Abstract

Contracts for the carriage of goods by sea constitute a fundamental legal instrument in international trade, particularly in Vietnam, where a substantial proportion of import and export cargo is transported by sea. This article examines the legal framework governing contracts for the carriage of goods by sea under the 2015 Vietnam Maritime Code after nearly a decade of implementation. It identifies several significant shortcomings in the current legal provisions concerning contractual parties, electronic contracts for the carriage of goods by sea, carrier liability, limitation of liability, and time limits for bringing legal actions. Drawing on a comparative analysis of major international maritime conventions, the article proposes recommendations for improving Vietnam’s legal framework governing contracts for the carriage of goods by sea in the current context.

Keywords: Carrier; contracts for the carriage of goods by sea; maritime liability; Rotterdam Rules; Vietnam Maritime Code 2015.