Vietnam

Foreign investment restrictions

Foreign investment is still conditional/restricted to certain sectors (such as banking, securities, insurance, real estate, construction, telecommunications and education services) under the 2025 Law on Investment effective from 1 March 2026 (with certain provisions effective from 1 July 2026).

Exchange controls

All buying, selling, lending, and transferring of foreign currency must be conducted through credit institutions or other financial institutions authorised by the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV).

Outflow of foreign currency by bank transfer is authorised for certain transactions, such as payments for imports and services abroad, repayment of foreign loans and payment of interest accrued thereon, transfer of profits and dividends, and revenues from technology transfers.

All monetary transactions in Vietnam must be conducted in Vietnamese dong. Exceptions apply to payments for exports made between principals and their agents, as well as payments for goods and services purchased from institutions authorised to receive foreign currency payments, such as for shipping and air freight, insurance, and international communications.

Forms of doing business

According to the Law on Enterprises, foreign investors can establish their commercial presence in Vietnam via a single-member limited liability company, a multiple-member limited liability company, a joint-stock company, or a partnership.

Intellectual property (IP)

IP rights in Vietnam are protected under the Civil Code, the Law on Intellectual Property, and various subordinate legislation. Vietnam is a signatory to key international agreements, including the Paris Convention, the Madrid Agreement, the and Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), the Berne Convention and various free trade agreements, including the Vietnam-US Bilateral Trade Agreement, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and EVFTA.

The Law on Intellectual Property was further amended in 2025 (effective from 1 April 2026) to strengthen IP protection, streamline industrial property registration procedures, enhance enforcement mechanisms, and further align Vietnam's IP regime with international commitments and evolving technological developments.