Decree 24 on 31 Jul 00 on Foreign Investment
GOVERNMENT
No.24-2000-ND-CP Hanoi 31 July 2000
GOVERNMENT DECREE PROVIDING DETAILED REGULATIONS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LAW ON FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN VIETNAM
THE GOVERNMENT
Pursuant to the Law on the Organisation of the Government dated 30 September 1992;
Pursuant to the Law on Foreign Investment in Vietnam dated 12 November 1996 and the Law on Amendments of and Additions to a Number of Articles of the Law on Foreign Investment in Vietnam dated 9 June 2000;
Following the proposal of the Minister of Planning and Investment;
DECREES:
CHAPTER I
General Provisions
Article 1 Scope of application
This Decree makes detailed regulations on the implementation of the Law on Foreign Investment in Vietnam dated 12 November 1996 and the Law on Amendments of and Additions to a Number of Articles of the Law on Foreign Investment in Vietnam dated 9 June 2000 (hereinafter collectively referred to as the Law on Foreign Investment).
Foreign investment in industrial zones, export processing zones and high-tech zones; foreign investment under build-operate-transfer (abbreviated in English as BOT) contracts, build-transfer-operate (BTO) contracts, and build-transfer (BT) contracts; foreign investment in medical examination and treatment, education, training, and scientific research shall comply with the provisions of this Decree and other relevant provisions of the law.
International credit activities, commercial activities and other forms of indirect investment are not governed by this Decree.
Article 2 Entities participating in investment co-operation
Entities participating in investment co-operation in accordance with the provisions of the Law on Foreign Investment shall comprise:
1. Vietnamese enterprises:
(a) State owned enterprises established in accordance with the Law on State Owned Enterprises;
(b) Co-operatives established in accordance with the Law on Co-operatives;
(c) Enterprises belonging to the political organisation or socio-political organisations;
(d) Limited liability companies, shareholding companies, partnerships and private enterprises established in accordance with the Law on Enterprises.
2. Medical examination and treatment establishments, education and training establishments and scientific research establishments which satisfy the conditions stipulated by the Government.
3. Foreign investors.
4. Enterprises with foreign owned capital.
5. Vietnamese permanently residing overseas.
6. State bodies authorized to enter into BOT, BTO and BT contracts.
Article 3 Lists and selection of investment projects
1. To issue with this Decree:
(a) A list of specially encouraged investment projects;
(b) A list of encouraged investment projects;
(c) A list of regions where investment is encouraged;
(d) A list of sectors in which licensing of investment is conditional;
(dd) A list of sectors in which investment will not be licensed.
Based on the economic and social development planning and orientation for each period, the Ministry of Planning and Investment shall co-ordinate with ministries, branches and people’s committees of provinces and cities under central authority (hereinafter referred to as provincial people’s committees) to submit the lists mentioned above to the Prime Minister of the Government for consideration and promulgation.
2. An investor may on its own initiative select investment projects, investment partners, the form of investment, the locality, the duration of investment, the markets for the sale of products and the legal capital contribution ratio in accordance with the provisions of the Law on Foreign Investment and this Decree.
Article 4 Governing law
1. Entities participating in investment co-operation as stipulated in article 2 of this Decree must comply with the provisions of the Law on Foreign Investment, the provisions of this Decree, and other relevant provisions of the law of Vietnam.
2. In any certain cases where Vietnamese law does not yet have provisions regarding foreign investment in Vietnam, the parties may agree in the contract the application of foreign laws provided that the application of foreign laws is not inconsistent with the basic principles of the law of Vietnam.
Article 5 Language to be used
The files of an investment project and official correspondence with State bodies of Vietnam shall be prepared in Vietnamese, or in Vietnamese and a commonly used foreign language.
CHAPTER II
Forms of Investment
Article 6 Business co-operation contract
A business co-operation contract is a document which is signed by two or more parties and which stipulates the responsibilities of, and the sharing of business results between, the parties for the purposes of conducting investment and business in Vietnam without creating a legal entity.
Business co-operation contracts for prospecting, exploration and exploitation of oil and gas and a number of other natural resources in the form of production sharing contracts shall be implemented in accordance with the provisions of the relevant law and the Law on Foreign Investment.
Article 7 Contents of business co-operation contracts
A business co-operation contract must contain the following principal items:
1. The names, addresses, authorized representatives of the business co-operation parties (hereinafter referred to as business co-operation parties); and the transaction address or address of the location in which the project shall be implemented;
2. The objectives and scope of business;
3. The contributions of the business co-operation parties, the sharing of business results, and the schedule for the performance of the contract;
4. The main products, the export and domestic sale ratio;
5. The duration of the contract;
6. The rights and obligations of the business co-operation parties;
7. The financial principles;
8. The procedures for amendment and termination of the contract, and conditions for assignment;
9. The responsibilities for a breach of the contract and methods of dispute resolution.
Apart from the above-mentioned items, the business co-operation parties may agree on other items in the business co-operation contract.
