Areas prohibited to set up company in Vietnam

 Vietnam encourages investors to set up company in Vietnam

With the public authority's endeavors in working on the venture and business climate, which is good for homegrown financial backers as well as unfamiliar financial backers, Vietnam's monetary, political and social circumstance has consistently stayed stable and accomplished extraordinary advancement, over the course of the time including the post-Coronavirus period, while laying out reciprocal exchange relations with numerous nations the world. In an effort to open up the economy, the government keeps changing its policies to support business development and improve the business environment. Specifically, the public authority resolves to energize unfamiliar financial backers carrying on with work in Vietnam: to start a business, build a factory, or buy shares in a Vietnamese company, or to invest in Vietnam in various sectors that will benefit the economy.

In general, foreign investors are permitted to establish a business and invest in Vietnam. Up until the end of 2022, the capital for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) registered is USD 439 billion, and the FDI attracted in 2022 alone is USD 27,7 billion. In practice, a significant number of them have established businesses in Vietnam and have made substantial investments in manufacturing and production, real estate, energy, technical fields, wholesale and retail product trading, and other related industries.

Areas prohibited to set up company in Vietnam

It should be noted that the following are prohibited areas of business in Vietnam: i) dealing in illegal drugs; ii) minerals and chemicals are traded; iii) exchanging examples of plants and wild creatures; iv) the prostitution industry; v) buying and selling people, tissues, organs, human hatchlings; vi) human cloning-related business practices; vii) exchanging fireworks; viii) Businesses that provide debt collection services, including debt collection services, which were recently added to the prohibited list in the beginning of 2021 due to the negative social impact that debt collection companies in Vietnam have had.

The general requirement for both domestic and international investors is that they are permitted to engage in business investment activities in trades and industries that are not prohibited by law. The remaining trades and industries are divided into conditional and ordinary business lines, with the exception of the trades that are prohibited from business investment. In normal business lines, financial backers can openly enter without boundaries. Interestingly, contingent business lines set conditions that should be met assuming the financial backers wish to join. Understanding the lawful condition to work in a particular industry and business line is the initial step for financial backers to enter the market to set up organization in Vietnam.

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Setting up Company in Vietnam and Comply

 Setting up Company in Vietnam and Comply: Quick Tips for Foreigners

A foreigner moving to a country like Vietnam with business opportunities is attempting to start a business and seize the opportunity. After settling in, the entrepreneur might wonder, "How difficult it is to set up company in Vietnam or how challenging the business environment in Vietnam is for operating and doing business when dealing with administrative procedures from registering investment, setting up the company, complying with periodic reporting and tax declarations?"

As a spot with an ideal topographical position and copious work assets, and developing purchaser market, Vietnam is progressively growing emphatically, turning into a nation drawing in worldwide venture among Southeast Asia nations. Foreign investors must conduct research on Vietnam's policies, investment incentives, legal requirements, and the process and procedures for establishing a business in order to carry out effective investment activities. If international investors are considering investing in Vietnam, this will provide some quick advice on the fundamental factors they should take into account.

An individual or an organization established under foreign law could register investments and conduct business activities in Vietnam. Foreign investors are permitted to participate in any legal business, but in order to register an investment, they must meet certain industry requirements. There are a few areas in Vietnam where foreign investors cannot do business due to national security concerns or the state's monopoly.

An investor who wants to start a business in Vietnam must get a certificate of investment registration from an authorization agency, according to Vietnam law. The Investment Registration Certificate (IRC) will typically be issued within 15 days of receiving a valid dossier for an investment project. Be that as it may, it means a lot to work in the ideal opportunity for setting up the legitimate records for example application, monetary report, bank balance, individual archives and large numbers of such records require apostille, or authentication and legitimization and interpretation into Vietnamese prior to being submitted.

