Our long-standing GBA board member Dr. Oliver Massmann, Partner at Duane Morris Vietnam LCC, is sharing the most relevant legal updates with you.
- Visa incentives proposed for celebrities and investors entering Vietnam
- Vietnam to embark on two-tier administration model on July 1
- Vietnam pilots new housing policy to improve access to commercial real estate
- New Circular aims to aid private sector sustainability
1. Visa incentives proposed for celebrities and investors entering Vietnam
Some highlines are as below:
- Vietnam is evaluating the implementation of a more flexible and convenient visa policy for tourists, including visa exemptions – particularly short-term – aimed at attracting high-profile individuals such as renowned artists, famous athletes, and billionaires.
- On April 10, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh signed Directive No. 34 to promote tourism development and ensure double-digit economic growth.
- These may include full visa exemptions for tourists, especially those entering Vietnam under tourism stimulus programs or to attend cultural diplomacy events by invitation from ministers or heads of governmental bodies.
- The Prime Minister also emphasized the importance of designing favorable visa policies for specific groups, including researchers, artists, world-renowned athletes, experts, scientists, investors, and billionaires visiting Vietnam for tourism or for involvement in national projects or initiatives.
2. Vietnam to embark on two-tier administration model on July 1
Some highlines are as below:
- Vietnam is set to abolish operations of district-level administrations, transitioning to a streamlined two-tier administration model from July 1 as part of the Party’s policy to re-organize the political system’s apparatus.
- In the meantime, the National Assembly (NA) Party Committee is directing amendments to several provisions of the 2013 Constitution, specifically focusing on the organizational structure of the political system. These changes include amendments and supplements to Chapter IX on the local administrations, with plans to eliminate district-level administrative units and reorganize the local administrations into just two tiers.
- It is expected that Vietnam’s current 63 provinces and cities will be merged into 34, district-level administrative operations will be eliminated, and about 5,000 commune/ward-level administrative units will be established.
- The NA Standing Committee’s draft resolution on administrative unit reorganization reveals that 11 provincial-level administrative units will not undergo reorganization, including Hanoi, Hue, Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Son La, Lang Son, Cao Bang, Quang Ninh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, and Ha Tinh. Fifty-two provincial-level administrative units will be reorganized, including the four cities of Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh, Da Nang, Can Tho and 48 provinces.
3. Vietnam pilots new housing policy to improve access to commercial real estate
Some highlines are as below:
- The Vietnamese government has officially issued Decree No. 75, providing detailed regulations on piloting commercial housing projects developed through agreements to receive or transfer land use rights.
- This new decree guides the implementation of Resolution No. 171, previously passed by the National Assembly, with the goal of removing legal barriers and revitalizing the real estate market, especially in the commercial housing segment.
- Decree No. 75 outlines procedures for listing potential land plots for pilot projects, as well as investment processes, construction steps, and other relevant procedures for real estate businesses.
- Specifically, once the demand for pilot project implementation is received, within 15 days of the registration deadline, provincial land management agencies must review and assess the proposed plots. They will then compile a list of eligible land plots and submit it to the provincial People’s Committee for approval.
- If any of the proposed plots fall under land recovery for public-use projects, both the provincial People’s Council and People’s Committee must jointly review and determine the conversion of land use purposes for the relevant sections. This pilot program takes effect from April 1, 2025, through March 31, 2030.
4. New Circular aims to aid private sector sustainability
Some highlines are as below:
- The Ministry of Finance has issued Circular No. 09/2025/TT-BTC, providing detailed guidance on managing and utilizing State budget funds for implementing the “Program to Support Private Sector Enterprises in Sustainable Business during the 2022-2025 Period.”
- This program was promulgated under Decision No. 167/QD-TTg, signed by the Prime Minister on February 8, 2022. The circular, which specifies expenditure categories and funding levels for building a sustainable business support ecosystem, will take effect on April 20.
- According to the circular, funds will be allocated to a variety of activities designed to promote sustainable business practices. These include the development of materials on sustainable business, such as toolkits for assessing sustainable business models, press publications, literary and artistic works, as well as television programs related to sustainability.
- The circular also emphasizes the importance of organizing training courses to enhance the knowledge and skills of those involved in supporting and managing sustainable business initiatives. Furthermore, the program aims to establish a network of consulting experts dedicated to assisting small and medium-sized enterprises in adopting sustainable business practices.