A business co-operation contract must be signed by the authorized representatives of the business co-operation parties on each page and at the end of the contract. The business co-operation contract shall become effective as from the date of issuance of the investment licence.
Article 8 Co-ordination boards
During the process of business, when deemed necessary, the business co-operation parties may agree to establish a co-ordination board to perform the business co-operation contract.
The co-ordination board shall not have authority over the business co-operation parties. The functions, duties and powers of the co-ordination board shall be agreed by the business co-operation parties.
Article 9 Operating offices
A foreign business co-operation party may establish an operating office in Vietnam to perform the business co-operation contract and shall be responsible for the activities of the operating office.
The operating office of the foreign business co-operation party shall have a seal, may open accounts, recruit employees, sign contracts and conduct business activities within the scope of the rights and obligations stipulated in the investment licence and the business co-operation contract.
The operating office of the foreign business co-operation party must be registered with the investment licence issuing body.
Article 10 Tax obligations of business co-operation parties
1. A foreign business co-operation party shall fulfill tax obligations and other financial obligations in accordance with the Law on Foreign Investment; the Vietnamese business co-operation party shall fulfill tax obligations and other financial obligations in accordance with provisions of the law applicable to domestic enterprises.
2. Corporate income tax and other financial obligations of the business co-operation parties (including land rent, royalties and so forth) may be included in the share of products distributed to the Vietnamese business co-operation party and the Vietnamese business co-operation party shall be responsible for payment to the State.
Article 11 Joint venture enterprises
1. A joint venture enterprise is an enterprise established in Vietnam on the basis of a joint venture contract signed by two or more parties for the purpose of conducting investment and business in Vietnam.
In special circumstances, a joint venture enterprise may be established on the basis of an agreement signed by the Government of Vietnam and the government of another country.
2. A new joint venture enterprise is an enterprise established by a joint venture enterprise already established in Vietnam with:
(a) A foreign investor;
(b) A Vietnamese enterprise;
(c) A medical examination and treatment establishment, an education and training establishment, or a scientific research establishment which satisfies the conditions stipulated by the Government;
(d) Vietnamese permanently residing overseas;
(dd) A joint venture enterprise or an enterprise with one hundred (100) per cent foreign owned capital already established in Vietnam.
3. A joint venture enterprise shall be established in the form of a limited liability company. Each joint venture party shall be responsible to the extent of its committed contribution to the legal capital of the enterprise. The joint venture enterprise shall be a legal entity in accordance with the law of Vietnam and shall be established and operate as from the date of issuance of the investment licence.
Article 12 Contents of joint venture contracts
A joint venture contract must contain the following principal items:
1. The names, addresses and the authorized representatives of the joint venture parties; the name and address of the joint venture enterprise;
2. The objectives and scope of the business;
3. The invested capital, legal capital, legal capital contribution ratio, method and schedule of capital contributions, and the schedule of construction;
4. The main products and the export and domestic sale ratio;
5. The duration of operation of the enterprise;
6. The legal representative of the enterprise;
7. The rights and obligations of the joint venture parties;
8. The financial principles;
9. The procedures for amendment and termination of the contract, conditions for assignment, conditions for termination and dissolution of the enterprise.
10. The responsibilities for a breach of the contract and methods of dispute resolution.
Apart from the above-mentioned items, the joint venture parties may agree on other items in the joint venture contract.
The joint venture contract must be signed by the authorized representatives of the joint venture parties on each page and at the end of the contract. The joint venture contract shall become effective as from the date of issuance of the investment licence.
Article 13 Charters of joint venture enterprises
The charter of a joint venture enterprise must contain the following principal items:
1. The name and address of the enterprise; the names, nationalities and addresses of the authorized representatives of the joint venture parties;
2. The objectives and scope of business;
3. The invested capital , legal capital, legal capital contribution ratio, method and schedule of legal capital contribution;
4. The organisational and management structure of the enterprise;
5. The procedures for passing resolutions of the enterprise; the principles for dispute resolution;
6. The legal representative of the enterprise;
7. The financial principles;
8. The ratio for distribution of profits and losses between the joint venture parties;
9. The labour relations within the enterprise and issues of labour recruitment and training;
10. The duration of the operation, and the conditions for termination of operations and dissolution of the enterprise;
11. The procedures for amendment of and addition to the charter of the enterprise.
Apart from the above items, the joint venture parties may agree on other items in the charter of the joint venture enterprise.