Except for conditional investments and business lines, Vietnam law does not mandate a minimum capital requirement for starting a business. Yet, financial backers are obliged to contribute capital as per the timetable expressed in the IRC and that the public authority has the privilege to demand the financial backer to make sense of the strategy agreeable to them in light of the proposed speculation capital. In the event that the financial backer can't contribute sufficient capital as per the serious time limit, the skilled authority might apply sanctions, including denial of the IRC or the financial backer needs to change the IRC to mirror the real commitment of venture. Once having the IRC, the financial backer then solicitation to get Endeavor Enlistment Endorsement (IRC) which requires 5 days from the date of accommodation of legitimate dossier for business foundation to finish the business setting up process.

Now that the company has established itself in Vietnam, it can officially sign a lease agreement, hire staff, and engage in business transactions to purchase or sell goods or services. The documents must be signed and sealed to be legally binding.

Then the question is how to have a seal?

When an organization was managed by the Public Security authority, it was more difficult to have a seal created for it after it was established. Legislators and business experts have been discussing the possibility of completely removing the seal from legal documents in Vietnam because the signature of the legal representative is the most crucial element. The law governing the issuance of seals has become less strict over time. However, in Vietnam, the seal is still very important because it shows the official notice, such as the decision by the business's legal representative to end a labor contract, along with the signature of the representative. or on the other hand a conspicuous endorsement of a substance to an exchange it enters to enlist a development organization for building a plant. Contingent upon the terms in the organization's contract, the financial backer has the privilege to make more than one seal to utilize. Before using, altering, destroying, or altering the number of seals, the company must send a notice to the business registration office where its head office is located for publication on the National Business Registration Portal. The day the notification process is completed and the seal sample is uploaded to the National Business Registration Portal for verification, the seal can be used.

During the activity of the business in the wake of being begun, the financial backer requirements to focus on charge commitments, which is vital in many purviews besides in charge paradise nations. However, Vietnam is not included on the exemption list. Every business is required to provide a tax declaration. Consistently, the business should pay various charges and expenses, for example, permit charges (in view of enlisted sanction capital); When a company earns a profit, it must pay Corporate Income Tax (CIT); announce and cover Worth Added Expense (Tank) for sold labor and products, for individual proclaim and settle Individual Annual Duty (PIT), or at times send out assessment and import charge, charge on lands.

The investment project reporting regime must also be fully adhered to by foreign investors in accordance with the law. These reports will be issued on a regular basis (monthly, quarterly, or annually) regarding topics such as: carried out venture capital, business speculation results, data on work, utilized unfamiliar laborers, investigates natural insurance… Agreeing with the execution of expense installment commitments and intermittently answering to guarantee ideal execution as endorsed will assist the organization with staying away from superfluous dangers, for example, managerial authorizations, business suspension, punishments that could affect the business.

ANT Lawyers – a law firm in Vietnam will always follow up with authorities for legal update on matters relevant to investment registration or doing business in Vietnam.

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Tips for Foreigners to Follow When Setting up Company in Vietnam

 Tips for Foreigners to Follow When Setting up Company  in Vietnam

For an outsider to a nation like Vietnam which open doors profit for business, it is endeavoring to make a business to work and grab the opportunity. After settling in, the entrepreneur might wonder, "How difficult it is to set up company in Vietnam or how challenging the business environment is for operating and doing business in Vietnam when dealing with administrative procedures from registering investment, setting up the company, complying with periodic reporting and tax declarations?" If you are reading this and feel like this, you are not alone. After the first eagerness feeling of potential business to generate, the entrepreneur might wonder "How difficult it is to set up company in Vietnam."

As a spot with an ideal topographical position and copious work assets, and developing shopper market, Vietnam is progressively growing unequivocally, turning into a nation drawing in worldwide speculation among Southeast Asia nations. Foreign investors must conduct research on Vietnam's policies, investment incentives, legal requirements, and the process and procedures for establishing a business in order to carry out effective investment activities. If international investors are considering investing in Vietnam, this will provide some quick advice on the fundamental factors they should take into account.

