How to Set-up a Branch Office in Vietnam

  How Foreign Entity Could Set-up a Branch Office in Vietnam

A foreign business entity or a foreign trader is allowed to set-up a branch in Vietnam to conduct business activities.

Having the right to conduct business activities and make profit are how a branch differs from a representative office in Vietnam. A branch depends on the foreign business entity that set-up the branch while a foreign owned company set-up in Vietnam exists by itself. The Vietnam Department of Industry and Trade will be approving the establishment of a branch in Vietnam while Vietnam Ministry of Planning and Investment will be the State agency that coordinate the setting up a company in Vietnam.

In particular, the branch of a foreign business entity in Vietnam (referred to as the “Branch”) means a subsidiary unit of the foreign business entity, established in accordance with the law of Vietnam in order to enter into contracts in Vietnam and conduct activities being the purchase and sale of goods and other commercial activities consistent with its licence for establishment in accordance with the law of Vietnam and any international treaty to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a member.

The Branch will need to apply and obtain the establishment license; and have a seal bearing the name of the Branch.

1. Rights of the Branch

To rent offices and to lease or purchase the equipment and facilities necessary for the operation of the branch.

To recruit Vietnamese and foreign employees to work for the branch in accordance with the law of Vietnam.

To enter into contracts in Vietnam in accordance with the activities stated in the license for establishment of such branch and in accordance with the Vietnam Law.

To open Vietnamese dong and foreign currency accounts at banks which are licensed to operate in Vietnam.

To remit profits abroad in accordance with the law of Vietnam.

To have a seal bearing the name of the branch in accordance with the law of Vietnam.

To conduct activities being the purchase and sale of goods and other commercial activities consistent with its license for establishment in accordance with the law of Vietnam and any international treaty to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a member.

2. Requested conditions for establishment the Branch in Vietnam

A foreign company which has effectiveness business activities will be allowed to open the Branch in Vietnam if this company has real demand to open the market in Vietnam and meet some conditions as below:

Being a trader recognized by the law of the country where it has been lawfully established or made its business registration;

Having been operating for at least five years after its lawful establishment or business registration.

3. Issuance the Certificate of Branch:

The issuance of the Certificate of Branch will be implemented by the Department of Industry and Trade Department after the foreign company meets all of conditions as Vietnam legal requiraements.

The issuing period will be within 20 working-days after the date of submitting the full valid documents as requested.

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Sales and Purchase of Ocean Ships in Vietnam

 Ship sales and purchase should involve shipping lawyers in Vietnam whom understand the laws and the shipping industry.

For long, maritime activities and carriage of goods by sea are important parts of the international economic life, supporting the import and export of goods, connecting Vietnam to the world commodities market and therefore playing as driving factors behind the development of maritime transportation field.

As the demands for transportation exists, although some times up and down depending on the cycle of the economy, ships purchase and sales are important part of maritime related transaction businesses. With its own special characteristics, the purchase or sale of ships usually involve enormous economic interests, and risks at the same time. Ships are special objects in transactions therefore require the help of local and international ship lawyers with knowledge and experience to handle.

Stages in a Ship Transaction

The sale and purchase of a ship include contract, inspections, and the closing.

At the first step, both buyer and seller appoint ship brokers to carry out the negotiating and defining the clauses needed in the contract. Once details of the contract are agreed, the parties shall initiate the process of drafting the contract under Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) which normally is under a standard form. The governing law applies to such contract is usually the law of the country where the ship is registered its nationality. To enable the international transaction of ship, parties will sign an addendum to the MOA, stating necessary documents to be provided which may include: Approval from Director or Shareholders of resolving the sale of the vessel; Export or Import Permission of the Maritime Administration (requirement depending on national legislation), Power of Attorney, as well as other related documents involving the grade, commitments of the seller, etc. Once lawyers of buyers and sellers agree on the documents and have initial checking of such, the buyer may pay a deposit as a percentage of the value of the contract.

After the forming of contract, shipping lawyers of buyer start to inspect the documents provided by the seller. The inspection of the ship could be conducted in parallel. For the documents inspection, the buyer will check the ship’s class records and certificate records. The inspection of records will reveal the history of the ship’s maintenance in compliance with the requirement of class. Furthermore, the buyer need to check the mortgages and the maritime lien records to make sure that the vessel is free from encumbrances, debts, taxes, mortgages and maritime liens. This will help prevent any damages or loss subject to the legal issue of the ship which may occur before the delivery of the ship. The buyer should also acknowledge of whether the ship owner is in debts for fuels or salaries, etc. However, in some case, it may be difficult to verify such information without the collaboration of the ship owner.

For the physical inspection, instead of just checking the logbook for the status of the ship, it is preferable to hire a professional examiner to control the process of physical inspection relating the safety, certificates, equipment and engine issues. Sending a person on the ship to participate in some of the ship’s voyages may be advisable in circumstances.

At closing, the parties shall transfer the ship and all related documents as required. During the stage of delivery, the buyer physically accepts the delivery of the vessel after re-checking the status of the vessel, the remaining amount of fuel and engines status at the designed port. The place for delivery may be at a different location from where the contract was made. It depends on the agreement between the parties and usually for the convenience of the voyage.

An important document that needs to be transfer at this stage is the Bill of Sale. The Bill of Sale should be in proper form and duly notarized. In some country, it is crucial to get the Bill of Sale registered at the authority agencies in order for it to take effect.

Other procedures that the parties also need to complete at the state’s authority agencies include legalization of the ship transaction process, transference of vessel ownership and modification of the shipping registration. The state where parties are to complete such procedure shall be the country where the vessel is registered (the country which the vessel is permitted for flying flag).

Why Shipping Lawyers are Important in Ship Transaction?

Seagoing vessel is a special type of asset in a commercial transaction. When engaging in a contract to purchase a vessel, it is important to consider not only the nationality of the owner but also the nationality of the vessel itself. As the process of the transaction involves many procedures and requirements which usually need to be complete at the state’s authority agencies, the law of the country where the vessel is registered shall have a strong influence on the interpretation and execution of the contract.

