Attorney Vu Manh Quynh is the Managing Partner of ECOVIS Vietnam Law, advising international investors on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), corporate governance, and regulatory compliance in Vietnam.
Vietnam’s 2026 Conditional Business Sector Reform: What Foreign Investors Need to Know
Vietnam is entering a new phase of regulatory simplification for investment and business conditions. Under Resolution No. 66/2026/NQ-CP, the Government has introduced a revised list of conditional business sectors applicable from 1 July 2026. The reform reflects Vietnam’s broader policy direction: reducing unnecessary market-entry barriers while shifting certain areas toward management by technical standards, professional standards, and post-inspection mechanisms.
For foreign investors, this is a positive signal. However, fewer conditional business sectors does not mean that investment, licensing, or operational compliance can be ignored.
Foreign-invested companies still need to assess whether their proposed or existing business activities are subject to foreign ownership restrictions, sector-specific permits, technical standards, post-licensing obligations, or IRC/ERC amendment requirements. This is particularly important for investors planning market entry, factory setup, business expansion, M&A transactions, new product lines, logistics activities, e-commerce operations, or regulated services in Vietnam.
The ECOVIS Vietnam Law Conditional Business Sector Review Checklist 2026
To support this review, ECOVIS Vietnam Law has prepared the Vietnam Conditional Business Sector Review Checklist 2026 for Foreign Investors.
This checklist is designed as a practical first-step tool for CEOs, CFOs, General Counsel, investment managers, and foreign business owners who need to understand how Vietnam’s 2026 reform may affect their investment plan or existing operations.
The checklist helps investors review:
- investor identity and nationality;
- proposed or existing business activities;
- foreign ownership considerations;
- conditional business sector classification;
- IRC/ERC business scope;
- sector-specific permits and operational approvals;
- technical standards and post-inspection risks;
- validity of existing licences;
- expansion, restructuring, and M&A triggers;
- recommended next steps for legal and compliance review.
The purpose is not to replace project-specific legal advice, but to help investors identify early warning points before committing capital, signing contracts, acquiring a target company, or expanding operations in Vietnam.
Download the Checklist
→ Download: Vietnam Conditional Business Sector Review Checklist 2026 for Foreign Investors (PDF)
How ECOVIS Vietnam Law Can Help
ECOVIS Vietnam Law advises foreign investors throughout the investment lifecycle, including:
- FDI feasibility review and business line assessment;
- IRC/ERC licensing and conditional business sector compliance;
- post-licensing compliance and regulatory monitoring;
- manufacturing setup and industrial park entry;
- M&A due diligence and post-acquisition compliance;
- corporate governance and legal representative advisory.
For a project-specific review of how the 2026 reform applies to your investment, contact Attorney Vu Manh Quynh at ECOVIS Vietnam Law.
Contact us: vietnam@ecovislaw.vn | www.ecovislaw.vn
This material is for general information only and should not be treated as legal, tax, accounting or investment advice. Investors should obtain project-specific advice before making legal, investment or operational decisions in Vietnam. Legal and regulatory references reflect the position under Resolution No. 66/2026/NQ-CP effective 1 July 2026.
Attorney Vu Manh Quynh is the Managing Partner of ECOVIS Vietnam Law, advising international investors on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), corporate governance, and regulatory compliance in Vietnam. Email: vietnam@ecovislaw.vn | Website: www.ecovislaw.vn