A person with far off ethnicity or an association laid out under unfamiliar regulation could enlist speculation and direct business exercises in Vietnam. Unfamiliar financial backers are allowed to take part in any legitimate business, nonetheless, there are a few explicit enterprises that financial backers should meet the expected circumstances to have the option to enroll speculation. There are a few areas in Vietnam where foreign investors cannot do business due to national security concerns or the state's monopoly.

An investor who wants to start a business in Vietnam must get a certificate of investment registration from an authorization agency, according to Vietnam law. The Investment Registration Certificate (IRC) will typically be issued within 15 days of receiving a valid dossier for an investment project. However, it is essential to allocate sufficient time for the preparation of the necessary documents, such as the application, financial report, bank balance, and personal documents. Before being submitted, many of these documents require apostille, also known as notarization, legalization, and translation into Vietnamese.  

Vietnam regulation doesn't need a base money to set up a business, with the exception of restrictive venture or business lines. In any case, financial backers are obliged to contribute capital as per the timetable expressed in the IRC and that the public authority has the privilege to demand the financial backer to make sense of the marketable strategy agreeable to them in view of the proposed speculation capital. On the off chance that the financial backer can't contribute sufficient capital as per the serious time limit, the equipped authority might apply sanctions, including denial of the IRC or the financial backer needs to change the IRC to mirror the real commitment of venture. After receiving the IRC, the investor must then submit a request for an Enterprise Registration Certificate (IRC), which must be obtained within five days of the date of submission of a valid dossier in order for the business establishment to complete its establishment.

Now that the company has established itself in Vietnam, it can officially sign a lease agreement, hire staff, and engage in business transactions to purchase or sell goods or services. The documents must be signed and sealed to be legally binding. The next issue is how to obtain a seal. When an organization was managed by the Public Security authority, it was more difficult to have a seal created for it after it was established. Legislators and business experts have been discussing the possibility of completely removing the seal from legal documents in Vietnam because the signature of the legal representative is the most crucial element. Throughout the time, the once severe regulation overseeing the seal issuance has been relax. However, in Vietnam, the seal is still very important because it shows the official notice, such as the decision by the business's legal representative to end a labor contract, along with the signature of the representative. or an unmistakable endorsement of a company's participation in a transaction to hire a factory construction company. The investor has the right to use multiple seals, subject to the terms of the company charter. The venture should send a notification to the business enlistment office where its administrative center is situated for distribution on the Public Business Enrollment Entryway prior to utilizing, modifying, obliterating, or changing the quantity of seals. The seal can be utilized beginning the day the warning system has been done and the seal test has been transferred on the Public Business Enlistment Entrance for confirmation reason.

In most jurisdictions, with the exception of tax haven nations, the investor is required to pay close attention to their tax obligations during the business's initial operation. However, Vietnam is not included on the exemption list. Every business is required to provide a tax declaration. Consistently, the business should pay various duties and expenses, for example, permit charges (in light of enlisted sanction capital); Corporate Personal Duty (CIT) when the organization creates gain; declare and pay Value Added Tax (VAT) on behalf of an individual on goods or services sold. declare and pay Personal Income Tax (PIT), or, in some instances, export and import tax, and land tax.

The investment project reporting regime must also be fully adhered to by foreign investors in accordance with the law. These reports will be issued on a regular basis (monthly, quarterly, or annually) regarding topics such as: compliance with tax payment obligations and periodic reporting to ensure timely implementation as prescribed will help the company avoid unnecessary risks such as administrative sanctions, business suspension, and penalties that could impact the business. implemented investment capital, business investment results, information on labor, employed foreign workers, and reports on environmental protection.

ANT Lawyers, the leading law firm in Vietnam, provides nationwide comprehensive legal services. The firm is made up of lawyers and attorneys who specialize in a variety of areas, such as investment law, labor law, corporate law, and other areas, and it provides clients with legal advice and representation. In addition to providing services that are professional and ethical, the company is committed to providing each client with the best possible solutions. ANT Lawyers Law Firm is a trusted partner for individuals and businesses in Vietnam.

