Facts in this handbook are compiled from official sources such as local authorities. Rules change — confirm the current position through the source links or with the authority before making major decisions.
01Overview
- Region
- Southeast Asia
- Capital
- Hanoi
- Currency
- VND
- Languages
- Vietnamese (official)
- ISO code
- VN / VNM
Jurisdictions
- Vietnam — National level; provincial authorities handle many approvals
China's direct investment
- China's 2025 FDI flow
- 24.6 USD 100m
- End-2025 FDI stock
- 182.1 USD 100m
- Flow rank
- #9 by flow
Source：2025 Statistical Bulletin of China's Outward Foreign Direct Investment ↗ · Flow is for calendar 2025; stock is at end-2025. Flow rank is from Table 8 (top 20); other countries from Annex Tables 1–2 (originally USD 10k, converted to USD 100m; one decimal, two below 1). A negative flow means divestment exceeded new investment that year.
Macro indicators such as GDP and population are not included yet; see official statistics such as the World Bank.
02Market Entry
Industries to study: Manufacturing & plant relocation
Foreign ownership
Whether 100% foreign ownership is generally allowed, and key exceptions. Allowed / conditional / not allowed / unverified.
100% foreign ownership in many sectors; some have caps or market access conditions
- Applies to
- Per the negative list and WTO / FTA commitments; aggregate foreign ownership of banks generally capped at 30%
- Jurisdiction
- Vietnam
- Source
- National Business Registration Portal
- Cross-check
Outward Investment and Cooperation Guide: Vietnam (2025 ed.)consistent
Tax Guide for Chinese Residents Investing in Vietnam (2024 ed.)consistent
03Business Formation
Common legal entity
The company form most commonly used by foreign investors for a local operating entity.
Limited liability company (LLC) or joint stock company (JSC)
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Vietnam
- Source
- National Business Registration Portal
Foreign ownership
Whether 100% foreign ownership is generally allowed, and key exceptions. Allowed / conditional / not allowed / unverified.
100% foreign ownership in many sectors; some have caps or market access conditions
- Applies to
- Per the negative list and WTO / FTA commitments; aggregate foreign ownership of banks generally capped at 30%
- Jurisdiction
- Vietnam
- Source
- National Business Registration Portal
- Cross-check
Outward Investment and Cooperation Guide: Vietnam (2025 ed.)consistent
Tax Guide for Chinese Residents Investing in Vietnam (2024 ed.)consistent
Local director / representative
Whether a locally resident director, manager or representative is required.
At least one legal representative must reside in Vietnam
- Applies to
- Under the Law on Enterprises
- Jurisdiction
- Vietnam
- Source
- National Business Registration Portal
Registration authority
Primary authority for company or commercial registration.
Provincial business registration offices (national portal)
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Vietnam
- Source
- National Business Registration Portal
Foreign-entity setup flow
Main approval stages for a foreign investor setting up an entity (no time estimates).
Investment Registration Certificate (IRC) → Enterprise Registration Certificate (ERC) → seal, capital account → sector licences
- Applies to
- For new foreign-invested projects; charter capital must be paid within 90 days of the ERC; no time estimates
- Jurisdiction
- Vietnam
- Source
- National Business Registration Portal
- Cross-check
Outward Investment and Cooperation Guide: Vietnam (2025 ed.)consistent
Tax Guide for Chinese Residents Investing in Vietnam (2024 ed.)consistent
Local registered address
Whether a local registered address or premises is required at incorporation.
A head office address in Vietnam is required
- Applies to
- Some address types (e.g. residential apartments) may not be used
- Jurisdiction
- Vietnam
- Source
- National Business Registration Portal
Beneficial ownership register
Whether companies must keep or file ultimate beneficial owner information.
Enterprises must collect and provide beneficial owner information
- Applies to
- Under the 2025 amendments to the Law on Enterprises — check implementing rules
- Jurisdiction
- Vietnam
- Source
- National Business Registration Portal
- Cross-check
Outward Investment and Cooperation Guide: Vietnam (2025 ed.)not covered
Tax Guide for Chinese Residents Investing in Vietnam (2024 ed.)not covered
Enterprise registrationconsistent
04Taxation
Headline corporate income tax
Statutory headline rate for ordinary companies, before incentives, exemptions, thresholds or special regimes. Always read with the conditions.
