Setting up in Vietnam looks straightforward from a distance and gets complicated fast once you’re actually filing paperwork. Licensing requirements differ by sector, timelines rarely match what you read online, and the wrong entity structure can cost you months of rework. We help you choose the right path, whether that’s a representative office, a wholly foreign-owned company, or a joint venture, based on what you’re actually trying to do here.
We stay involved past the paperwork too. Most of the real risk in market entry shows up after you’re licensed, once you’re managing suppliers, staff, or partners on the ground without local context.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on your industry and goals. A representative office, a wholly foreign-owned company, or a joint venture with a local partner are the common paths, each with different licensing requirements and restrictions. The right choice depends on what you are selling and whether you need to invoice locally.
Not always. Many sectors allow full foreign ownership, but some, particularly in retail, distribution, and certain services, still require or benefit from a local partner. This is worth confirming for your specific industry before committing to a structure.
Typically a few months from application to operational license, though it varies by business type, industry, and location. Delays usually come from incomplete documentation or licensing requirements specific to the sector, not the process itself.
Underestimating how much local relationships matter, assuming licensing timelines from other countries will apply here, and not budgeting for the on-the-ground presence needed to manage suppliers or staff early on. Most of these come from planning the entry from abroad without local input.