The model contract usually comes with specific requirements on the content and form of the commercial invoice and the Bill of Sale pursuant to the national legislation (the nation where the vessel is registered). The parties may agree to change some of the clause in the model contract to meet their demand in the transaction. However, if a model contract is chosen to be used, the parties should at all time acknowledge of all the clauses existing in the contract and try to comply with the form and requirement of such documents.

Most of the transferred documents in a vessel transaction need to be notarized or legalized in order for the contract to take effect. However, the process of notarized and legalized in some country only certify that the documents have been duly signed and stamped, it doesn’t confirm or verify the certainty of the content and information provided in the documents. Therefore, both parties should require the other to provide the certificate or proof of the competent authority agencies confirming the certainty of the information or content that they have committed in the contract. For example, in a ship transaction, the buyer usually required seller to commit that the ship is free from any encumbrances, debts, taxes, mortgages and maritime liens. To confirm the certainty of such information, the buyer may require the seller to provide documents or certification from National Registration Agency for Secured Transactions to ensure the documents are provided in good faith. To reduce the risks, the buyer may also ask for a specific clause in a contract stating the liability of the seller in the event of future dispute relating the vessel.

In case one parties of the contract is an organization or company, the required documents should include the Minute of the Joint Meeting and Decision/ Approval of Directors or Shareholders resolving the sale of the vessel in accordance with the term and conditions of the MOA. Those documents should be duly established and signed in accordance with the requirement of the national legislation (law of the country where the company is set up). The Approval of Shareholder should also require the signature of all the shareholders of the company in order to avoid future disputes that may arise. Other documents which parties should also consider including Association’s Regulation, authorized papers, passports and personal documents of the representatives of each party. This will help better understand the legal position of parties in the contract, ensure their legal status to engage and perform in the contract.

ANT Lawyers have experience in laws and shipping matters to advice clients whom are interested to buy ships from Vietnam ship owners. We assist our clients in the process of reviewing contract, examining the documents and giving useful consultation for the sale and purchase procedure.

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The Purposes of Using Criminal Record Card

 Under Clause 1, Article 2 of the Law on Criminal Record 2009, criminal record card is the records on the previous convictions of a person that is sentenced under valid court judgments or decisions, and banning individual from holding position, establishing or managing enterprises and cooperatives in cases where the enterprises or cooperatives are declared bankrupt by the court.

Article 7 – The Law on Criminal Record 2009 regulates that the following individual, agencies and organizations may request competent agencies to issue Criminal Record card:

Vietnamese citizens and foreigners who have been or are residing in Vietnam have the right to request the issuance of their criminal record cards;

Proceeding agencies may request the issuance of criminal record card for investigation, prosecution and trial;

State agencies, political organizations and socio-political organizations may request the issuance of criminal record to serve the personnel management, business registration, establishment and management of enterprises and cooperatives.

Criminal record cards include:

a/ Criminal record card no.1 is issued to individual, agencies and organizations defined in Clauses 1 and 3, Article 7 of this Law;

b/ Criminal record card no.2 is issued to agencies conducting the proceedings, defined in Clause 2, Article 7 of this Law and issued at the request of the individual so that he/she can know the contents of his/her criminal resume.

The basic difference of these two types is that the criminal record card no.1 only records the sentence has not been removed. If the case has been deleted, it will state “no criminal record”. The criminal record card no.2 records all previous criminal convictions regardless of whether they were deleted or not.

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Judicial Record Card in Vietnam

 Judicial record card in Vietnam Procedures to obtain judicial record card (criminal record/ police check) in Vietnam is regulated in the Law no. 28/2009/QH12 of National Assembly of Vietnam on Judicial Record.

Judicial record card means a card issued by an agency managing the judicial record database and valid to prove whether or not an individual has a previous criminal conviction, is banned from holding certain posts, establishing or managing enterprises or cooperatives in case enterprises or cooperatives have been declared bankrupt by court.

Judicial record cards include: judicial record card No. 1, which shall be issued to Vietnamese citizens and foreigners who resided or are currently residing in Vietnam; and judicial record card No. 2, which shall be issued at the request of individuals who want to know their judicial records.

To obtain judicial record card No.1, the requesters who is Vietnamese citizens must apply at provincial-level Justice Departments in localities where they permanently reside or at the provincial-level Justice Department in the locality where the requester temporarily resides (in case they have no place of permanent residence) or at the provincial-level Justice Department in the locality where he/she resided before his/her departure (in case the requesters are residing overseas). The foreigners residing in Vietnam shall apply at provincial-level Justice Departments in localities where they reside or at the National Center for Judicial Records (in case they have left Vietnam).

Documents required include:

i) declaration requesting the issuance of judicial record cards;

ii) a copy of the identity card or passport of the person requested to be issued a judicial record card;

iii) a copy of the household registration book or certificate of permanent or temporary residence of the person requested to be issued a judicial record card.

In case of requesting the issuance of card No.1, individuals may authorize other persons to carry out procedures for requesting the issuance of judicial record cards.

Procedures for issuance of judicial record cards No. 2 to individuals comply with the provisions for card No.1. However, individuals who request the issuance of a judicial record card No. 2, may not authorize others to carry out procedures for such request.

During the process of applying for the Criminal Record, the applicant might have to work with the police agencies; the Court: in case there are not sufficient evidence at the police agencies to conclude that the applicant has no criminal records or the content of the applicant’s criminal records is not clear; People’s Committee of communes, wards and townships; agencies, organizations and agencies related proceedings: in case of coordination to verify the conditions of having his/her conviction automatically written off.

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Contract Dispute in Vietnam

 Disputes occur during contract performance are beyond the control of the entity entering contractual relations. In developed countries, lawyers always invited to advise customers to identify potential disputes, and provide solutions, support and provide legal advice and to accompany the enterprises solve disputes in accordance with the provisions of the law, which help businesses to focus on its business activities. The contract should be carefully reviewed by lawyers. Foreign companies when entering Vietnam mostly follow suit to engage dispute or litigation lawyers in Vietnam at early stage of the transactions.

