Our Partner, Yee Huan Hoo, had the privilege of attending the 3rd Construction and ADR Roundtable 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City.

This year’s roundtable focused on plain legal drafting for standard forms of contract across various jurisdictions. The keynote address by Justice Lee Swee Seng was, as always, both insightful and engaging, delivered with his signature touch of humour.

A key takeaway from the session was a timely reminder that while legal drafting often (perhaps too often nowadays) gravitates towards complexity, true mastery lies in the ability to make complex ideas clear and accessible.

The discipline of plain drafting is not a simplification of thought, but a refinement of it. It is an approach that is increasingly critical in managing risk, aligning stakeholders, and avoiding disputes in large-scale projects.

The event also provided a much-needed brief midweek pause to step away from work and experience the energy of Saigon. Between meeting old and new friends, and enjoying bowls of pho and iced egg coffee in the tropical heat, it was a welcome change of pace.

While in the city, a visit to the War Remnants Museum offered a sobering reminder, perhaps, that history has a way of repeating itself.