено особам змінювати свою стать. Тим не менш, оскільки зміна статі залишається відносно новим правовим регулюванням, у контексті В'єтнаму визнання та реалізація цього права для осіб все ще стикається з численними перешкодами та викликами.
Методи. У статті використовується поєднання різних методів юридичної науки, зокрема аналіз, історичне дослідження, синтез, експертна оцінка та порівняльне дослідження. Крім того, за допомогою аналітико-порівняльного методу у роботі розглядається дискусія в межах міжнародних стандартів, що сприяє об'єктивній оцінці сумісності законодавства В'єтнаму з міжнародними нормами. З огляду на це, у статті було закладено основу для пропозицій щодо вдосконалення внутрішньої правової бази та окреслено шлях до повного визнання цього права найближчим часом.
Результати та висновки. Метою цієї статті є уточнення правових та практичних питань, а також перспектив та викликів, з якими В'єтнам наразі стикається в процесі визнання та реалізації права осіб на зміну статі. На основі цього аналізу у дослідженні було запропоновано кілька рішень для В'єтнаму на найближчий час. Для досягнення цієї мети роботу було структурована за такими основними частинами: (i) право на зміну статі згідно з міжнародним правом та світовими тенденціями; (ii) погляди та громадська думка щодо визнання прав трансгендерних осіб у В'єтнамі; (iii) зусилля В'єтнаму щодо створення правової бази для забезпечення прав трансгендерів; та (iv) проблеми у визнанні прав трансгендерних осіб та впровадженні відповідних законів у В'єтнамі.
Ключові слова: права трансгендерних осіб, законодавство про права людини, ЛГБТ, індивідуальні права, цивільне право Вʼєтнаму.
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Date of submission: 29 Sep 2025
Date of acceptance: 23 Oct 2025
Publication: 18 Nov 2025
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How to cite it?
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Nguyen VH, Nguyen TT, Mac THT and Nguyen THY, ‘Transgender Rights under International Human Rights Law and the Incorporation Process in Vietnam: Barriers, Challenges and Paths Forward’ (2025) 8(4) Access to Justice in Eastern Europe140-69 <https://doi.org/10.33327/AJEE-18-8.4-a000140>