Contract Dispute

Contractual disputes in Vietnam shall be construed as conflicts, disagreements, conflicts between the parties regarding the implementation or non-implementation of rights and obligations in the contract. Disputes could arise in failure to collect the payment from debtor in sales agreement, construction contract disputes between investor and contractor, labour dispute between employer and employee, insurance disputes between ship owner and insurance company.

Contract disputes must satisfy the following factors:

First, there is a contract between the parties. The contract would be in different for ms therefore, there is a need to clearly define if the contractual relationship has been formed or not.

Second, there is a breach of obligations or duties that are in violation of a party in the contractual relationship.

Third, there is disagreement between the parties about the handling of infringement or the consequences of such violations.

It should be noted, the contract disputes arise from the breach. However, not all breaches of contract also lead to disputes.

How to settle the contract disputes in Vietnam?

Contractual disputes can be resolved by the following methods:

Negotiation is the process or behavior in which the two sides conduct exchanges, agreement on common interests and characteristics of disagreement and come to a unified agreement. The negotiation is without the presence of third parties. However, if the lawyers in Vietnam would be involved during the negotiation process, at the role of representing or advising, counseling, then the negotiations tend to be more effective and parties would reach agreement.

Mediation is one of the options for disputing parties to end the conflict. Mediation is different from negotiating with the intervention of a third party. Mediator will help parties to achieve agreement and resolve conflict.

Court or arbitration: The settlement of the dispute in court would take time. The court’s ruling can be appealed. It should be noted that, per Vietnam laws, only Vietnam litigation or dispute law firms could represent the client at court. Commercial arbitration is available only in commercial-business sector. The advantage of this method is fast and efficient. However, compare with disputing at court, this method of handling dispute would take higher costs.

Disputes and dispute resolution matters are natural and inevitable in any countries including Vietnam. It is important that parties involved need to identify, anticipate disputes can occur. Contract or agreement should be reviewed by lawyers. When there is a dispute, the dispute lawyers will be able to help parties to with advice to reasonable solution to address the disputes effectively.

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Visa, Work Permit, PIT of Foreigners in Vietnam

 Enterprises employing foreign workers in Vietnam should be aware of issues on visa, work permit, liability of enterprise related to Personal Income Tax (PIT) of the foreign employee as declaration, payment and finalization to ensure legal compliance.

Visa

Foreigners eligible working in Vietnam are foreign investors whom contribute capital to set-up company in Vietnam, chief representative of NGO, lawyers licensed by Vietnam Ministry of Justice, foreigners workers with valid working permits in Vietnam. Working visa in Vietnam is granted to foreigner working legally in Vietnam. Working visa for foreigner in Vietnam has maximum length of 12 months. In the case the foreigner wishing to stay longer, he/she could apply for temporary residence card for a period of up to three years. The application must be submitted to the provincial Immigration Department, and may include supporting documents such as a housing lease contract and an employer’s certificate of incorporation.

Work permit

Decree No. 102/2013/ND-CP elaborating some articles of the Labour Code on foreign workers in Vietnam states that for foreigners that requires work permit in Vietnam, the employing enterprises will have to apply for work permit for such employee before they start working. The head of the provincial People’s Committee will have to approve the necessity to hire foreigners before the Vietnam Department of Labour, Invalid and Social Affairs (DOLISA) grants work permit in Vietnam. For foreigners belonging to one of the cases exempted from work permit, the employing enterprises will have to request the provincial DOLISA where foreign workers regularly work to certify that such foreign workers are exempted before the day on which they start to work.

Personal Income Tax obligation

Foreigners whom are subject of Personal Income Tax (PIT) in Vietnam are resident and non-resident workers. Foreigners who reside in Vietnam for less than 183 days in a tax year are considered non-residents for tax purposes. The first tax year is the consecutive 12 months period from arrival date in Vietnam, and the second tax year will follow the calendar year. Non-resident foreigners working and earning income in Vietnam are subject to PIT at a flat rate of 20%. Foreigners who reside in Vietnam for 183 days or more in a tax year are considered tax residents in Vietnam and subject to PIT at progressive rates on their world-wide employment income. Incomes of foreign workers in Vietnam are based on salaries, wages, allowances and other benefits such as housing allowances, memberships at sport and health clubs, personal entertainments. The expenses not being subject to PIT are including return air tickets between Vietnam and home country of the foreigners, school tuition fees of children of foreigners which employing enterprises pay on their behalf.

Vietnam has signed double tax agreements (DTA) with a number of countries, in which tax exemptions may be applied in specified circumstances. To request for tax exemptions, the application has to submit the request to the Ministry of Finance.

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Marriage and Divorce in Vietnam

 Vietnam family laws covers all legal matters concerning marriages and divorces, including marriage registration procedures, and divorce procedures, matters concerning separate or joint ownership assets and property, child custody, child support, and dispute on related matters.

Vietnam marriage laws have developed during the past 40 years and are still connected with changes in the thinking of the Vietnamese society and are thereby not exempt from future amendments that might appear simultaneously with the changes in Vietnam’s fast emerging society. The legal fundamental basis for marriages in Vietnam is the Marriage and Family Law. Some of the main points that are included in this law’s mission are for contributing to build and protect the marriage and family regime as well as to protect legitimate rights and interests of family members. The essential legal provisions of the Vietnam marriage law requires and determines: a required marital age for male is at least 20 years and female 18 years; marriages must be voluntary, progressive, monogamous marriages in which husband and wife are equal; marriages between partners of different nationalities, religions etc. are respected and legally protected but marriages between married people, people without civil act capacity, between the same direct blood line or within three generations, between (former) adoptive parents and children or parents- and children-in-law and stepparents and stepchildren, are forbidden. Although the marriage between persons of the same sex is not forbidden any more but the State shall not recognize it.