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How to Set-up Travel Services Business in Vietnam?

 Foreign investor could only set-up joint venture with Vietnam travel agency to set-up travel services business in Vietnam because transport of passenger belongs to investment areas with conditions applied to foreign investor in Vietnam.

10 Questions to Ask Before Setting up Company in Vietnam?

No one could deny that information technology has tremendously changed the way travel services business operates. The use of booking reservation system application on smartphone and internet are widespread that make travel has never been easier.  Foreign investor would be interested to explore the travel services market. However, 100% foreign owned company is not allowed to set-up travel services business in Vietnam. As this investment area is conditional, it is advised that a law firm in Vietnam should be consulted to ensure compliance with local regulations.

The application process and documents requirements are briefly as following:

1. Required documents:

-Application for the International Travel Business License (form);

-Certificate of business registration (copy – certified)

-Business plan for the international travel agency;

-Tour schedule

-Proof of at least 4 years of experience in international travel business operations

-Certified copies of the tourist guides’ cards whereby at least 3 international tourist guides are required

-Confirmation of bank deposit (as per regulations);

-Proof of office premises or legally registered place of business

2. Business License Application Procedure

-Submission of the required documents to the correct authority (Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the province/city where the business is headquartered).

-The Department of Tourism of the province/city completes the records of appraisal and submits a written request with the agency’s records to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in Vietnam within ten working days from the date of receipt of a valid application. When cases are not eligible for the proposed permit to the state agencies, the provincial tourism department shall cite the specific reasons for refusal. 

-The state management agency of tourism (VNAT – Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) is responsible for reviewing and licensing the international travel business within ten working days from the date of both receipt of the file and written request of the state agency of tourism in the province. In case of refusal, the ministry shall state the specific reasons to the state and provincial tourism authorities

3. Number of records

-Submission to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism: 01

-Tourism Authority Filed in: 01

ANT Lawyers, a law firm in Vietnam could offer service to establish company in Vietnam. We assist clients needing legal service in obtaining investment certificate, business registration certificate, or other  licensing procedures.

Source: ANT Lawyers.vn 

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How to set up a Joint-Stock Company in Vietnam in 2023

Joint-stock company is a type of enterprise recognized by Vietnam law, besides other types being limited liability company, partnership and private enterprise. A joint-stock company has legal status from the date of issuance of the Certificate of Business Registration by Vietnam authority. It is important to consult with corporate lawyers in Vietnam to learn the advantage of different forms of companies to be set up in Vietnam for the efficient management and purpose of the owner.

According to the definition of the Law on Enterprises, a joint-stock company is an enterprise whose charter capital is divided into equal parts called shares. Shareholders of a joint-stock company can be organizations or individuals, and the minimum number of shareholders of the company is 03 people. There is no limit on the maximum number of shareholders, so it will be convenient for the company when it wishes to expand its business on a larger scale. In addition, shareholders will only be liable for debts and other property obligations of the enterprise to the extent of the amount of capital contributed to the enterprise. This is an advantage of this type of business because the level of risk that shareholders have to bear. In particular, joint-stock companies have the right to issue shares, bonds and other securities to raise capital, which is a feature that other types of businesses do not have.

To set up a joint-stock company in Vietnam, the business owner can submit by himself or authorize another individual/organization or a law firm in Vietnam to submit a set of documents to the Business Registration Office where the head office is intended, including:

1.An application for enterprise registration;

2.The company’s charter;

3.List of founding shareholders and list of shareholders being foreign investors;

4.Copies of the following papers:

a) Legal papers of the individual for the legal representative of the enterprise;

b) Personal legal papers for company members, founding shareholders, shareholders being foreign investors who are individuals; Legal papers of the organization for members, founding shareholders, shareholders being foreign investors being organizations; Legal documents of individuals for authorized representatives of members, founding shareholders, shareholders being foreign investors being organizations and documents on appointment of authorized representatives.

