Foreign Direct Investment

Vietnam welcomes foreign investment, but not uniformly. Some sectors are open, some are conditional, some require a local partner, and some remain closed. The answer depends on the specific activity code, the investor's nationality and the applicable treaty.

Wise Counsel advises foreign investors on market entry into Vietnam, from the initial feasibility assessment through investment registration and into ongoing compliance.

What we help with

• Assessing market access conditions under WTO commitments and free trade agreements
• Advising on foreign ownership caps and conditional investment sectors
• Choosing between establishing a new entity, acquiring shares or contributing capital
• Preparing applications for the investment registration certificate
• Advising on capital contribution schedules and the direct investment capital account
• Structuring for profit repatriation, dividends and offshore payments
• Advising on investment incentives, including tax and land-related incentives
• Ongoing reporting obligations to the investment registration authority

The most expensive mistakes are made before the investment is registered. We check the activity codes and ownership limits first, so the structure does not need to be unwound later.