Furthermore, marriage or remarriages must be registered with the competent State bodies (registration offices) where either of the marriage partners resides. Vietnamese citizens living abroad shall refer to overseas Vietnamese diplomatic missions or consulates for services. Unless otherwise provided by law, the provisions of the Marriage and Family law also are also applicable for foreigners involved in Vietnamese marriages. In case a treaty to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a contracting party contains provisions different from those of this Law, the provisions of such treaty prevail.

The registration procedures might differ in some points for foreigners because of the documents required from their home countries. Papers issued, granted or certified by competent foreign agencies for use in the settlement of cases and matters of marriage and family shall be notarized, legalized, except cases eligible for exemption from consular legalization under treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a contracting party or on the principle of reciprocity. Foreigners must demonstrate that they are eligible for marriage in compliance with the law of their home countries. According to the Vietnam Marriage and Family law, foreigners enjoy the same rights and obligations like Vietnamese and Vietnam provides protection for the legitimate rights and interests of Vietnamese living abroad in marriage and family relations in accordance with the law. In the case of a marriage between a foreigner and a Vietnamese, each one must abide by the legislation of his/her country on the marriage conditions. The law also bans marriages whereby foreigners take advantages related to human trafficking, sexually abuse against women.

The law on marriage and family has brought a positive change to the role of the family in Vietnamese society and the traditional values ​​of marriage and family. These legal provisions have contributed to the protection and perfection of a progressive marriage and family regime by creating legal standards that keep pace with the times but also respect long-standing traditional values ​​of Vietnam. However, Vietnam still lacks complex mechanisms to deal with all those involved and another problem is that some clauses are overlapping and are not clear enough to address outstanding issues such as: cohabitation system such as husband and wife, separated or surrogacy. Prenuptial agreements, premarital agreements or similar marriage contracts are not recognized in Vietnam. However, agreements on joint assets, or division of assets during marriage are recognized but certain procedures have to be followed.

Lawyers at ANT Lawyers have experience with registration of marriage, divorce procedures or dispute matters of assets, properties in Vietnam.

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Renewal of License for the Establishment of Branches Office in Vietnam

   How to extend branch license in Vietnam?

The extension of the license for the establishment of a foreign trader’s branch in Vietnam shall be following the regulation of the commercial law and the relevant guiding decrees and circulars under Vietnam laws.

Preparation of dossiers for extension of license for the establishment of branches includes:

Application for extension of license for the establishment of branches, made according to the form set by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, signed by a competent representative of the foreign trader;

A copy of the business registration certificate or equivalent paper of the foreign trader that is translated into Vietnamese and certified by a Vietnamese diplomatic mission or consulate abroad consular legalization in accordance with the law of Vietnam;

Copies of audited financial statements or documents certifying the fulfillment of tax or financial obligations in the latest fiscal year or papers of equivalent value issued by competent agencies or organizations (where the foreign trader established) to prove the existence and operation of the foreign trader in the latest financial year, it must be translated into Vietnamese and authenticated in accordance with the provisions of Vietnamese law;

A copy of the license for the establishment of the branch.

The order and procedures for extension of the license for the establishment of the branch at a competent agency shall be as follows:

A dossier for extension of the license for the establishment of the branch must be submitted within 30 days at the latest before the license expires;

Foreign traders submit applications directly or via post or online (if applicable) to the Ministry of Industry and Trade;

Within 03 working days from the date of receipt of the dossier, the Ministry of Industry and Trade shall check and request the supplement if the dossier is incomplete and invalid. Requests for supplementary records are made at most once during the process of processing applications;

Within 05 working days from the date of receipt of the complete and valid dossier, the Ministry of Industry and Trade shall renew the branch establishment permit. In case of non-renewal, the reasons therefor must be clearly stated in writing;

In case the extension of the license for the establishment of the branch is not governed in specialized legal documents, the Ministry of Industry and Trade shall send a written request for comment to the specialized management ministry within 03 working days from the date of receipt of a complete and valid file. Within 5 working days from the date of receiving the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s written request, the specialized managing ministries shall clearly state whether they agree or disagree with the license extension. Within 5 working days after receiving the opinions of the specialized management ministry, the Ministry of Industry and Trade shall extend or not extend the branch establishment permit to the foreign trader. In case of non-renewal, the reasons therefor must be clearly stated in writing;

Within 15 days from the date of extension of the license for the establishment of the branch, the Ministry of Industry and Trade shall publish on the website of the Ministry.

Our lawyers in Vietnam constantly follow up with changes of law to provide the client with update for better decision making process.

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When Will Foreigner Need to Obtain Criminal Record?

 Circumstances in which Foreigners are required to obtain a Criminal Record

In the process to grant the work permit for foreigner working in Vietnam, it is required the foreigner to have the criminal record in their dossier.

Foreigner applying for criminal record to obtain work permit in Vietnam is divided into 2 cases.

In the first case, foreigner who is in foreign country or in Vietnam less than 06 months has to apply for criminal record in foreign country. The laws of each country are not the same therefore the regulation on criminal record application is also different.

Also please note that the criminal record which is issued by another country, when using in Vietnam to apply for work permit, it must be translated, legalized and notarized in accordance with the law of Vietnam.

In the second case, foreigner temporarily residing continuously in Vietnam for 06 months or above can apply for criminal record in Vietnam. In Vietnam, the competent authority that granting the criminal record for foreigner is the Department of Justice of the province or city where foreigner is residing.

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Granting Investment Registration Certificate in Vietnam

 As Vietnam integrates further into the global supply chain, foreigners are more and more encouraged to invest in Vietnam in many areas for pursuing profit. The foreign direct investment of the foreigners is required to be registered at Vietnam state authority to protect the rights of the investor.

According to the Law on Investment 2014, investment projects of foreign investors; projects of setting up a economic organization in which foreign investors holding 51% of charter capital or more or the majority of the general partners are foreigners in a partnership; projects of BCC contract between domestic investors and foreign investors or between domestic investors and economic organization which foreign investors holding 51% of charter capital or more or the majority of the general partners are foreigners shall need to conduct the procedure of applying investment registration certificate as regulations of law.

