Which area of business foreign investors could invest in Vietnam?

Recently, Vietnam has been an attractive investment destination to foreign investors thanks to the social-economic innovation policy from the early 80s of the twentieth century to the present. The economic, political and social situation always keeps stability and achieves remarkable developments, establishing trade relations with most countries in the world. Especially, Vietnam Government has been focusing efforts to improve the investment and business environment, which is favorable for not only domestic investors but also foreign investors. The Government has been issuing policies to improve the business environment, support business development and take decisive actions through resolutions and legal documents.

In addition to continuing to implement incentive policies to attract foreign investment such as corporate income tax exemption and reduction, import tax exemption for a number of industries, exemption from rent and land use,...the Government is also committed to reform administrative procedures to simplify procedures, create the best conditions for investors, and opening the economy for foreign investors.

Foreign investors, when investing in another country, must identify their business lines and areas of business, and consult with experts or Vietnam lawyers whether that business line is subject to any special conditions. There are areas without conditions of investment, but there are also industries that are restricted from doing business under strict conditions, and even prohibiting business in specific professions on purpose.

In Vietnam, the investors of Vietnamese are free to do business in areas which are not in the list of prohibited activities. For foreign investors, the business lines allowed to invest are considered based on Vietnam's WTO Commitments on Trade in Services and the Agreements signed between Vietnam and other countries. After that, business conditions in each specific industry to foreign investors will be applied.

General conditions applied to domestic and foreign investors are that investors are entitled to carry out business investment activities in industries and trades which are not prohibited by laws. The industries and trades banned from business investment include: trading in narcotic substances; trading in some toxic chemicals, precursors, minerals; trading in specimens of wild plants and animals according to the provisions of Appendix 1 to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora; specimens of endangered, precious and rare wild animals and plants of Group I originated from nature according to the provisions of the Investment Law; trading in prostitution; buying and selling people, tissues, body parts; business activities related to asexual reproduction on people; and trading in firecrackers.

Apart from the above-said prohibited business and investment lines, the remaining industries and trades are divided into conditional business lines and common business lines. For common business lines, investors can freely invest without barriers. By contrast, conditional business lines impose conditions that must be met if organizations wish to invest. Understanding the business lines is the first step for investors to enter the Vietnam market and consulting with Vietnam lawyers would help investors make informed decisions for their business plan in Vietnam.