16-09-26 MTParners
Each year, Vietnam records around 600,000 divorces out of 2 million marriages, with 70% involving couples under 30 and 60% occurring within just 1-5 years of marriage. Why are young couples’ marriages getting shorter, and what does the law provide to protect the parties’ rights when they part ways so soon?
According to the Institute for Family and Gender Studies, Vietnam records around 2 million marriage registrations each year but also roughly 600,000 divorces — meaning 1 in every 4 married couples eventually splits up. Notably, 70% of divorces involve couples under 30, and 60% occur within just 1-5 years of living together — a phenomenon experts call “green divorce”. In early 2026, public attention was repeatedly drawn to a string of celebrity divorce announcements, further fueling interest in the topic of young couples’ short-lived marriages. From a legal perspective, this article examines the causes, procedures, and key points young couples should keep in mind when deciding to divorce.
“Green divorce” is a term widely used by sociologists and the media to describe divorces occurring within the first five years of marriage, typically among couples aged 18-30. According to a report published by the Institute for Family and Gender Studies and frequently cited by National Assembly deputies, Vietnam now records more than 60,000 divorce cases per year, accounting for around 30% of all married couples. Official statistics also show that the country currently has more than 2.2 million divorced or separated individuals, concentrated mostly in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.
This trend is not merely a social phenomenon — it is also placing real pressure on the court system, especially as Regional People’s Courts, newly reorganized as of July 1, 2025, took over first-instance jurisdiction for divorce cases from former district-level courts, causing caseloads to build up in densely populated areas.
According to statistics cited from the Institute for Family and Gender Studies, the main causes of divorce among young people are lifestyle conflicts (27.7%), infidelity (25.9%), financial difficulties (13%), domestic violence (6.7%), health issues (2.2%), and prolonged periods of living apart (1.3%).
From a legal standpoint, most of these grounds can be recognized by courts as valid grounds for divorce under Article 56 of the 2014 Law on Marriage and Family: a marriage in serious crisis, an inability to maintain shared life, failure to achieve the purpose of marriage, or domestic violence causing serious harm to the life, health, or spirit of the other spouse. Resolution 01/2024/NQ-HĐTP issued by the Judges’ Council of the Supreme People’s Court also provides specific guidance on how to determine these grounds, helping ensure more consistent adjudication across courts.
Many young couples assume that because they have no children together and little shared property, divorce will be quick and straightforward. In practice, if both parties consent and can agree on property division and shared debt obligations, resolving the matter under civil case procedures is generally faster than a contested divorce lawsuit. However, even a short marriage can give rise to shared assets accumulated during the marriage (savings, vehicles, joint investments) or shared debt obligations that, without a clear agreement, one party may end up bearing unintentionally.
In addition, under current regulations, divorce petitions must be filed with the Regional People’s Court that has jurisdiction based on the respondent’s place of residence or work (for unilateral divorce) or as agreed by both parties (for consensual divorce). Filing at the wrong court address — an easy mistake during this period of court restructuring — can result in the petition being returned, delaying resolution.
To limit disputes when a marriage ends early, current law allows spouses to enter into a property agreement before marriage (commonly known as a prenuptial agreement), clearly specifying separate property, shared property, and how assets will be divided in the event of divorce. This legal tool remains underused among young Vietnamese couples, despite its legal validity and its potential to significantly reduce disputes and shorten litigation time in divorce proceedings. In addition, court-based mediation remains a mandatory step before trial, offering young couples a final opportunity to carefully reconsider a decision that may otherwise be made too hastily.
The rising rate of “green divorce” affects not only individual families but also places long-term pressure on the social welfare system, particularly when couples already have young children. National Assembly deputies have warned that this is one of the contributing factors behind the rising number of children lacking adequate care and education. On the judicial side, the caseload for divorce matters at Regional People’s Courts, especially in major urban areas, is expected to continue rising in the coming years.
Young couples considering marriage should equip themselves with basic knowledge of spousal rights and obligations under the Law on Marriage and Family, and consider entering into a prenuptial property agreement if either party holds significant separate assets before the wedding. Couples going through a divorce should clearly identify shared assets and shared debt obligations arising during the marriage, however short, file their petition with the Regional People’s Court that has proper jurisdiction, and consider consulting a lawyer before filing to ensure that any divorce agreement is properly documented and to avoid disputes arising later.
MT & Partners Law Firm, with a team of experienced family law attorneys, is ready to advise on prenuptial property agreements and assist with consensual and unilateral divorce procedures as well as matters relating to property and children. Contact hotline 0987140772 or email info@mtpartners.vn for consultation.
(*) This article is for reference only and does not replace specific legal advice.
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