The charter of the joint venture enterprise must be signed by the authorized representatives of the joint venture parties on each page and at the end of the charter. The charter of the joint venture enterprise must be registered with the investment licence issuing body.
Article 14 Legal capital of joint venture enterprises
1. The legal capital of a joint venture enterprise must not be less than thirty (30) per cent of the invested capital . In respect of projects for construction of infrastructure facilities, investment projects in regions in which investment is encouraged, afforestation projects and large scale projects, this ratio may be lower but not less than twenty (20) per cent of the invested capital provided that the approval of the investment licence issuing body is obtained.
2. The ratio of capital contribution of a foreign joint venture party or parties shall be agreed by the joint venture parties but shall not be less than thirty (30) per cent of the legal capital of the joint venture enterprise. Based on the business sector, technology, market, business results and other socio-economic benefits of the project, the investment licence issuing body may consider and permit the foreign joint venture party to have a lower capital contribution ratio but not less than twenty (20) per cent of the legal capital.
In the case of establishment of a new joint venture enterprise, the legal capital contribution ratio of the foreign investors must satisfy the above-mentioned condition.
3. With respect to important projects stipulated by the Government, the joint venture parties may, when entering into the joint venture contract, agree on an increase of the capital contribution ratio of the Vietnamese party in the legal capital of the joint venture enterprise.
Article 15 Schedule of legal capital contribution
1. The legal capital may be contributed once in full at the time of establishment of the joint venture enterprise or by installments in accordance with the method and schedule of legal capital contribution stipulated in the joint venture contract.
2. In cases where the joint venture parties fail, without reasonable cause, to make capital contributions in accordance with the agreed schedule, the investment licence issuing body shall have the power to withdraw the investment licence.
Article 16 Legal capital contribution in the form of the value of the land use right
The legal capital contribution by a Vietnamese party in the form of the value of the land use right shall be agreed by the joint venture parties the on the basis of the land rent rates determined by the provincial people's committee within the land rent tariff issued by the Ministry of Finance.
Article 17 Boards of management of joint venture enterprises
1. The board of management shall be the body in charge of the joint venture enterprise. The board of management shall comprise a chairman, a vice-chairman and other members.
The number of members of the board of management, the members representing each of the joint venture parties, and the appointment of the chairman of the board of management and of the general director and the first deputy general director shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of the Law on Foreign Investment.
The chairman, the vice chairman and other members of the board of management may concurrently hold the position of general director or deputy general director and other positions of the joint venture enterprise.
2. The term of office of the board of management shall be agreed by the joint venture parties but shall not exceed five years.
3. Where a new joint venture enterprise is established, the existing joint venture enterprise must have at least two members on the board of management, with at least one of those members being a Vietnamese citizen representing the Vietnamese joint venture party.
4. Members of the board of management shall not be entitled to salary but may be entitled to an allowance related to the operation of the board of management as determined by the board of management. Such expenses shall be accounted for as management expenses of the joint venture enterprise.
Article 18 Meeting procedures of boards of management of joint venture enterprises
1. The board of management shall hold a regular meeting at least once a year. The board of management may hold an extraordinary meeting at the request of the chairman of the board of management, or of at least two-thirds of the members of the board of management, or of the general director or of the first deputy general director. Meetings of the board of management shall be convened and chaired by the chairman of the board of management. The chairman of the board of management may authorize the vice-chairman of the board of management to convene and chair a meeting of the board of management.
2. Meetings of the board of management must have a quorum of at least two-thirds of the members of the board of management representing the joint venture parties. A member of the board of management may appoint in writing a proxy to attend meetings and vote on that member’s behalf on matters in respect of which the proxy is authorized to vote.
3. The board of management shall pass resolutions within its authority by voting in the meeting or by obtaining written opinions.
Article 19 Powers and responsibilities of the chairman of the board of management
The chairman of the board of management has the following powers and responsibilities:
1. To convene and chair meetings of the board of management;
2. To play a key role in supervising and monitoring the execution of resolutions of the board of management.
Article 20 Powers and responsibilities of the general director and deputy general directors
1. The general director and deputy general directors of the joint venture enterprise shall be responsible for the management and conduct of the day-to-day activities of the joint venture enterprise. The general director shall be the legal representative of the enterprise unless otherwise stipulated by the charter of the enterprise. The general director or first deputy general director shall be nominated by the Vietnamese joint venture party and be Vietnamese citizens residing permanently in Vietnam. In cases where the joint venture has only one deputy general director, that director shall be the first deputy general director.
