{"id":10179,"date":"2026-01-30T18:01:19","date_gmt":"2026-01-30T11:01:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dtlaw.vn\/?p=10179"},"modified":"2026-03-10T16:13:15","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T09:13:15","slug":"nhung-vuong-mac-pho-bien-trong-tranh-chap-xay-dung-va-cach-nhin-tu-thuc-tien-hanh-nghe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dtlaw.vn\/en\/nhung-vuong-mac-pho-bien-trong-tranh-chap-xay-dung-va-cach-nhin-tu-thuc-tien-hanh-nghe\/","title":{"rendered":"Common Issues in Construction Disputes \u2013 A Practitioner\u2019s Perspective"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">I. Introduction: Why Are Construction Disputes Inherently Complex?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph translation-block\">Construction disputes differ materially from ordinary commercial disputes. They are characterized by the following features:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Involving high contract values;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Extending over prolonged periods of time;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\">Simultaneously implicating legal, technical, financial, and scheduling issues;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>H\u1ed3 s\u01a1 ch\u1ee9ng c\u1ee9 \u0111\u1ed3 s\u1ed9 nh\u01b0ng th\u01b0\u1eddng thi\u1ebfu t\u00ednh h\u1ec7 th\u1ed1ng.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph translation-block\">Practice shows that most construction disputes do not arise from a single isolated breach, but rather from a chain of accumulated issues arising throughout the course of contract performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Issues Relating to the Scope of Work and the Quantity of Work Performed<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>(Scope of works &amp; quantity disputes)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph translation-block\">This is the most common category of disputes in construction projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Common manifestations include:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Inconsistencies between design documents and cost estimates;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Insufficiently detailed description of the scope of work in the contract;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ph\u00e1t sinh kh\u1ed1i l\u01b0\u1ee3ng nh\u01b0ng kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 l\u1ec7nh thay \u0111\u1ed5i h\u1ee3p l\u1ec7 (<em>variation order<\/em>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Legal Risks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The contractor is not paid for additional or variation works;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The employer is required to make payments beyond the approved budget.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The dispute is prolonged due to the need for a technical expert determination.<em>expert determination<\/em>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Issues Relating to Schedule and Extension of Time for Contract Performance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>(Delay &amp; extension of time \u2013 EOT)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Delays are a \u201chot spot\u201d in construction disputes, particularly in EPC projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Common Causes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Late handover of the construction site;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Design changes during construction;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Actual site conditions differ from the tender documents.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Weak project management.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Core Legal Issues<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"translation-block\">Whether there is entitlement to an extension of time (EOT);<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Allocation of responsibility between the parties;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\">Whether liquidated damages for delay apply.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph translation-block\">Judicial practice shows that site diaries and correspondence records are decisive factors, rather than emotional arguments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Issues Relating to Payment and Final Account in Construction Contracts\n(Payment &amp; final account disputes)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>(Payment &amp; final account disputes)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Payment directly affects cash flow; therefore, disputes in this area tend to escalate rapidly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Common Scenarios<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The employer delays payment or fails to make full payment;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Disputes over the final account value;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Disagreement regarding the validity of payment documentation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Practical Risks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The contractor faces financial difficulties and construction delays;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The employer is exposed to claims and compensation demands;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\">Chain disputes arise with subcontractors (back-to-back disputes).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Issues Relating to Contract Price Adjustment\n(Contract price adjustment)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>(Contract price adjustment)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Amid fluctuations in material and labor costs, disputes over price adjustments have become increasingly common.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Common Trigger Points for Disputes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Lump-sum contracts affected by force majeure events;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lack of agreement on the price adjustment mechanism;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Incorrect application of price indices or adjustment timing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Legal Note<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph translation-block\">Contract price adjustment is only accepted when all contractual and statutory conditions are fully satisfied; it cannot be inferred solely based on \u201cactual costs incurred.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. Issues Relating to Defects Liability and Construction Quality\n(Defects liability &amp; quality disputes)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>(Defects liability &amp; quality disputes)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Disputes commonly arise after the works have been handed over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Typical Issues<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Determining whether defects result from construction or operation;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Responsibility for repair and rectification;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\">Retention of warranty\/retention money.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph translation-block\">This category of disputes requires a close integration of legal assessment and technical expert evaluation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. Systemic Limitations Leading to Prolonged Disputes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From a practitioner\u2019s perspective, the above issues are often exacerbated by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Poorly drafted dispute resolution clauses;<em>poor dispute resolution clause<\/em>);<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Unprofessional project document management.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Legal counsel is engaged only when the dispute has escalated into confrontation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">8. Practical Recommendations from Legal Practice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Identify potential dispute triggers at the contract drafting stage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\">Design a multi-tier dispute resolution mechanism.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Manage construction records as a legal protection tool.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"translation-block\">Legal counsel should be involved in a preventive and strategic capacity, not merely for litigation.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph translation-block\">Construction disputes are not inherently alarming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph translation-block\">What is truly concerning is when businesses fail to properly identify the core legal issues and respond too late.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph translation-block\">In many cases, the outcome of a dispute is shaped by how the contract and project records are managed from the outset, rather than at court hearings or arbitration proceedings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph translation-block\">Nguyen Tat Thang\nManaging Partner \u2013 DTLaw\n\nManaging lawyer, specializing in advisory and dispute resolution in construction, commercial contracts, investment projects, and EPC matters, with practical experience before courts and commercial arbitration (construction dispute resolution, commercial arbitration).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph translation-block\">DTLaw \u2013 A law firm providing legal advisory services to enterprises and investors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>1. \u0110\u1eb7t v\u1ea5n \u0111\u1ec1: v\u00ec sao tranh ch\u1ea5p x\u00e2y d\u1ef1ng lu\u00f4n ph\u1ee9c t\u1ea1p? Tranh ch\u1ea5p x\u00e2y d\u1ef1ng (construction disputes) c\u00f3 \u0111\u1eb7c th\u00f9 kh\u00e1c bi\u1ec7t so v\u1edbi c\u00e1c tranh ch\u1ea5p th\u01b0\u01a1ng m\u1ea1i th\u00f4ng th\u01b0\u1eddng. \u0110\u00e2y l\u00e0 lo\u1ea1i tranh ch\u1ea5p: Th\u1ef1c ti\u1ec5n cho th\u1ea5y, \u0111a s\u1ed1 tranh ch\u1ea5p x\u00e2y d\u1ef1ng kh\u00f4ng ph\u00e1t sinh do vi ph\u1ea1m \u0111\u01a1n&#8230;<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[65,64,63],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10179","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ban-tin-phap-ly","category-phan-tich-nhan-dinh","category-tin-tuc"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dtlaw.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10179","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dtlaw.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dtlaw.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dtlaw.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dtlaw.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10179"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/dtlaw.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10179\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10318,"href":"https:\/\/dtlaw.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10179\/revisions\/10318"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dtlaw.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10179"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dtlaw.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10179"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dtlaw.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10179"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}