For members and shareholders being foreign organizations, copies of legal papers of the organization must be notarized and consularly legalized in Vietnam;

c) Investment registration certificate, in case the enterprise is established or participated in the establishment by a foreign investor or a foreign-invested economic organization in accordance with the provisions of the Investment Law and other legal documents; implementation manual.

The processing time will be 03 working days from the date the Business Registration Office receives the valid application.

With highly professional staff and great experience in foreign investment, ANT Lawyers could help to support you to set up a joint-stock company in Vietnam.

Source ANT Lawyers: https://antlawyers.vn/library/set-up-a-joint-stock-company-in-vietnam.html 

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What Important Step-by-Step Guide to Establish Company in Vietnam?

 When foreign investors invest in Vietnam, they could establish company in Vietnam. Foreign investors have the right to choose the appropriate forms of enterprise such as a limited liability company, joint stock company, etc. with specific steps are as follows:

How to establish company in Vietnam?

Step 1: Register the investment project

Investors submit an investment project registration file to the Business Registration office of the province or city or the management board of an industrial zone, an export processing zone or a high-tech zone for the approval of an investment project during the period within 15 days (without time for clarification).

Step 2: Apply for Certificate of investment registration

After approval of the investment project, investors submit a valid record to the Department of Planning and Investment within 10 days to apply for a business registration certificate.

Step 3: Apply for the certificate of business registration

After obtaining the business registration certificate, the investor shall submit the application for enterprise registration certificate to the enterprise registration office within 3 days.

Step 4: Publish the content of the business registration

After being granted the certificate of enterprise registration, the investor shall disclose information about the enterprise on the national enterprise registration portal within 30 days, including the following information:

i, Business lines;

ii, List of founding shareholders and shareholders being foreign investors for joint-stock companies.

Step 5: Registered business stamp

The enterprise has the right to decide on the form, quantity and contents of the stamp of the enterprise. The content of the stamp must show the following information:

-Company’s name;

-Business code.

After receiving the legal entity stamp and before using the business stamp, the enterprise must send a notice on the stamp of the enterprise to the business registration office for publication in the National Information Portal on the business registration.

Step 6: Notice of use of stamp:

After having stamp made, investors submit notices on use of stamp forms to the Investment registration agency. After receiving the record, the Investment registration agency issues a receipt for the enterprise, publishes the notice of the enterprise on the National Business Information Portal and issues a notice of the posting, stamp samples of enterprises, branches and representative offices for enterprises.

Step 7: Open bank account:

Investors need to open two types of bank accounts, namely the investment capital account to receive the investment amount and the transaction account for conducting daily transaction in Vietnam.

Step 8: The post licensing procedures:

For the conditional business lines:

Investors investing in conditional businesses lines as regulated in Appendix 4 of the Investment Law 2014 must apply certificate of business qualification, practicing certificates, professional liability insurance, legal capital requirements, etc. before conducting business in Vietnam.

With highly professional staff and great experience in foreign investment, ANT Lawyers would like to support you in establishing company in Vietnam.

ANT Lawyers - a Law firm in Vietnam with international standard, local expertise and strong international network. We focus on customers’ needs and provide clients with a high quality legal advice and services. For advice or service request, please contact us via email ant@antlawyers.vn, or call us +84 24 730 86 529.

Source ANTLawyers: https://antlawyers.vn/library/what-important-step-by-step-guide-to-establish-company-in-vietnam.html

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10 Questions to Ask Before Setting up Company in Vietnam

Foreigners are encouraged to make investment in Vietnam through direct investment by setting up company in Vietnam.

However there are restrictions in some cases in regard to investment capital, investment area, special licenses required. The investor is suggested to consult with a law firm in Vietnam for advice and service offering.