2. The board of management shall determine the powers and duties of the general director and the first deputy general director. The general director shall be responsible before the board of management for the operation of the joint venture enterprise. The general director should discuss with the first deputy general director the execution of resolutions of the board of management relating to important issues such as mechanism of organisation; appointment and removal of key personnel; approval of annual financial statements, finalization reports of projects; and signing of economic contracts.
In cases where the general director and the first deputy general director have different opinions in relation to the management of the enterprise, the opinion of the general director shall be conclusive, however the first deputy general director may reserve his or her opinion and raise it with the board of management at its next meeting for consideration and decision.
3. Where the general director is absent, the first deputy general director is authorised to manage the enterprise on behalf of the general director and shall be responsible to the board of management and the general director for his or her work.
Article 21 Enterprises with one-hundred (100) per cent foreign own capital
An enterprise with one hundred (100) per cent foreign owned capital is an enterprise owned and established in Vietnam by foreign investor(s) who shall by themselves manage the enterprise and take full responsibility for its business results.
An enterprise with one hundred (100) per cent foreign owned capital shall be established in the form of a limited liability company and shall be a legal entity in accordance with the law of Vietnam and shall be established and operate from the date of issuance of the investment licence.
Article 22 Charters of enterprises with one-hundred (100) per cent foreign owned capital
The charter of an enterprise with one hundred (100) per cent foreign owned capital must contain the following principal items:
1. The names, addresses of the enterprise; the name and address of the authorized representative of the foreign investors;
2. The objectives and scope of business;
3. The invested capital , legal capital, method and schedule of capital contribution , and schedule of construction;
4. The legal representative of the enterprise;
5. The financial principles;
6. The labour relations within the enterprise, issues of labour recruitment and training;
7. The duration of operation, and the conditions for termination of operation and dissolution of the enterprise;
8. The procedure for amendments of and additions to the charter of the enterprise.
Apart from the above-mentioned items, the charter of the enterprise may include other items.
The charter of an enterprise with one hundred (100) per cent foreign owned capital must be signed by the authorized representatives of the investors on each page and at the end of the charter. The charter of an enterprise with one hundred (100) per cent foreign owned capital must be registered with the investment licence issuing body.
Article 23 Legal capital of enterprises with one hundred (100) per cent foreign owned capital
1. The legal capital of an enterprise with one hundred (100) per cent foreign owned capital must not be less than thirty (30) per cent of the invested capital . In respect of projects for construction of infrastructure facilities, investment projects in regions in which investment is encouraged, afforestation projects and large scale projects, this ratio may be lower but not less than twenty (20) per cent of the invested capital provided that the approval of the investment licence issuing body is obtained.
2. The method and schedule of legal capital contribution shall be stipulated in the charter of an enterprise. In the case where the foreign investors fail, without a reasonable cause, to make capital contributions in accordance with the stipulated schedule, the investment licence issuing body shall have the power to withdraw the investment licence.
3. Any adjustment of the invested capital or legal capital must be decided by the foreign investors and approved by the investment licence issuing body.
Article 24 Representatives of enterprises with one hundred (100) per cent foreign owned capital
The legal representative of an enterprise with one hundred (100) per cent foreign owned capital shall be the general director unless otherwise stipulated by the charter of the enterprise.
CHAPTER III
Implementation of Projects and Business Organisation
Article 25 Personnel and first meeting of boards of management of joint venture enterprises
After issuance of the investment licence, a joint venture enterprise must carry out the following work:
1. Within thirty (30) days from the date of issuance of the investment licence, the joint venture parties shall inform each other of the list of members of the board of management and appoint the chairman and the vice-chairman of the board of management.
2. Within sixty (60) days from the date of issuance of the investment licence, the board of management shall hold the first meeting in order to carry out the following main work:
(a) To pass the working rules of the board of management;
(b) To appoint the general director, deputy general directors and the chief accountant (or financial director);
(c) To determine a detailed schedule for legal capital contribution by the joint venture parties, a plan and schedule of construction.
3. The minutes of the first meeting of the board of management shall be submitted to the department of planning and investment where the head office of the joint venture enterprise is located. In the case of enterprises in industrial zones, export processing zones and hi-tech zones, the minutes shall be submitted to the management board of the industrial zone, export processing zone or hi-tech zone (hereinafter referred to as the industrial zone management board) where the project is implemented.
4. The list of the board of management, the general director and deputy general directors of the joint venture enterprise shall be registered with the department of planning and investment; in the cases of enterprises in industrial zones, export processing zones and hi-tech zones, the above list shall be registered with the industrial zone management board.
Article 26 Establishment and registration of the management apparatus of enterprises with one hundred (100) per cent foreign owned capital and business co-operation contracts
The establishment of the management apparatus and the appointment of personnel of an enterprise with one hundred (100) per cent foreign owned capital shall be determined by the foreign investors.
