Abstract
This chapter analyses the role of the European Union–Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement in the labour law reform process undertaken by Viet Nam since 2019. It argues that, while the agreement played an important role as a reform catalyst, the process of reform must be understood in the context of the domestic political dynamics in Viet Nam, where reform-inclined actors were able to harness external pressure for policy change. The chapter then turns to the post-ratification phase, pointing to challenges over the implementation of the labour-related requirements of the agreement and the ongoing reform process.