Preparation of dossier

A written request for permission for execution of the investment project;

A copy of the ID card or passport (if the investor is an individual); a copy of the Certificate of establishment or an equivalent paper that certifies the legal status of the investor (if the investor is an organization).

An investment proposal that specifies: investor(s) in the project, investment objectives, investment scale, investment capital, method of capital rising, location and duration of investment, labor demand, requests for investment incentives, assessment of socio-economic effects of the project;

Copies of any of the following documents: financial statements of the last two years of the investor; commitment of the parent company to provide financial support; commitment of a financial institutions to provide financial support; guarantee for investor’s financial capacity; description of investor’s financial capacity;

Demand for land use; if the project does not use land allocated, leased out by the State, or is not permitted by the State to change land purposes, then a copy of the lease agreement or other documents certifying that the investor has the right to use the premises to execute the project shall be submitted;

Explanation for application of technologies to the project which specifies: names of technologies, origins, technology process diagram, primary specifications, conditions of machinery, equipment and primary technological line;

The business cooperation contract (BCC) (if the project is executed under a BCC).

Order and Procedure

Investors submit the dossier at Department of Planning and Investment (or management of economic zones, high-tech zones);

Within 15 working days from the date of receipt of a complete and valid dossier, the competent authority shall grant the investment registration certificate for investors.

In practice, the time duration would be lengthened due to the time for preparation of documents from investor, getting them notarized, legalized and authenticated before being accepted in Vietnam. The documents in foreign languages shall need to be translated into Vietnamese. The actual time for processing paper at the State authority would also last longer in practice when the State authority evaluate the project plan of the investor to ensure that its investment purpose is achievable economically and in accordance to the regulations of Vietnam. It is advised that the client engage professional law firms in Vietnam to assist with advisory and investment registration process.

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Multimodal Transport Business Regulations in Vietnam

 On October 16th, 2018, Vietnam Government issued Decree No. 144/2018/ND-CP amending, supplementing the decrees on multimodal transport. Under the law of Vietnam, multimodal transport (“MT”) is the transportation of goods performed with at least two different modes of transport under the multimodal transport contract from an original place to a place designated for delivery, the carrier is liable for the entire carriage. MT business includes: International multimodal transport (“IMT”) and Domestic multimodal transport (“DMT”).

The new decree eliminates and simplifies regulations on IMT business conditions and abolishes DMT business as a conditional business line. In fact, DMT including many transportations such as transport by sea, air,… is governed by specialized laws on each transport, hence it is not necessary to stipulate additional business conditions when conducting the combined transport.

Regarding the conditions of IMT business, the new Decree no longer differentiates between domestic and foreign enterprises as in the past, all enterprises therefore must meet the followings:

(1) Maintaining a minimum amount of assets equivalent to SDR 80,000 or provide an equivalent guarantee or an alternative of financial character as regulated by laws;

(2) Having a liability insurance policy for multimodal transport operator or an equivalent guarantee.

In addition, in order to facilitate member state of the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Multimodal Transport or another international treaty on multimodal transport to which Vietnam is a signatory, new regulations are stipulated as follows:

(1) Having a registration certificate of international multimodal transport or another document of equivalent validity issued by the competent national body of its country;

(2) Having a liability insurance policy for multimodal transport operator or an equivalent guarantee.

The licenses to provide international multimodal transport service issued by competent authorities of Vietnam before the date of entry into force of this Decree are still valid until their expiration dates.

With the role of supporting trading activities, modern transports need to meet the increasingly complex requirements of the domestic and international transport market, which not only deliver goods but also connect the transport process into an uninterrupted transport chain to ensure a faster and safer transport process.

Transport lawyers at ANT Lawyers, the law firms in Vietnam have always following up the legal development on transportation to provide our clients with regular update on the matters.

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How Could a Vietnamese Change Name

 According to the civil laws in Vietnam, a citizen’s full name including first name, middle name and last name has been registered at birth in the birth certificate when properly issued. If a Vietnamese wishes to change the name, there must be a legitimate reasons and the process and procedure have to follow Vietnam Civil Code.

Individuals may request competent state agencies to recognize the change of name in the following cases:

a) At the request of person with name which the use such names causes confusion, emotional impact on family, honor, rights and lawful interests of that person;

b) At the request of the adoptive parents about changing names for adoption or adopted child ceases adoption with the adoptive parents or when the birth parents request to regain the name that originally used;

c) At the request of the father, the mother or the child when determining parents of children;

d) Changing the family name of a child from their father’s family name to their mother’s family name or vice versa;

e) Changing the names of persons found their origins;

f) Change the name of the persons which gender is redefined;

g) The other case law on civil registration regulations.

Due to the complexity of the process in some cases, a law firms in Vietnam could help with a service which clients could same time and cost rather than trying to carry out the process themselves.

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Marriage Registration with Foreign Element

 Vietnam law recently has some new regulations on the procedure of marriage registration with foreign element in Vietnam.

Marriage Law Firms in Vietnam

According to the Civil Status Law, the changes in the marriage registration with foreign element entered into force on January 1st 2016.

The new Civil Status Law has strongly decentralized for local government with the provision that the District People’s Committee will settle all the civil registration with foreign elements (including the registration of marriage with foreign elements).

The allocation to the District’s People’s Committee to settle the marriage registration record with foreign element will prevent the situation that all marriage registration records are submitted at the Department of Justice causing overloading.

Regarding marriage registration procedure, the new law has also gave up the interview section, shortening the execution time of marriage registration procedure with foreign elements to about 15 days (down by half compared to before).

Other civil procedures are allocated to Commune People’s Committee. This regulation aims to maximize the capacity and responsibility of local authorities, towards long-term goal is to thoroughly competent decentralized the civil registration for local authorities when conditions allow.

Specify as follows:

Article 37. Competence in marriage registration

1. The District People’s Committee, where residence of Vietnam citizen conducts marriage registration between Vietnam citizen and foreigner; between Vietnam citizen resident in the country and Vietnam citizen residing abroad; between Vietnam citizens residing abroad together; between Vietnam citizen at the same time has foreign nationality and Vietnam citizen or foreigner.