The registration of the list of personnel of an enterprise with one hundred (100) per cent foreign owned capital, or representatives of a business co-operation party and operating office of a foreign business co-operation party (in respect of a business co-operation contract) shall be carried out as in the case of joint venture enterprises stipulated in article 25 of this Decree.
Article 27 Announcement of establishment
After being appointed, the general director of an enterprise with foreign owned capital or the representatives of business co-operation parties shall publish an announcement of the following main information in three consecutive issues of a central or local daily newspaper:
1. The name and address of the enterprise or the location where the business co-operation contract shall be performed; the name and address of the branch, representative office or operating office (if any);
2. The names and addresses of the joint venture parties, and of the business co-operation parties or of the foreign investors;
3. The legal representative(s) of the enterprise or of the business co-operation parties;
4. The number and date of issuance of the investment licence, the investment licence issuing body, the duration of operation of the enterprise or the duration of the business co-operation contract;
5. The invested capital and the legal capital of the enterprise; the capital contribution ratio of each joint venture party and the committed capital contribution of the business co-operation parties;
6. The objectives and scope of operation.
Article 28 Business registration and practising certificates
1. The investment licence is concurrently the certificate of business registration.
2. With respect to sectors and business lines for which a business licence is required as stipulated by law, enterprises with foreign owned capital and the business co-operation parties shall only be required to register with the authorized State body for the purpose of carrying out business activities in accordance with the investment licence without applying for a business licence.
3. With respect to sectors and business lines for which a practising certificate is required by regulations, enterprises with foreign owned capital and the business co-operation parties must obtain the practising certificate in accordance with the law prior to the commencement of their operations.
Article 29 Branches and representative offices
1. Enterprises with foreign owned capital and business co-operation parties may establish branches and representative offices outside the province or city where the head offices of enterprises are located or where the main activities of business co-operation contracts are carried out for the purpose of conducting business activities in accordance with the provisions of investment licences.
Where necessary to promote export, an enterprise with foreign owned capital may establish branches and representative offices overseas in order to conduct transactions, marketing and the sale of products. The establishment of a branch or representative office overseas must be considered and approved by the Ministry of Planning and Investment.
2. An enterprise with foreign owned capital shall be responsible for the activities of its branch or representative office overseas. Income earned by the branch shall be included in the income of the enterprise and shall be remitted to the parent company in Vietnam annually and shall be subject to corporate income tax at the rate stipulated in the investment licence. Where the enterprise with foreign owned capital establishes a branch in a country which has signed a double taxation avoidance agreement with Vietnam, such agreement shall apply.
3. The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall provide guidelines regarding the formalities and procedures for the establishment of branches or representative offices of enterprises with foreign owned capital and of business co-operation parties.
Article 30 Hire of management organisations
1. With respect to hotels, offices or apartments for lease, golf-courses, sports, entertainment, medical examination and treatment, education and training and a number of sectors for which intensive management skills are required, an enterprise with foreign owned capital or business co-operation parties may hire a management organisation to manage the business activities.
2. The hire of the management organisation must not change or negatively affect the objectives of the operation of the project or the interests of the State of Vietnam as stipulated in the investment licence.
3. The hire of the management organisation shall be carried out by way of a management contract between the enterprise with foreign owned capital or the business co-operation parties and the management organisation. Management fees shall be agreed by the parties in the management contract and shall be accounted for as management expenses of the enterprise or of the business co-operation parties.
A management contract shall only become effective after it is approved by the investment licence issuing body.
4. The management organisation shall operate in the name, and use the seal and accounts, of the enterprise with foreign owned capital or of one or more business co-operation party(ies). The management organisation shall be responsible to the enterprise with foreign owned capital or to the business co-operation parties and shall abide by the law of Vietnam while exercising its rights and performing its obligations as specified in the management contract.
The management organisation must pay taxes and fulfil other financial obligations in accordance with the provisions of the law. The enterprise with foreign owned capital or the business co-operation parties shall, on behalf of the management organisation, pay these amounts to the State of Vietnam.
In all cases, the enterprise with foreign owned capital or the business co-operation parties shall be responsible before the law of Vietnam for the whole operation of the management organisation in respect of matters related to the management activities specified in the management contract. The management organisation shall be directly responsible before the law of Vietnam for its activities which are beyond the scope of the management contract.
Article 31 Re-organisation of enterprises
1. The division, demerger, merger or consolidation of an enterprise or the conversion of the forms of investment (hereinafter collectively referred to as re-organisation of an enterprise) must be approved by the investment licence issuing body.
