ioneers in the application of current Vietnamese law for commercial practice, Tilleke & Gibbins Consultants Limited began traveling to Vietnam long before interest in the country was shown by other law firms. The Firm's early perseverance led to breaking through many barriers and in July 1992, Tilleke & Gibbins became the first foreign law firm to be granted a license to establish a representative office in Vietnam. The office, situated in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's commercial center, was followed by the establishment in January 1994 of a representative branch office in Hanoi, the nation's capital. Both offices were awarded full branch law office licenses in 1996.