10 Questions to Ask Before Setting up Company in Vietnam

Before setting up company in Vietnam, ask yourself the following questions:

1. Which business should I invest in Vietnam?

There are non-conditional investment areas and conditional investment areas. Establishing company in the non-conditional investment areas are more simple than in conditional investment areas. Investment in IT services, manufacturing, management consulting, business promotion are a few samples of non-conditional investment areas. Example of conditional investment areas are real estate, trading, travel agencies, freight forwarding… which are more complicated with investment conditions. Investment conditions might also be changed over the time depending on the WTO commitments which Vietnam enters.

2. What should I name the business in Vietnam?
The company in Vietnam has to have Vietnamese name, and English name. The company could also have abbreviated name. The name of the company in Vietnam indicates the structure of the company, the business lines, and the name that differentiate against other businesses. For instance, the company could be named Alpha consulting limited liability company.

3. Where should I register the address of the business in Vietnam?
Not every address could be used to register a company. The address has to be an address of a house with leasing agreement or office building which owner has license to operate as office building.

4. What is the legal structure of the company?
Depending on the number of investor contributing capital, company could be set-up as one member limited liability company or two ore more member limited liability company or joint stocks company.

5. How much capital is required to set-up a company in Vietnam?
The investment amount depends on the business plan and is subject to the approval of the provincial Department of Planning and Investment evaluating application dossier. In some business areas like real estate, banking and finance, minimum capital is required. In general for non-conditional investment area, the law does not specify the minimum capital to establish a company in Vietnam however the State agencies that evaluate investment plan could reject the investment project which are not feasible. Bank statement in foreign banks could be used to prove sufficient fund of investment capital.

6. Whom will be legal representative and work permit in Vietnam?
The investor will need to appoint the legal representative in Vietnam to oversee the business performance and take legal responsibility in Vietnam. If the legal representative is an expatriate, whom is a capital contributing member or owner of a limited liability company or a member of the Board of Management of a shareholding company which is registered to operate in Vietnam, he or she will be exempted from work permit in Vietnam. Otherwise, he or she will need to have a work permit to work in Vietnam legally. The work permit holder would then apply for temporary residence card to live in Vietnam as long as the work permit allows.

7. How long does it take to set-up a company in Vietnam?
It depends on what type, scale, and whether or not conditions are required. For a simple minimum capital without conditions to set-up, it would take 30 working days. For setting up company in conditional investment areas i.e.  trading company in Vietnam, time would be lengthen due to the involvement of a number of State agencies approving the investment project and it would take 60 working days. For setting up company in other investments in areas requiring conditions to meet, time might be taken depending on the type of conditions and the government agencies evaluating the conditions of investment.

8. Whom will be granting the investment license in Vietnam?
For most of the investment projects, the provincial state agencies with the approval of the Department of Planning and Investment (DPI) will be granting the Investment Certificate in Vietnam. However, depending on the type, scale, and whether or not conditions are required, other Vietnam State agencies might be involved. For the case of trading company, ministry of trade and commerce, ministry of finance, provincial people’s committee will be reviewing the investment application dossier as well.

9. What are the tax liability in Vietnam?

Major taxes in Vietnam are corporate income tax, import and export tax, value added tax, and personal income tax in Vietnam. In some special areas, there are other taxes. The corporate income tax is currently at 22% and will reduce to 20% beginning 2016. Export is mostly encouraged as such the export tax is 0 however there are special cases when export tax is larger than 0. Import tax varies according to tariff. Value added tax is mostly at 10% however in some cases, VAT could be 5% or 0%. Personal Income tax varies according to income level and is applicable from VND 9,000,000 above.

10. What are mandatory reports submissions requirement in Vietnam?
Companies are required to keep accounting books, prepare and submit tax reports on monthly, quarterly and annually. Foreign companies are also required to have financial audit taken before the financial year end. The financial year in Vietnam is from January to December and the deadline to submit financial report is March 30th for the previous year. Other reports are required to be submitted at other State agencies.

With highly professional staff and great experience in business in Vietnam, ANT Lawyers would like to support you in establishing company in Vietnam. 

Source ANTLawyers: https://antlawyers.vn/library/10-questions-to-ask-before-setting-up-company-in-vietnam.html

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