2. In case of foreigner residing in Vietnam may request for marriage registration in Vietnam, the District People’s Committee where residents of one of the two parties will implement the marriage registration.

Article 38. The procedure for marriage registration

Both parties submitted the declaration in the prescribed form and the health certificate issued by the foreign or Vietnam competent medical organization, confirming that the person is not suffering from mental or other diseases which is not capable of receiving knowledge, mastering his behavior for civil status registration authority.

Foreigner, Vietnam citizen residing abroad have to submit proof of marital status, copy of passport or valid documents replacing passport.

Within 15 days of receipt of all documents as specified in Paragraph 1 of this Article, the civil servant is responsible for verification, if found eligible for marriage registration as stipulated by law, the Chamber of Justice will report to the Chairman of District People’s Committee to resolve.

In the process of marriage registration, both parties must present at the headquarter of the People’s Committee, the civil servant will consulting the two parties, if the parties voluntarily to register for marriage, the marriage will be noted in the civil status book, then two parties sign on the civil status book. Finally, both parties sign on the marriage certificate.

Chairman of the District People’s Committee awards the certificate of marriage for both parties.

The Government regulates to provide additional papers in the marriage registration record, the interview and verify the purpose of marriage when settling the marriage registration requirement; procedure for granting certificate of marital status for Vietnam citizen to get married with foreigner in the competent bodies of foreign countries in order to ensure the rights and legitimate interests of the parties.

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Forms of Investment in Vietnam

 Foreign investors when setting up business in Vietnam need to be advised by a law firms in Vietnam on forms of investment.

According to the Vietnam Law on Investment (2005), foreign investors in Vietnam through direct investment and indirect investment.

The direct investment is when the investor invests its invested capital and participates in the management of the investment activities, includes:

– To establish economic organizations in the form of one hundred per cent (100%) capital of domestic investors or one hundred per cent (100%) capital of foreign investors.

– To establish joint venture economic organizations between domestic and foreign investors.

– To invest in the contractual forms of: BCC, BO, BTO, and BT.

– To invest in business development.

– To purchase shares or to contribute capital in order to participate in management of investment activities.

– To invest in the carrying out of a merger and acquisition of an enterprise.

– To carry out other forms of direct investment.

Foreign investor will be considered for acceptance by the competent authorities and be granted Investment Certificate.

Indirect investment means a form of investment whereby the investor contribute the capital but do not participate directly in the management of the investment activity, includes:

– Purchase of shareholding, shares, bonds and other valuable papers;

– Through securities investment funds;

– Through other intermediary financial institutions.

Types of enterprise for foreign investors to invest in Vietnam

a) Limited Liability Company

Limited Liability Company is a form of enterprise which is established by contributing of members. A member shall be liable for the debts and other property obligations of the enterprise within the amount of capital that it has undertaken to contribute to the enterprise.

Limited liability companies are regulated by two types:

– One member Limited Liability Company is an enterprise owned by one organization or individual;

– Limited Liability Company with two or more members is an enterprise owned by organizations or individuals, in which the number of members shall not less than two members and not exceed fifty.

Organizational and management structure of Limited Liability Company normally comprise of a Member’s Council, General Director or Director.

b) Joint Stock Company

Joint Stock Company is an enterprise which has charter capital divided into equal portions called shares. The minimum number of shareholders shall be three and there shall be no restriction on the maximum number.

Shareholders shall be liable for the debts and other property obligations of the enterprise only within the amount of capital contributed to the enterprise.

Joint Stock Companies may issue all types of securities to raise funds. Founding shareholders must together register to subscribe at least twenty per cent (20%) of the number of ordinary shares which may be offered for sale.

The main difference between Joint Stock Company and Limited Liability Company is the Joint Stock Company can raise funds by offering shares or securities. In addition, an enterprise tends to join the Stock exchanges or public company must be a Joint Stock Company. Management system of Joint Stock Company is more complicated than Liability Company.

c) Partnership

A partnership is an enterprise which must be at least two members being co-owners of the company jointly conducting business under one common name. In addition to unlimited liability partners, there may be limited liability partners.

Unlimited liability partners must be individuals who shall be liable for the obligations of the company to the extent of all of their assets. Limited liability partners shall only be liable for the debts of the company to the extent of the amount of capital they have contributed to the company.

d) Representative Office of foreign trader

A foreign business entity or a foreign trader is allowed to establish Representative Office in Vietnam.

Representative office of a foreign business entity in Vietnam (referred as “Representative Office”) means a subsidiary unit of the foreign business entity, established in accordance with the law of Vietnam in order to survey markets and to undertake a number of commercial enhancement activities permitted by the law of Vietnam.

Representative Office will need to apply and obtain the establishment license; and have a seal bearing the name of the representative office.

Representative Office is not allowed to directly conduct profit making activities in Vietnam (i.e: the execution of contracts, direct payment or receipt of funds, sale or purchase of goods, or provision of services), but the representative Office is permitted to

To operate strictly in accordance with the purposes, scope and duration stated in the license for establishment of such representative office;

To rent offices and to lease or purchase the equipment and facilities necessary for the operation of the Representative Office;

To recruit Vietnamese and foreign employees to work for the Representative Office in accordance with the law of Vietnam;

To open accounts in foreign currency and in Vietnamese Dong sourced from foreign currency at banks which are licensed to operate in Vietnam, and to use such accounts solely for the operation of the Representative Office.

e) Branch of foreign trader

The Branch of a foreign business entity in Vietnam (referred as “The Branch”) means a subsidiary unit of the foreign business entity, established in accordance with the law of Vietnam in order to enter into contracts in Vietnam and conduct activities being the purchase and sale of goods and other commercial activities consistent with its license for establishment in accordance with the law of Vietnam and any international treaty to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a member.

The Branch will need to apply and obtain the establishment license; and have a seal bearing the name of the Branch.

