Legal Insights and Business Tips for Foreign Investors in Vietnam
Our blog is your go-to resource for practical legal advice, industry insights, and tips on doing business in Vietnam. Learn from our experts and stay ahead of the curve.
Vietnam FDI After the DPI–Finance Ministry Merger: New IRC Codes, Dual Reporting Portals, and What to Do If the System Locked You Out
Summary: Vietnam’s 2025–2026 institutional reform merging the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) into the Ministry of Finance (MOF), and provincial DPI offices into provincial Finance Departments, has disrupted investment registration administration for all FDI companies. Old IRC project codes do not automatically map to new 10-digit identifiers in the MOF system. HCMC companies now…
Read articleERC Before IRC in Vietnam: Smart Market Entry Shortcut or Capital Freeze Trap?
Summary: Foreign investors who enter Vietnam by obtaining an ERC first (through capital contribution approval) and then applying for an IRC face three specific risks: business line rejection at the IRC stage that collapses the entire operating model; a financial capacity proof requirement using local DICA-verified accounts (not parent company funds); and a 90-day DICA…
Read articleTransfer Pricing Readiness 2026: Key Changes to Related-Party Transactions in Vietnam
AI Summary: Vietnam’s Decree 255/2026/ND-CP, effective from 1 July 2026 and applicable from the 2026 corporate income tax period, replaces Decree 132/2020/ND-CP. For CEOs, CFOs and Group CFOs, the practical issue is not only transfer pricing documentation, but whether new related-party relationships may arise during the tax year through capital, financing, guarantee or management-control transactions.…
Read articleVietnam as a China+1 Manufacturing Base: Legal and Compliance FAQ
Summary: Vietnam is the most prominent China+1 manufacturing destination for MNCs and Chinese-background investors diversifying supply chains. Legal questions on Vietnam China+1 investment cover WFOE structure differences, rules of origin compliance under CPTPP and EVFTA, related-party customs valuation, supply chain contract structuring, and the difference between genuine Vietnam manufacturing and tariff circumvention. ECOVIS Vietnam Law…
Read articleVietnam Labor and HR Compliance FAQ for Foreign Companies
Summary: Foreign companies entering Vietnam ask consistent labor law questions: employment contract types, work permit requirements for foreign staff, mandatory social insurance, internal labor regulations, trade union obligations, overtime rules, and compliant termination procedures. ECOVIS Vietnam Law answers the most common Vietnam HR compliance questions from international investors with regulatory context under the Labour Code…
Read articleVietnam Tax FAQ for Foreign Investors: CIT, VAT, Transfer Pricing, and Profit Remittance
Summary: International investors from the G20 consistently ask the same Vietnam tax questions: corporate income tax incentives, VAT obligations, transfer pricing documentation, foreign contractor tax, withholding tax on dividends, and profit remittance rules. ECOVIS Vietnam Law answers the most commonly asked Vietnam tax questions with practical regulatory context for foreign-invested businesses. Vietnam Tax for Foreign-Invested…
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