Go-live checklist: are you ready to start business in Vietnam?

An ERC and an IRC do not by themselves mean the business may start. Set a status for every line. Only go-live blockers and before-construction items decide whether you may start; the other groups have their own gates, because a company may lawfully start some activities before its first hire, and periodic reporting begins after go-live.

Go-live status

NOT READY

A go-live blocker or a before-construction item is still open. Do not start business yet.

0 of 51 lines closed

Tip: answer the Route Finder first. The checklist will then mark which lines apply on your route, and marking one of those "Not applicable" will flag it for legal review.

Corporate

ERC completed (or amended after an acquisition)
Go-live blockerRead more
Notes for ERC completed (or amended after an acquisition)
Status for ERC completed (or amended after an acquisition)
Charter / governance completed
Go-live blockerRead more
Notes for Charter / governance completed
Status for Charter / governance completed
Beneficial owner information completed where applicable
Go-live blockerRead more
Notes for Beneficial owner information completed where applicable
Status for Beneficial owner information completed where applicable

Investment

IRC completed where required (ERC-first: within 12 months, and before project implementation)
Go-live blocker
Notes for IRC completed where required (ERC-first: within 12 months, and before project implementation)
Status for IRC completed where required (ERC-first: within 12 months, and before project implementation)
Investment policy approval conditions satisfied
Go-live blockerRead more
Notes for Investment policy approval conditions satisfied
Status for Investment policy approval conditions satisfied
M&A registration obtained where required
Go-live blockerRead more
Notes for M&A registration obtained where required
Status for M&A registration obtained where required
Economic concentration clearance where required
Go-live blockerRead more
Notes for Economic concentration clearance where required
Status for Economic concentration clearance where required
Securities-law steps completed (public / listed Target)
Go-live blockerRead more
Notes for Securities-law steps completed (public / listed Target)
Status for Securities-law steps completed (public / listed Target)
Sector regulator's approval of the acquisition where required
Go-live blockerRead more
Notes for Sector regulator's approval of the acquisition where required
Status for Sector regulator's approval of the acquisition where required
Project implementation schedule confirmed
Case-specific
Notes for Project implementation schedule confirmed
Status for Project implementation schedule confirmed

Capital / FX

Correct capital account identified
Go-live blockerRead more
Notes for Correct capital account identified
Status for Correct capital account identified
Capital contribution completed / on schedule
Ongoing after go-liveRead more
Notes for Capital contribution completed / on schedule
Status for Capital contribution completed / on schedule
M&A payment route compliant
Go-live blockerRead more
Notes for M&A payment route compliant
Status for M&A payment route compliant
Foreign loans reviewed if applicable
Case-specificRead more
Notes for Foreign loans reviewed if applicable
Status for Foreign loans reviewed if applicable

Land / premises

Valid right to use premises
Go-live blockerApplies on your routeRead more
Notes for Valid right to use premises
Status for Valid right to use premises
Land procedure completed
Before constructionRead more
Notes for Land procedure completed
Status for Land procedure completed
Lease / sublease legally valid
Go-live blockerRead more
Notes for Lease / sublease legally valid
Status for Lease / sublease legally valid

Construction

Planning requirements
Before constructionRead more
Notes for Planning requirements
Status for Planning requirements
Construction requirements
Before constructionRead more
Notes for Construction requirements
Status for Construction requirements
Completion / acceptance requirements
Go-live blockerRead more
Notes for Completion / acceptance requirements
Status for Completion / acceptance requirements

Environment

Environmental approval classified by counsel obtained
Go-live blockerRead more
Notes for Environmental approval classified by counsel obtained
Status for Environmental approval classified by counsel obtained
EIA if applicable
Before constructionRead more
Notes for EIA if applicable
Status for EIA if applicable
Environmental licence if applicable
Go-live blockerRead more
Notes for Environmental licence if applicable
Status for Environmental licence if applicable
Environmental registration if applicable
Go-live blockerRead more
Notes for Environmental registration if applicable
Status for Environmental registration if applicable

Fire safety

Applicable requirements completed
Go-live blockerRead more
Notes for Applicable requirements completed
Status for Applicable requirements completed

Sector licensing

Sector-specific licence(s) classified by counsel obtained
Go-live blockerRead more
Notes for Sector-specific licence(s) classified by counsel obtained
Status for Sector-specific licence(s) classified by counsel obtained
Business licence
Go-live blockerRead more
Notes for Business licence
Status for Business licence
Retail licence
Go-live blockerRead more
Notes for Retail licence
Status for Retail licence
Telecom
Go-live blockerRead more
Notes for Telecom
Status for Telecom
Education
Go-live blockerRead more
Notes for Education
Status for Education
Healthcare
Go-live blockerRead more
Notes for Healthcare
Status for Healthcare
Pharmaceutical
Go-live blockerRead more
Notes for Pharmaceutical
Status for Pharmaceutical
Logistics
Go-live blockerRead more
Notes for Logistics
Status for Logistics
Electricity
Go-live blockerRead more
Notes for Electricity
Status for Electricity
Finance
Go-live blockerRead more
Notes for Finance
Status for Finance
Securities
Go-live blockerRead more
Notes for Securities
Status for Securities
Insurance
Go-live blockerRead more
Notes for Insurance
Status for Insurance
Other
Go-live blockerRead more
Notes for Other
Status for Other

Operations

Bank account
Go-live blockerApplies on your routeRead more
Notes for Bank account
Status for Bank account
Tax setup
Before first invoiceApplies on your routeRead more
Notes for Tax setup
Status for Tax setup
Accounting
Before first invoiceApplies on your routeRead more
Notes for Accounting
Status for Accounting
E-invoice
Before first invoiceApplies on your routeRead more
Notes for E-invoice
Status for E-invoice
Customs
Case-specificRead more
Notes for Customs
Status for Customs
Import / export
Case-specificRead more
Notes for Import / export
Status for Import / export
Employment
Before first hireRead more
Notes for Employment
Status for Employment
Work permits / exemptions
Before foreign staff startRead more
Notes for Work permits / exemptions
Status for Work permits / exemptions
Social insurance
Before first hireRead more
Notes for Social insurance
Status for Social insurance
Data protection
Case-specificApplies on your routeRead more
Notes for Data protection
Status for Data protection
Cybersecurity
Case-specificRead more
Notes for Cybersecurity
Status for Cybersecurity
Product approvals
Go-live blockerRead more
Notes for Product approvals
Status for Product approvals
Periodic regulatory reporting
Ongoing after go-liveApplies on your routeRead more
Notes for Periodic regulatory reporting
Status for Periodic regulatory reporting

Gates by timing

Timing	What it means	Lines	Open	Gate
Go-live blocker	Business must not start until this is done	33	33	OPEN
Before construction	Must be done before construction starts	4	4	OPEN
Before first invoice	Must be done before billing	3	3	OPEN
Before first hire	Employment set-up, from the first employee	2	2	OPEN
Before foreign staff start	Work permit and visa, before a foreign national starts	1	1	OPEN
Ongoing after go-live	Reporting and compliance after go-live, not a pre-condition	2	2	OPEN
Case-specific	Counsel determines timing on the facts	6	6	OPEN

Based on the go-live checklist in the Vietnam Foreign Investment Navigator 2026 (legal status as of 18 September 2026). Your entries stay in this browser. "Ready" reflects only what you entered and is not a legal opinion.