ASTC supports foreign investors across the full lifecycle of their presence in Vietnam: market entry → operation → restructuring → exit.
1. Market entry and investment structuring
| Topic | Scope of work |
|---|---|
| Choice of presence | Compare representative office, branch, wholly foreign-owned enterprise, joint venture, and capital contribution / share acquisition — against market access conditions, tax and control |
| Investment structure | Advise on a tax-efficient ownership structure, taking relevant double tax agreements into account |
| Implementation plan | A procedural roadmap, the documents to prepare and the expected timing of each step |
Market access conditions for foreign investors are set out in the Law on Investment, the international treaties to which Vietnam is a party, and sector-specific legislation, and change over time. A conclusion for a specific business line must be confirmed against the source legislation in force at the date of filing.
2. Corporate registration and licensing
- Investment Registration Certificate (IRC)
- Enterprise Registration Certificate (ERC)
- Sector licences for conditional business lines
- Tax registration, company seal, direct investment capital account, digital signature and e-invoicing registration
3. Work permits, visas and temporary residence cards
- Establishing the need to employ foreign workers
- Work permit applications, or confirmation of exemption from the work permit requirement
- Visas and temporary residence cards for employees and dependants
- Advice on personal income tax and compulsory insurance obligations for foreigners working in Vietnam
4. Ongoing operation and compliance
- Tax, accounting, labour and investment compliance calendars managed on the ASTC EMS platform
- Updates on legal changes that affect the company directly
- Support with IRC/ERC amendments on changes to capital, business lines, location or legal representative
5. Restructuring, downsizing and dissolution
| Situation | How we help |
|---|---|
| Ownership restructuring, transfer of capital contribution | Advice on procedure, tax on capital transfer, and the required filings |
| Downsizing and workforce reduction | Options under the Labour Code, severance obligations and procedures with the authorities |
| Project termination and company dissolution | Tax finalisation, tax code closure, asset treatment and investment project termination procedures |
Professional note: this page describes the scope of our services. Advice on any specific transaction is issued in writing, with its legal basis and a risk assessment, and applies only to the circumstances, documents and date stated in that advice.