The Branch is permitted to conduct activities being the purchase and sale of goods and other commercial activities consistent with its license for establishment in accordance with the law of Vietnam and any international treaty to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a member.

f) The investing measures by signing Contracts

Business co-operation contract (BCC) means the investment form signed between investors in order to co-operate in business and to share profits or products without creating a legal entity.

Build-operate-transfer contract (BOT) means the investment form signed by a competent State body and an investor in order to construct and operate commercially an infrastructure facility for a fixed duration; and, upon expiry of the duration, the investor shall, without compensation, transfer such facility to the State of Vietnam.

Build-transfer-operate contract (BTO) means the investment form signed by a competent State body and an investor in order to construct an infrastructure facility; and, upon completion of construction, the investor shall transfer the facility to the State of Vietnam and the Government shall grant the investor the right to operate commercially such facility for a fixed duration in order to recover the invested capital and gain profits.

Build-transfer contract (BT) means the investment form signed by a competent State body and an investor in order to construct an infrastructure facility; and, upon completion of construction, the investor shall transfer the facility to the State of Vietnam and the Government shall create conditions for the investor to implement another project in order to recover the invested capital and gain profits or to make a payment to the investor in accordance with an agreement in the BT contract.

Foreign investors may sign BOT, BT and BTO contracts with a competent State body to implement infrastructure construction projects in Vietnam. Typically, the contracts are for projects in the fields of transportation, electricity production, water supply, drainage and waste treatment.

The rights and obligations of the foreign investor will be regulated by the signed BOT, BT and BTO contract. The Government encourages both public- and private-sector investors to participate in BOT, BTO and BT in the following sectors:

(i) Construction, operation and management of brand-new infrastructure facilities; and

(ii) Renovation, expansion, modernization, operation and management of the existing infrastructure facilities such as:

• Roads, bridges, tunnels, and ferry landings;

• Railway bridges and railway tunnels;

• Airports, seaports and river ports;

• Clean water supply systems; sewage systems;

• Wastewater, waste collecting and handling systems;

• Power plants and power transmission lines;

• Infrastructure works of health service, education, training, career training, culture, sport and offices of State agencies; and

• Other projects as may be determined by the Prime Minister

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Marriage Involving Foreign Elements in Vietnam

 Cross culture marriage in Vietnam is getting more popular due to the further integration of Vietnam into world’s economy and people relocation for better living.

It is understandable that a foreigner who works and lives in Vietnam wishing to register marriage with a Vietnamese or even another foreigner under Vietnam laws.

However, it is challenging for foreigners to be aware of the legal provisions governing the issue of marriage involving foreign elements in Vietnam. The parties involved in the marriage should to go through not so simple administrative procedures, because of the complexity of managing and protecting the legitimate rights of not only Vietnamese citizens, but also foreigners, to be governed under the Law on Civil Status. It is not unfamiliar when husband and wife agree to sign prenuptial agreement, agreements on personal assets and properties, and agreements to separate assets and properties during the marriage time.

Procedures for Registration of Marriage in Vietnam

According to the current law provisions, the competence to register marriage between a Vietnamese citizen and a foreigner belong to the District People’s Committee where the Vietnamese citizen is residing. In addition to papers relating to declarations and documents that must be prepared, in order to marry a Vietnamese citizen, a foreigner have to submit papers proving their marital status issued by a competent authority of the country which he/she is a citizen. The certificate issued no more than six months, up to the time of application, confirming the current no spouse. In case, foreign law does not provide for the granting of papers certifying the marital status, the papers shall be replaced by the foreign competent bodies certifying that such persons meet all the marriage conditions under the laws of that country. Documents, papers issued by the competent authority of the foreign country must be notarized, legalized and authenticated.

After submitting complete, and valid dossiers and paying the necessary fees, if the marriage conditions are fully met, the chairperson of the District People’s Committee will approve the application. Upon marriage registration, both husband and wife must be present at the head office of the People’s Committee, and both will sign in the marriage certificate.

Foreigner’s Challenges?

To register marriage involving foreign in Vietnam, foreigners must have a marital status documents issued by a foreign competent authority where he/she is a citizen. Depending on the country, the paper proving citizen’s marital status issued to citizens when they apply for marriage registration is different. Most of the difficulties the foreigners encountered are the application for the issuance of papers abroad and at the same time they must carry out administrative procedures for the legalization of that document at the competent authority in Vietnam. Thus, the time required to prepare necessary documents and documents is generally long with strict administrative procedures.

In fact, marriages involving foreign couples encounter procedural difficulties and take a considerable amount time for preparation.

ANT Lawyers have experience in civil and family matters to advice clients whom are interested for such legal service in Vietnam. We assist our clients in the process of reviewing agreements, procedures and concerned matters in civil and family.

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Where Foreign Investors Obtain Investment License in Vietnam

 To set up a business in Vietnam through foreign direct investment, foreign investors need to register the investment license from Vietnam Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI).

Depending on investment business lines, investment conditions, scale of the projects, where investment project is located, other Vietnam State authorities would be involved. MPI in Vietnam takes charge of developing legislation, guiding, consulting and coordinating with other State authority in regard to all investment in Vietnam. Foreign investors apply for investment license at MPI which is acting as the contact point. People’s Committee will be the government body that administer investment activities within its city or province and issue the investment license to the foreign investor.

In case the foreign investor setting-up a business within an industrial zone, the management board of an industrial zone will have authority over the investment licensing process. For investment project which is larger than VND 300 billion (around USD 14.2 million) or in conditional investment area, MPI and other ministries will be involved in the evaluation process to recommend to the Prime Minister for approval. Other ministries involved in investment project licensing would be Ministry of Trade and Commerce and Minsitry of Finance for setting up a trading company in Vietnam; Ministry of Science and Technology for investment in high-tech projects in Vietnam; Ministry of Education and Training for setting up education institute; Ministry of Health for investment in hospital in Vietnam, etc to ensure they are complying with the specific industry’s regulations.