The application file for re-organisation of an enterprise shall comprise the following:
(a) An application for re-organisation of the enterprise;
(b) The capital assignment file (in the case of assignment of capital);
(c) The resolution of the board of management of the joint venture enterprise, or the agreement of the business co-operation parties;
(d) The charter of the new enterprise (except for conversion into a Vietnamese enterprise);
(dd) The financial statements of the enterprise before its re-organisation;
(e) An explanatory statement on re-organisation of the enterprise;
(g) Documents relating to the right to use land;
(h) Other documents at the request of the investment licence issuing body.
2. The explanatory statement on re-organisation of an enterprise shall contain the following main items:
(a) The name and address of the representative; the names and addresses of the enterprises before and after re-organisation;
(b) The objectives of production and business;
(c) A plan for employment;
(d) A plan for dealing with the rights and obligations of the enterprises related to the re-organisation of the enterprise;
(dd) The duration for implementing the re-organisation.
3. Within thirty (30) working days from the date of receipt of a complete and proper file, the investment licence issuing body shall make a decision to approve the re-organisation of the enterprise in the form of an investment licence. Where the approval is refused, the investment licence issuing body must provide reasons in writing.
Article 32 Taking over rights and obligations after re-organisation of an enterprise
After the issuance of the investment licence for the re-organisation of the enterprise, the new enterprise shall take over the rights and obligations of the former enterprise in accordance with the plan for dealing with the rights and obligations of enterprises as specified in the explanatory statement on re-organisation of the enterprise [and] as stipulated in clause 2 of article 31 of this Decree.
Article 33 Assignment of capital
1. Upon assignment of capital, an enterprise with foreign owned capital or business co-operation parties shall register the assignment of capital with the investment licence issuing body.
2. The file for registration of the assignment of capital shall comprise the following:
(a) An application for registration of the assignment of capital;
(b) The capital assignment contract;
(c) The resolution of the board of management of the joint venture enterprise or the agreement of the business co-operation parties;
(d) Amendments of or additions to the joint venture contract or the business co-operation contract and the charter of the enterprise;
(dd) A report on the operational status of the enterprise;
(e) The legal status and financial position of the assignee in the case of assignment of capital to a party outside the enterprise.
3. Within fifteen (15) working days from the date of receipt of the file for registration of the assignment of capital, the investment licence issuing body shall issue a decision on the adjustments of the investment licence.
Article 34 Restructuring of the invested capital and of the legal capital
1. During its operation, an enterprise with foreign owned capital may restructure its invested capital or legal capital in case of a change in objectives, in the size of the project, the parties, or the method of capital contribution or in other cases.
2. The restructuring of the invested capital or the legal capital specified in clause 1 of this article shall not reduce the legal capital ratio to less than the ratio set out in article 14 and article 23 of this Decree.
3. Any restructuring of the invested capital or legal capital, or any change in the capital contribution ratio of the joint venture parties, shall be decided by the board of management of the enterprise and approved by the investment licence issuing body.
Article 35 Transfer without compensation
Where a foreign investor undertakes to transfer assets under its ownership to the State of Vietnam or to the Vietnamese party without any compensation upon expiry of the duration of the operation set out in the investment licence, the assets so transferred must be in a normal working condition.
Where an enterprise with foreign owned capital or a business co-operation contract terminates operations prior to the expiry date due to any cause other than an event of force majeure, and if this termination changes the commitment to transfer assets without compensation, the foreign investor shall be responsible for returning the preferential treatment it has enjoyed as a result of its commitment to transfer assets without compensation.
Article 36 Temporary suspension of operation or extension of the schedule of implementation of the project
When there is a reasonable cause for temporary suspension of operation or for extension of the project's schedule of implementation, an enterprise with foreign owned capital or the business co-operation parties must report to the investment licence issuing body. Except for an event of force majeure, the temporary suspension of operation or the extension of the project's schedule of implementation shall only be implemented after approval is granted by the investment licence issuing body.
In case of temporary suspension of operation or extension of the project's schedule of implementation, an enterprise with foreign owned capital or the business co-operation parties may be granted with exemption or reduction of their financial obligations on a case-by-case basis.
Article 37 Termination of operation, liquidation and dissolution of enterprises
The termination of operation, liquidation and dissolution of an enterprise with foreign owned capital or business co-operation parties shall be carried out in the following procedures:
1. The investment licence issuing body shall issue a decision to terminate the operation of the enterprise with foreign owned capital or the business co-operation contract in the cases set out in article 52 of the Law on Foreign Investment.
2. The enterprise with foreign owned capital or the business co-operation parties shall be responsible for the establishment of a liquidation committee in order to carry out the liquidation of the assets of the enterprises or of the business co-operation contract.