20%
- Applies to
- From October 2025 micro and small enterprises pay 15% and 17%; incentives for encouraged projects and areas; qualifying large multinationals subject to a 15% global minimum tax
- Jurisdiction
- Vietnam
- Source
- Vietnam tax administration
- Cross-check
Outward Investment and Cooperation Guide: Vietnam (2025 ed.)consistent
Tax Guide for Chinese Residents Investing in Vietnam (2024 ed.)consistent
Corporate income tax and VATconsistent
Indirect tax (VAT / GST / SST)
Standard rate and type of VAT, GST or sales & service tax.
VAT standard rate 10%
- Applies to
- Except specified goods and services, reduced to 8% from 2025-07-01 to 2026-12-31; 0% and 5% bands also apply
- Jurisdiction
- Vietnam
- Source
- Vietnam tax administration
- Cross-check
Outward Investment and Cooperation Guide: Vietnam (2025 ed.)consistent
Tax Guide for Chinese Residents Investing in Vietnam (2024 ed.)consistent
Corporate income tax and VATconsistent
Tax authority
Authority responsible for corporate tax registration and filing.
Vietnam tax administration
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Vietnam
- Source
- Vietnam tax administration
Dividend withholding tax (non-residents)
General withholding on dividends paid to foreign shareholders, before treaty relief.
Profit remittance by foreign corporate investors is generally not subject to withholding
- Applies to
- Foreign individual investors have separate rules; under Decree 252/2026, notify the tax authority 7 working days before remitting, with no accumulated losses or tax debts
- Jurisdiction
- Vietnam
- Source
- Vietnam tax administration
- Cross-check
Tax Guide for Chinese Residents Investing in Vietnam (2024 ed.)consistent
Corporate income tax and VATconsistent
Tax treaty with China
Whether a double taxation agreement with China is in force. Rates and conditions per the treaty text.
In force
- Applies to
- Rates, holding thresholds and conditions per the treaty text and STA publications
- Jurisdiction
- Vietnam
- Source
- State Taxation Administration (China)
05Banking & Payments
Banking & financial regulator
Primary regulator for banking and foreign exchange.
State Bank of Vietnam (SBV)
- Applies to
- Foreign-invested enterprises move capital through a direct investment capital account
- Jurisdiction
- Vietnam
- Source
- State Bank of Vietnam (SBV)
Exchange controls
Whether general exchange controls or cross-border fund rules apply.
Foreign exchange management applies
- Applies to
- The dong is not freely convertible; foreign investment capital moves through an 'investment capital account' (Circular 38/2026, from 18 Aug 2026, replacing the direct investment capital account rules)
- Jurisdiction
- Vietnam
- Source
- State Bank of Vietnam (SBV)
- Cross-check
Outward Investment and Cooperation Guide: Vietnam (2025 ed.)consistent
Banking and foreign exchangeconsistent
06Employment
Foreign employee work permit
Main permit types needed for foreign employees to work legally.
Work permit (with exemptions)
- Applies to
- Required for work over 3 months; issued by the provincial People's Committee (or a delegated agency), valid up to 2 years; some executives and short stays are exempt
- Jurisdiction
- Vietnam
- Source
- National Business Registration Portal
- Cross-check
Outward Investment and Cooperation Guide: Vietnam (2025 ed.)consistent
Enterprise registrationconsistent
Social security contributions
Main employer social security schemes for local and foreign employees.
Social, health and unemployment insurance
- Applies to
- Foreign employees with work permits must join when conditions are met
- Jurisdiction
- Vietnam
- Source
- Vietnam Social Security
Labour & work permit authority
Authority for labour rules and foreign employee work permits.
Ministry of Home Affairs (took over labour functions in 2025) and provincial departments
- Applies to
- Check the latest official agency structure
- Jurisdiction
- Vietnam
- Source
- Ministry of Home Affairs (Vietnam)
- Cross-check
Outward Investment and Cooperation Guide: Vietnam (2025 ed.)consistent
Labour and employment (since the 2025 reorganisation)consistent
07Trade & Customs
Customs authority
Authority for import/export clearance and tariffs.
Vietnam Customs
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Vietnam
- Source
- Vietnam Customs
Main free trade agreements
Main regional and bilateral trade agreements relevant to Chinese exporters (not exhaustive).