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Benefits of Investors to Set-up Business in Ho Chi Minh City

 Ho Chi Minh City offers many benefits for foreign companies to do business and invest.

The population of Ho Chi Minh City is of more than 10 mil, earning a higher average income than other part of the country. Consumer retail has found Ho Chi Minh City as an attractive market for investment in retail shops, malls, introducing quality consumer goods to the local.

Ho Chi Minh City offers adequate infrastructure such as the Sai Gon port systems, deep seaport access from Vung Tau port systems, Tan Son Nhat international airport, and possible Long Thanh international airport project, Saigon railway station, the expressways, etc, connecting the city to neighbouring countries in the region and other part of the world. Through setting up factories in industrial zones, processing zones, local and international manufacturing companies could take advantage of high quality labor resources at reasonable cost and move the finished goods to final destinations in US, EU with reasonable lead-time and expenses. Consequently, the city has become leading industrial city of Vietnam, contributing more than 30% industrial production, 30% GPD and 30% national income to the country’s total.

Ho Chi Minh City is also a financial center, which the biggest stock exchange is located. Many corporations, and investment companies has chosen Ho Chi Minh City to set-up management and investment offices to search for opportunities, conduct Merger and Acquisitions and other business transactions, to leverage the annual growth of the country at more than 6%.

At the same time, the city government has been improving policies to support the removal of difficulties for foreign-invested enterprises investing in Vietnam through fixing administrative procedures to shorten the administrative process, saving time for investors, offering “one-stop” mechanism at the main state agencies.

Our professional consultants and lawyers have assisted a number of foreign companies and individuals to conduct transactions, set-up companies, make investment through M&A, and actively involve in the development of Ho Chi Minh City in particular and the whole country.

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How To Determine The Child Custody in a Divorce?

 Upon divorce, in addition to dispute over property division, child custody dispute is also popular. How to determine the child custody in a divorce depends on many factors and the parties are suggested to consult with dispute lawyers in Vietnam in civil matters. The following does not try to give legal advice but a brief opinions on the matters of concern for reference.

According to Vietnamese law, after a divorce, parents still have rights and obligations of looking after, caring for, raising and educating minor children or adult children losing their legal capacity or having no working capacity and no property to support themselves. The law always prioritizes agreement right of both parties. Accordingly, husband and wife shall reach agreement on the person who directly raises their children and on his and her obligations and rights toward their children after divorce. If they fail to reach agreement, the Court shall appoint one party to directly raise the children, based on the children’s benefits in all aspects. If a child is full 7 years or older, his/ her desire shall be considered. In addition, a under-36-months child shall be directly raised by the mother, unless the mother can not afford to directly look after, care for, raise and educate the child or otherwise agreed by the parents in accordance with the interests of the child.

In reality, opinion of the children is only regarded as orientation and reference for the Court to consider making decision, not as completely decisive meaning. The Court shall base on interests of the children to appoint one party to directly raise him/her, according to: living, current education of the children, occupation of the direct caretaker, accommodation condition after divorce, income, child care time… and some other elements of each party. Accordingly, the person being entitled to directly raise the children must prove themselves to provide the most favorable environment for normal development requirements of the children and have enough conditions for ensuring both economy and mental health. The person being entitled to directly raise the children must prove themselves to have enough material conditions (stable income, property, and accommodation…), mental condition (having enough time to be with the children, care for, raise them, always put the children at the forefront…) to make the children have more stable life and more developed than living with the other party. In addition, one of the parties can provide additional evidence to prove that the other party does not have enough material conditions and mental condition to raise the children or often has behaviors of violence, unstable income…

In case of request of a parent or individual, organization being entitled to request (Next of kin; The state management agency in charge of families; The state management agency in charge of children; The women’s union), the Court may decide to change the person directly raising a child. The change of the person directly raising a child shall be settled if there is one of the following grounds: (i) The parents agrees on change of the person directly raising a child in the interests of this child; (ii) The direct caretaker no longer has sufficient conditions to directly look after, care for, raise and educate the child. Like divorce settlement, desire of full-7-years or older child shall be considered in case of changing the person directly raising a child. Seeing that both parents fail to have sufficient conditions to directly raise a child, the Court shall decide to assign this child to a guardian.

Obligations and rights of indirect caretaker after divorce: (i) Respect the child’s right to live with the direct caretaker; (ii) Support this child; (iii) Visit and care for this child without being obstructed by any person after divorce. Direct caretaker is entitled to require the Court to restrict the right of the indirect caretaker if the latter takes advantage of his/her visit to and care for the child to prevent or adversely affect the looking after, care for, raising and education of this child.

In accordance with obligations and rights of indirect caretaker, direct caretaker also has obligations and rights toward indirect caretaker after divorce: (i) require the indirect caretaker to fulfill the obligations; (ii) require this person and family members to respect his/her right of raising the child; (iii) The direct caretaker and family members shall not prevent indirect caretaker from visiting, caring for, raising and educating this child.

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Real Estate and Construction

 With substantial real estate industry experience, we handle a wide range of sophisticated transactions for nearly every product type. What distinguishes us from many law firms is our cost-effective teams and our knowledge of real estate industry fundamentals.

Our lawyers represent real estate buyers, investors, landlords and tenants in the negotiation, acquisition of residential apartments, houses, tenant leases of office, industrial, retail and other commercial space.

“They really know what we care about, where our risk buttons are. They do a great job in representing us, helping us identify risk, and take us off the ledge.”

We have particular experience with regard to the structuring, drafting and negotiating of engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts for construction projects. Our lawyers work closely with clients to structure and negotiate EPC arrangements that meet the competing requirements of owners, contractors, lenders and other project participants. Our lawyers are trained to anticipate issues and recognize opportunities in the project development context.

We have a deep understanding of the industries we serve and that knowledge provides us with the ability to deliver better solutions.

Please contact us for inquiries through email ant@antlawyers.vn or call our partner directly at + 84 912 817 823.

Let ANT Lawyers help your business in Vietnam.

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