3. After completion of liquidation, the enterprise with foreign owned capital or the business co-operation parties shall prepare a report and submit the liquidation file to the investment licence issuing body for consideration and issuance of a decision to dissolve the enterprise or to terminate the validity of the business co-operation contract.
Article 38 Announcement of termination of operation
Within fifteen (15) days from the date on which the investment licence issuing body issues a decision to terminate operations, an enterprise with foreign owned capital or the business co-operation parties must publish such termination of operation and the liquidation of the assets of the enterprise or of the business co-operation contract in three consecutive issues of central and local daily newspapers.
Article 39 Establishment of a liquidation committee
1. Within thirty (30) days from the expiry date of duration of operation, or from the date on which the decision on early termination becomes effective, the board of management of the joint venture enterprise, the foreign investor (in the case of enterprises with one hundred (100) per cent foreign owned capital) or the business co-operation parties shall be responsible for the establishment of a liquidation committee in order to carry out liquidation of the assets of the enterprise or of the business co-operation contract. The composition of the liquidation committee shall be determined by the board of management of the joint venture enterprise, the foreign investor, or the business co-operation parties.
2. Where the liquidation committee is not established within the time-limit set out in clause 1 of this article, the investment licence issuing body shall issue a decision to establish a liquidation committee to carry out the liquidation of the assets of the enterprise or of the business co-operation contract. The investment licence issuing body may invite representatives of relevant bodies and organisations or experts, representatives of employees and representatives of creditors to take part in the liquidation committee.
3. The decision to establish a liquidation committee referred to in clauses 1 and 2 of this article shall specify the composition, functions, duties, powers and budget for operation of the liquidation committee and shall be sent to the joint venture parties, members of the board of management of the joint venture enterprise, the foreign investors, or the business co-operation parties.
Article 40 Powers and duties of a liquidation committee
1. The liquidation committee is an organisation assisting the board of management of the joint venture enterprise, the foreign investors, or the business co-operation parties, in carrying out the liquidation of the enterprise or liquidation of the business co-operation contract. The liquidation committee may use the seal of the enterprise or of the Vietnamese party to the business co-operation contract to carry out the liquidation;
2. During the process of liquidation, the liquidation committee shall be entitled:
(a) To require the general director, deputy general directors, the chief accountant of the enterprise and representatives of the business co-operation parties, and may request other organisations and individuals to provide files, documents, vouchers etc. relating to liquidation activities;
(b) Where necessary, to invite Vietnamese or foreign organisations, experts to conduct audits and valuation of machinery, equipment and workshops and to calculate the residual value of the enterprise or of the business co-operation contract.
3. The liquidation committee shall have the following duties:
(a) To notify creditors and relevant organisations in writing of the liquidation of the enterprise or of the business co-operation contract;
(b) To calculate the value of assets under the lawful ownership of the enterprise or of the business co-operation contract;
(c) To determine financial liabilities which have been paid to the State;
(d) To determine amounts receivable or payable;
(dd) To formulate a liquidation plan for approval by the board of management of the joint venture enterprise, the foreign investors, or the business co-operation parties;
(e) To carry out the approved liquidation plan;
(g) To prepare and submit a report on the results of liquidation to the board of management of the joint venture enterprise, the foreign investors, or the business co-operation parties.
Article 41 Order of priority for payment of obligations
During the process of liquidation, the enterprise with foreign owned capital or the business co-operation parties shall discharge obligations in the following order of priority:
1. Expenses relating to liquidation activities;
2. Wages and social insurance expenses owed by the enterprise or by the business co-operation parties;
3. Tax liabilities and other financial obligations of the enterprise or of the business co-operation parties to the State of Vietnam;
4. Debts;
5. Other liabilities of the enterprise or the business co-operation parties.
Article 42 Duration of operation of a liquidation committee
1. The duration of operation of a liquidation committee shall not exceed twelve (12) months from the date of its establishment.
2. Even if the liquidation is not completed upon expiry of the duration, the liquidation committee shall nevertheless terminate its operation; in such case the joint venture parties, the foreign investors or the business co-operation parties shall deal with unresolved problems by themselves. In case of a dispute, such dispute shall be resolved in accordance with the provisions of article 122 of this Decree.
Article 43 Methods of liquidation of assets
The liquidation of assets of an enterprise with foreign owned capital, and of the assets for the implementation of a business co-operation contract shall be conducted in the method agreed by the parties.
In a case where the Vietnamese party makes its capital contribution in the form of the value of the land use rights, upon termination of operation, the value of the land use rights for the remaining period shall be included in the assets of the enterprise to be liquidated.
