Stabile political and optimistic signs of the economy recovering after the pandemic of Vietnam make so many investors wish to invest in Vietnam. Vietnam’s economy has a system of open and transparent investment policies, a young labor force, and a highly competitive workforce with the completion of the legal system and policies. This means that investment and business opportunities in Vietnam are open and welcoming foreign investors around the world.
This article provides an overview of the legal provisions relating to the types of common business used by domestic and foreign investors, the law on tax, the law on land, the law on real estate trading, the law on housing for foreign investors wishing to do business in Vietnam.
I.THE INVESTMENT FORM IS APPLIED TO FOREIGN INVESTORS
Vietnam has a great potential to attract foreign investment in the coming years. First, foreign investors wishing to engage in investment activities in Vietnam. Foreign investors should consider this occupation to be in the prohibited investment category, conditional business investment. Foreign investors can start their own business in different ways: by setting up an economic organization; capital contribution, purchase of shares, or capital contribution in an existing business; Invest based on commercial contracts or implement an investment project.
1.Invest through the creation of a business
Before establishing an economic organization, foreign investors must first develop an investment plan and apply for an investment certificate. Following that, international investors will follow the processes for forming business entities. According to the 2020 Enterprise Law, foreign investors can incorporate a business in Vietnam in any of the following ways.
– Limited liability companies
Limited liability companies established by foreign investors may take the following forms:
- 100% foreign-controlled enterprises; or
- a foreign-invested joint venture
Limited liability companies do not have the right to issue shares to raise capital. Members are liable for debts and other liabilities of the enterprise up to the value of capital they contribute to the enterprise.
– Joint-stock companies:
The charter capital is divided into several pieces of equal worth known as shares. Joint-stock companies are entitled to issue various types of shares to raise capital. Shareholders are only liable for the enterprise’s debts and other liabilities up to the value of capital contributed to the enterprise.
– Sole proprietorships (private enterprise):
+ A sole proprietorship is an enterprise owned by an individual who is responsible for its operation with all of his/her property.
+ Sole proprietorships must not issue any kind of shares.
+ Sole proprietorships must not contribute capital to establish, buy shares, or stakes in partnerships, limited liability companies, or joint-stock companies.
The Investment Law does not prohibit foreign investors from setting up private enterprises, but there is no specific procedure for foreign investors to set up such businesses. Therefore, foreign investors can not establish this type of business in Vietnam yet.
– A partnership
At least 02 partners are co-owner of the company who run the business together in a common name (hereinafter referred to as general partner). Apart from general partners, the company may have contributing partners; General partners are responsible for the company’s obligations with all of their property; Contributing partners are only liable for the company’s debts up to the value of capital contributed to the company’s debts company. A partnership has its own legal status from the issuance date of the Certificate of Business registration. Partnerships must not issue any kind of shares.
2.Investment by contributing capital, buying shares, or capital contributions
Contributing capital, shares purchasing, and contributing capital to economic organizations is sorted as indirect investment, one of the four investment types in the 2020 Investment Law. When implementing this form of investment, investors should pay attention to the following forms of capital and share purchase:
– Foreign investors may contribute capital to business organizations in the following manners:
– Buying shares of joint-stock companies through IPOs or additional issuance;
– Contributing capitals to limited liability companies and partnerships;
– Contributing capital to other business organizations not mentioned in Point a and Point b of this Clause.
– Foreign investors shall buy shares or capital contributions of business organizations in the following manners:
– Buying shares of joint-stock companies from the companies or their shareholders;
– Buying capital contributions to limited liability companies by their members and become members of limited liability companies;
– Buying capital contributions to partnerships by partners and become partners;
– Buying capital contributions to business organizations other.
Note: Foreign investors contribute capital, buy shares, contributed capital must meet the conditions relating to the ratio of ownership of capital, the form of investment, the scope of activity. Investment activities and other conditions are consistent with international treaties to which Vietnam is a party.
– Foreign investors have to follow the register the capital contribution, purchase of shares, or capital contributions for a foreign investor in the following cases:
– The investor contributes capital, buy shares, or capital contributions of business organizations engaged in business lines subject to conditions applied to foreign investors.
– 51% of charter capital of the business organization or more is held by foreign investors and/or business organizations mentioned in Law in Investment after the capital is contributed, or shares/capital contributions are purchased.
Note: Investors are still required to report their capital contributions, purchases of shares, or capital contributions to the appropriate authorities.
3.Investment under business cooperation contracts
BCC is a cooperation agreement between a foreign investor and at least one Vietnamese partner to conduct specific business activities. Foreign investors must follow the procedures for granting investment certificates.
Parties outside the BCC may establish an executive bureau to represent themselves in the implementation of the BCC (headquarters, seals, workers, representatives of foreign parties).
This form of investment does not constitute the creation of a new legal entity. Investors in BCC often share income and/or products from BCC and have unlimited liability for BCC’s liabilities.
4.Investment under PPP contracts (PPP)
Investors and project management companies shall sign PPP contracts with competent authorities to execute an investment project to build new infrastructural works, to improve, upgrade, expand, manage, and operate infrastructural works, or to provide public services.
II.INVESTMENT INCENTIVES FOR FOREIGN INVESTORS
Depending on the investment sector, the location of the investment project, and other criteria, foreign investors may be entitled to the following investment incentives:
- Application of a lower corporate income tax rate for a certain period of time or throughout the project execution.
- Exemption, reduction of corporate income tax;
- Exemption or reduction of import tax on goods imported as fixed assets; raw materials, supplies, and parts used for the project;
- Exemption, reduction of land rents, land levy.
III.TAX LAW FOR FOREIGN INVESTORS
Most investment activities and foreign investors operating in Vietnam are subject to the following taxes: corporate income tax; tax on foreign entrepreneurs; Personal income tax; Import and export taxes; Value added tax.
However, the Vietnamese government also provides for tax incentives, exemptions, and reductions for qualified foreign investors, within a period determined by law. This will reduce the cost of researching and developing new products or developing their business activities.
Foreign investors are allowed to transfer their after-tax profits to their home country without having to pay tax on their transfer abroad. Foreign investors are not allowed to transfer profits if their companies invest in accumulated losses.
IV.LAND LAW FOR FOR FOREIGN INVESTORS
The Vietnamese State grants land-use rights to overseas Vietnamese and foreign-invested enterprises in two main forms: allocated land to implement investment projects for the construction of houses for sale or a combination of sale and lease, and the State may lease land and collect an annual land rental or full one-off rental for the entire lease period.
V.LAW ON REAL ESTATE TRADING AND LAW ON HOUSING
The 2014 Housing Law and the 2014 Real Estate Law allow the foreign entities eligible for homeownership in Vietnam if they:
– Invest in project-based housing construction in Vietnam as prescribed in this Law and corresponding regulations of law;
– Buy, rent and purchase, receive or inherit commercial housing including apartments and separate houses in the project for housing construction, except for areas under management relating to national defense and security as prescribed in regulations of the Government.
In addition, foreign investors are permitted to engage in commercial and real estate services in Vietnam as specified in Vietnamese law.
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