ASEAN, RCEP, CPTPP, EU–Vietnam FTA, ASEAN–China FTA and others
- Applies to
- Preferential tariffs require meeting rules of origin
- Jurisdiction
- Vietnam
- Source
- Vietnam Customs
08Investment & Manufacturing
Free zone / SEZ regime
Whether free zones or special economic zones operate under rules different from the mainland.
Industrial parks, export processing zones and economic zones
- Applies to
- Projects within zones may get different investment and tax incentives
- Jurisdiction
- Vietnam
- Source
- National Business Registration Portal
Investment authority / agency
Body responsible for approving, registering or promoting foreign investment.
Ministry of Finance (took over investment management in 2025), provincial finance departments and industrial zone boards
- Applies to
- IRCs are issued by provincial departments or zone management boards
- Jurisdiction
- Vietnam
- Source
- Ministry of Finance (Vietnam)
- Cross-check
Outward Investment and Cooperation Guide: Vietnam (2025 ed.)consistent
Investment management (since the 2025 reorganisation)consistent
09Digital & IP
Personal data protection law
Main law and regulator governing collection, use and cross-border transfer of personal data.
Law on Personal Data Protection (No. 91/2025/QH15)
- Applies to
- In force 1 Jan 2026, detailed by Decree 356/2025; cross-border transfers need an impact assessment
- Jurisdiction
- Vietnam
- Source
- Ministry of Public Security (Vietnam)
- Cross-check
Personal data protectionconsistent
IP office
Authority for trademark and patent filing and registration.
Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam
- Applies to
- Trademark rights are territorial; register locally or designate via the Madrid System (check WIPO membership)
- Jurisdiction
- Vietnam
- Source
- Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam
10Compliance & Risk
New York Convention party
Whether the country is party to the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, which affects enforcing foreign arbitral awards locally.
Yes
- Applies to
- Foreign arbitral awards can be enforced under the Convention, subject to its limited refusal grounds
- Jurisdiction
- Vietnam
- Source
- UNCITRAL
Live risk monitoring
Geopolitical, conflict and trade-route risk events for Asia-Pacific, monitored by our sister site Global Risk Monitor.
View Asia-Pacific risk monitor
Global Risk Monitor · Geopolitical and trade-route risk monitoring
11Step-by-Step
Main setup steps in Vietnam
- 1Investment Registration Certificate (IRC)
- 2Enterprise Registration Certificate (ERC)
- 3seal, capital account
- 4sector licences
For new foreign-invested projects; charter capital must be paid within 90 days of the ERC; no time estimates
General checklist (setting up a subsidiary)
- Decide model and jurisdiction
- Confirm licences
- Prepare documents
- Incorporate
- Register for tax
- Open bank account
- Obtain operating licences
- Start operations
Steps follow the setup-procedure fact on this page, without times or fees; rely on the official sources.
12Official Resources
Chinese official resources
Country materials from MOFCOM, the State Taxation Administration and China's overseas commercial offices
- MOFCOM country investment guideMOFCOM · PDF (Chinese)
- Country tax guide (STA)State Taxation Administration · PDF
- Commercial office中华人民共和国驻越南社会主义共和国大使馆经济商务处
- MOFCOM going-global platformMOFCOM
- Compliance & security alertsMOFCOM platform
Official guides are long Chinese-language PDFs updated on the publishers' schedules. Our structured facts cite local authorities as primary sources; use these guides to cross-check.
Local authorities
- Company registrationNational Business Registration PortalEnterprise registration · Accessed 2026-11-12
- TaxVietnam tax administrationCorporate income tax and VAT · Accessed 2026-11-12
- CustomsVietnam CustomsCustoms and tariffs · Accessed 2026-11-12
- Financial regulationState Bank of Vietnam (SBV)Banking and foreign exchange · Accessed 2026-11-12
- LabourVietnam Social SecuritySocial insurance contributions · Accessed 2026-11-12
- LabourMinistry of Home Affairs (Vietnam)Labour and employment (since the 2025 reorganisation) · Accessed 2026-11-12
- InvestmentMinistry of Finance (Vietnam)Investment management (since the 2025 reorganisation) · Accessed 2026-11-12
- LegislationMinistry of Public Security (Vietnam)Personal data protection · Accessed 2026-11-12
- Company registrationIntellectual Property Office of VietnamTrademarks and patents · Accessed 2026-11-12