Stay informed with the latest legal developments impacting the market in Vietnam. This month, we are pleased to share the most relevant updates from our GBA Board Members, Dr. Oliver Massmann, Partner & General Director of Duane Morris Vietnam, and Michael Wekezer, Country Manager of Rödl & Partner Vietnam.
Legal News contributed by Dr. Oliver Massmann, some highlights are as follows:
1. Hà Nội rolls out over 750 fully online admin services
- The Municipal Public Administrative Service Centre said this allows citizens and businesses to file, track and receive results digitally.
- Residents in Hà Nội can conduct 767 administrative procedures entirely online, including land-related applications, starting from September 3 as part of the capital city’s wider digital transformation push.
- In the land sector, the system covers services such as providing data, first-time land registration in cases where the State allocates land for management and reissuance of lost land-use certificates.
- The move follows the Politburo’s Resolution 57-NQ-TW on science, technology and national digital transformation as well as Hà Nội’s Decision No 4445/QĐ-UBND approving a list of procedures to be processed entirely online.
- All online procedures will return electronic results with physical copies delivered free of charge to applicants’ registered addresses when required, except for cases requiring original verification or signatures in official registers.
2. PM outlines strategic direction for fiscal and monetary policy management
- Prime Minister has issued Official Dispatch 159/CD-TTg, ordering stronger coordination of fiscal and monetary policies to stabilize the economy and spur growth, aiming for Vietnam’s 2025 GDP target of 8.3–8.5 percent.
- The Official Dispatch underlines the Government’s determination to achieve the 2025 GDP growth target of 8.3–8.5 percent, laying the foundation for double-digit expansion in subsequent years.
- The Ministry of Finance is tasked with leading efforts to refine tax policies in line with national development needs and income levels, while strengthening tax collection through digital transformation, stricter enforcement, and expansion of the tax base—particularly in the areas of e-commerce and food services.
- On monetary policy, the State Bank of Vietnam is directed to manage policy in a proactive, flexible, and timely manner, closely aligned with fiscal and macroeconomic strategies. Banks are encouraged to cut costs, simplify procedures, and accelerate digitalization to create room for interest rate reductions.
3. 2025 public debt plan, 2025-2027 debt management program approved
- The 2025 public borrowing and debt repayment plan and the three-year public debt management program for 2025–2027 aim to ensure full and timely repayment of public debt without affecting Vietnam’s sovereign credit rating as well as restructure the Government bond portfolio.
- Under Decision 940/QD-TTg dated September 8, the plans aim to ensure full and timely repayment of public debt without affecting Vietnam’s sovereign credit rating, while continuing to restructure the Government bond portfolio in line with market conditions and development needs. They also seek to diversify borrowing channels both domestically and internationally to balance the state budget and support socio-economic development, with foreign capital prioritized for large and strategic projects.
- Under the plans, authorities will exercise strict monitoring to keep debt safety indicators within the approved ceilings, promote the development of the domestic capital market, and maximize official development assistance (ODA) and foreign concessional loans.
Legal News contributed by Michael Wekezer, some highlights are as follows:
1. Condition for issuance of Business licenses and Licenses for setting up a retail outlet for Foreign Invested Enterprise (“FIE”)
- Draft Decree on replacement of Decree No. 09/2018/ND-CP regarding sale of goods and other activities directly related to sale of goods of foreign investors and foreign-invested business entities in Vietnam.
- Decentralization of licensing authorities: Provincial People’s Committees will now issue Business Licenses and Retail Outlet Establishment Licenses, instead of the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
- Exemptions expanded from the Economic Needs Test (“ENT”) for investors from CPTPP, EVFTA members countries.
2. Application and procedure for registration of Investment Registration Certificate (“IRC”)
- Decree No. 239/2025/ND-CP on amendment of Decree No. 31/2021/ND-CP (effective from 03 September 2025).
- Verified e-signature in IRC issuance or amendment applications is required.
- Restriction abolished for extension/amendment of projects term for investment projects using machinery and equipment with a useful life of more than 10 years (HS codes 84 and 85).
- Law No. 90/2025/QH15 dated 25 June 2025 on amendments to Law on Investment (effective from 01 July 2025).
- Establishment of FIEs prior to IRC is newly introduced, applies for the FIEs involved in: (i) Innovation/R&D centres; (ii) Big data and Cloud computing infrastructure; (iii) 5G mobile infrastructure and other strategic technology groups.
3. Eligibility for priorities on customs procedures
- Law No. 90/2025/QH15 dated 25 June 2025 on amendments to Law on Customs (effective from 01 July 2025).
- New customs priority regime (e.g. exemption from documentary examination and physical inspection) is newly introduced, applies to enterprises involved in: (i) hi-tech products; (ii) strategic technology; (iii) manufacturing of digital technology products; (iv) R&D, design, manufacturing, packaging and testing microchips; (v) AI data centres; (vi) manufacturing auxiliary products for direct use in semiconductor industry.
- This regime specifically applies to the import and export of goods directly related to the semiconductor, high-tech, and key digital technology industries as listed by the Ministry of Science and Technology.
| Dr. Oliver Massmann
Partner & General Director Email: omassmann@duanemorris.com |
Michael Wekezer
Country Manager Email: michael.wekezer@roedl.com |