A clear route before you file
Structure, activities and approvals mapped first, so documents are prepared once.
Set up your company in Vietnam on a clear route.
We help foreign investors choose the right structure, prepare a filing-ready application and complete registration. Then we get the bank account, tax and licences in place.
Timing you can plan around
Indicative time for every step, from preparation to an operating company.
Preliminary fees up front
See scope and preliminary fees in the setup planner before you contact us.
Choose a structure
Which presence fits your plans?
The three structures foreign investors choose most often. We confirm the right one for your activities and investors.
Most common
Limited liability company (LLC)
The usual choice for foreign investors: a separate legal entity that can trade, invoice and hire in Vietnam, with liability limited to the capital contributed.
Compare structures in our InsightsFor growth & investors
Joint stock company (JSC)
Capital is divided into shares, which makes it easier to bring in new investors and transfer ownership, with more formal governance.
Compare structures in our InsightsMarket entry
Representative office
A presence for liaison, market research and promoting the parent company, without carrying out profit-generating business in Vietnam.
Compare structures in our InsightsNot sure which fits? A free 30-minute consultation is usually enough to decide.
Book a consultationBefore incorporation
Five decisions that shape your company
Settle these first. Each one changes the documents, the approvals and what the company can do later.
Activities
They shape market access, licensing and operations. Register what the company will really do, not everything it might do one day.
Ownership
The structure you choose now affects how new investors can come in and how shares can be transferred later.
Investor
An individual or a company investor needs different documents and approvals. Confirm them before any overseas legalisation.
Capital
Match your real funding plan and any sector requirements, and plan to contribute it on time after registration.
Location
An office, store, warehouse or site: the premises you need depend on your business model.
Need an address or premises to register the company?
See Office ServicesProcess & timing
From plan to an operating company
*Indicative. Timing starts when documents are ready and varies with the structure, the activities and the authorities’ review.
1 · Plan
Structure & route agreed
Activities, investors, capital and location settled; documents identified.
2 · Prepare · 3–5 days*
Filing-ready application
We draft; you review and sign with clear instructions; we check and file.
3 · Register · 20–35 days*
Company legally established
We follow the filing through until the investment and enterprise registrations are issued.
4 · Activate
Bank, capital & tax
Accounts opened, charter capital contributed within the legal deadline, tax and e-invoicing set up.
5 · Operate
Licences & people
Sector licences, work permits and ongoing compliance mapped in a roadmap.
Plan the capital contribution early. Charter capital must be contributed within 90 days of the enterprise registration. We put the date in your roadmap.
Documents
What you will usually provide
We confirm the final list for your structure before you legalise anything.
- Passport
Certified copy, valid for the whole process
- Proof of financial capacity
For example, a bank balance confirmation matching the planned capital
- Activities & capital
What the company will do and how it will be funded
- Office address in Vietnam
Lease or agreement in principle, with the landlord's documents
- Certificate of incorporation
Or equivalent proof of legal existence
- Charter / articles of association
Current version of the parent company's constitution
- Proof of financial capacity
Latest audited financial statements or a bank confirmation
- Board resolution
Approving the investment and appointing representatives
- Representatives' passports
For the people who will manage the capital and represent the company
- Office address in Vietnam
Lease or agreement in principle, with the landlord's documents
We prepare for you
Sign once, correctly
- Investment proposal & forms
- Company charter
- Power of attorney
- Signing instructions
Bank account: must be opened in person in Vietnam. Plan a visit after the company is registered.
By business type
What comes after registration
Registration is the same first step. Pick your business to see what usually changes the route and what follows.
Business type
Consulting & professional services
Can change the route
The exact scope of services, and whether any of them are regulated
May come next
Tax, employment, immigration and any sector requirements
Business type
Trading & distribution
Can change the route
Which products, whether you import, and wholesale vs retail channels
May come next
Trading approvals and product requirements
Business type
Retail & consumer
Can change the route
Registering the company is separate from permission to open stores
May come next
Product approvals, retail licences and outlet requirements
Business type
Technology & software
Can change the route
The actual service model: telecom, cloud, platforms or data
May come next
Sector-specific licensing or compliance
Business type
Manufacturing
Can change the route
The site and production process are part of the investment decision
May come next
Environmental, fire-safety, construction and product approvals
Read this first
Conditional & regulated activities
Can change the route
Operating conditions must be identified before you file
May come next
A company can be registered without yet being allowed to run the activity
Questions
Good to know
How long does it take to set up a company?
Preparing a filing-ready application typically takes 3–5 working days, and registration typically 20–35 working days. Timing is indicative: it starts when documents are ready and varies with the structure, activities and the authorities' review.
Can a foreign investor own 100% of the company?
In many sectors, yes. Some activities have foreign-ownership limits or extra conditions. We check your activities against these before you file.
Do I need to come to Vietnam?
Not for incorporation itself: you can sign abroad and we file under a power of attorney. Individual investors already in Vietnam can prepare and sign here. The company's bank account, however, must be opened in person in Vietnam.
When must the charter capital be contributed?
Within 90 days of the enterprise registration. We plan the bank account and contribution so the deadline is met.
Can the company start a regulated activity as soon as it is registered?
Not always. A company can be legally established without yet having permission to carry out a conditional or regulated activity. We identify the conditions early so you can plan for them.
Should I register extra activities to stay flexible?
Usually not. Activities affect licensing and operations, so we recommend registering what the company actually plans to do.
How much will the setup cost?
It depends on your structure, activities and the support you add. Use Build your setup plan to start from a proposed package or customise the services, and see scope and preliminary fees before you contact us.
NEXT ACTION
Setting up in Vietnam.
Plan your next step.
Share your proposed activities, investors and location. Book an initial consultation to discuss the next steps.
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO CONTACT US?