Starting a Business in Vietnam Is Easy. Running One Is the Hard Part.

Usually 3 working days once the application is valid. Under the Law on Enterprises 2020 and Decree 168/2025/ND-CP on enterprise registration, the business registration office under the provincial Department of Finance issues the Enterprise Registration Certificate within 3 working days of receiving a valid file. If the file is not valid, the office notifies the applicant in writing of what must be corrected or added.

Yes. Applications can be filed online through the National Business Registration Portal, dangkykinhdoanh.gov.vn, which is run under the Ministry of Finance. Since 23 July 2026, Decree 296/2026/ND-CP has the applicant log in through the National Public Service Portal or the VNeID app with an electronic identification account. Documents in the file must still be signed, digitally or by hand, and uploaded as electronic documents.

No. Under Article 8 of Decree 168/2025/ND-CP on enterprise registration, each enterprise receives one unique enterprise code, and that code is also its tax code. The Enterprise Registration Certificate also serves as the company's tax registration certificate, so a newly formed company does not need a separate tax registration certificate.

No. Resolution 198/2025/QH15 of the National Assembly on special mechanisms for private economic development ended the collection of the business licence fee (lệ phí môn bài) from 1 January 2026. The change covers enterprises, household businesses and individuals doing business. Other taxes, and any licences required for conditional business lines, still apply.

Not any more. Since Investment Law 143/2025/QH15 took effect on 1 March 2026, Article 19 lets a foreign investor set up a company before applying for an Investment Registration Certificate (IRC). The investor must still meet the market access conditions for foreign investors and commits to them in the enterprise registration application. Under Article 26, investment projects of foreign investors, and of companies more than 50% foreign-owned, still need an IRC.

At commune level. Under Decree 168/2025/ND-CP on enterprise registration, household businesses register with the commune-level economic division (Phòng Kinh tế, or Phòng Kinh tế, Hạ tầng và Đô thị in wards), since district-level government no longer exists. Companies register instead with the business registration office under the provincial Department of Finance.

Yes. Since 1 July 2025, Law 76/2025/QH15 amending the Law on Enterprises requires companies to declare beneficial owner information to the business registration authority and to notify changes, except listed companies and companies registered for securities trading. Under Decree 168/2025/ND-CP, as amended by Decree 296/2026/ND-CP, a beneficial owner is an individual who directly or indirectly holds 25% or more of charter capital or voting shares, or who ultimately controls the company.