Article 44 Procedures for resolution in the event of bankruptcy
If during the liquidation process there is enough evidence showing that the enterprise is bankrupt, the liquidation committee must report to the investment licence issuing body to terminate the liquidation and the procedures for bankruptcy shall be carried out in accordance with the law on business bankruptcy.
CHAPTER IV
Issues on Tax - Finance
Article 45 Corporate income tax rates
Enterprises with foreign owned capital and foreign business co-operation parties shall pay corporate income tax at the rate of twenty five (25) per cent on their profits earned, except the cases provided for in article 46 of this Decree.
With respect to prospecting, exploration for and exploitation of oil and gas and a number of other rare and precious natural resources, the corporate income tax rates shall be subject to the provisions of the Law on Petroleum and other relevant law.
Article 46 Corporate income tax in cases of encouraged investment
Preferential rates of corporate income tax shall apply as follows:
1. The rate of twenty (20) per cent shall apply to projects which satisfy one of the following criteria:
(a) Industrial zone enterprises engaged in the service sector;
(b) Production projects other than projects prescribed in article 45 and in clauses 2 and 3 of this article.
2. The rate of fifteen (15) per cent shall apply to projects which satisfy one of the following criteria:
(a) Being included in the list of projects in which investment is encouraged;
(b) Investment in regions with difficult socio-economic conditions;
(c) Service enterprises in export processing zones;
(d) Industrial zone enterprises exporting more than 50% of products;
(dd) Assigning assets to the State of Vietnam without any compensation after the expiry of the operation.
3. The rate of ten (10) percent shall apply to projects which satisfy one of the following criteria:
(a) Satisfying two of the criteria mentioned in clause 2 of this article;
(b) Being included in the list of projects in which investment is specially encouraged;
(c) Investment in regions with especially difficult socio-economic conditions included in the list of regions in which investment is encouraged;
(d) Enterprises engaged in infrastructure development of industrial zones, export processing zones or hi-tech zones; export processing enterprises;
(dd) Being engaged in the fields of medical examination and treatment, education and training or scientific research;
4. The duration of application of preferential corporate income tax rates is stipulated as follows:
(a) The preferential corporate income tax rates mentioned in this article shall be applied throughout the duration of the investment project implementation with respect to investment projects which satisfy one of the following criteria:
- Projects included in the list of projects in which investment is specially encouraged;
- Projects located in regions with especially difficult socio-economic conditions in the list of regions in which investment is encouraged;
- Projects engaged in infrastructure development of industrial zones, export processing zones, or hi-tech zones;
- Projects investing in industrial zones, export processing zones, or hi-tech zones;
- Projects engaged in the fields of medical examination and treatment, education and training, and scientific research.
(b) The corporate income tax rate of ten (10) per cent shall be applied for a period of fifteen (15) years from the time when the project commences its production or business activities, except for projects stipulated in sub-clause (a) of clause 4 of this article.
(c) The corporate income tax rate of fifteen (15) per cent shall be applied for a period of twelve (12) years from the time when the project commences its production or business activities, except for projects stipulated in sub-clause (a) of clause 4 of this article.
(d) The corporate income tax rate of twenty (20) per cent shall be applied for a period of ten (10) years from the time when the project commences its production or business activities, except for projects stipulated in sub-clause (a) of clause 4 of this article.
5. After the duration of enjoyment of preferential corporate income tax rates specified in sub-clauses (b), (c) and (d) of clause 4 of this article, projects shall pay corporate income tax at the rate of 25%.
6. Vietnamese permanently residing overseas investing in Vietnam in accordance with the provisions of the Law on Foreign Investment shall be entitled to a twenty (20) per cent reduction of corporate income tax applicable to projects of the same category, with the exception of cases where the ten (10) per cent rate for corporate income tax is applicable.
Article 47 Projects not entitled to preferential corporate income tax rates
The tax rates specified in article 46 of this Decree shall not apply to projects in the fields of hotels, offices and apartments for lease (except where investment is conducted in regions in which investment is encouraged, or where assets will be transferred without any compensation to the State of Vietnam after the expiry of the operation) and projects in the fields of finance, banking, insurance, trade and provision of services (except for projects in industrial zones, export processing zones, and hi-tech zones).
Article 48 Exemption from and reduction of corporate income tax
Exemptions from and reductions of corporate income tax shall be applied as follows:
1. The projects referred to in clause 1 of article 46 of this Decree shall be exempt from corporate income tax for one (1) year commencing from the time when their operations start to earn profits, and shall be granted a fifty (50) per cent reduction for the two (2) subsequent years.
2. The projects referred to in clause 2 of article 46 of this Decree shall be exempt from corporate income tax for two (2) years commencing from the time when their operations start to earn profits, and shall be granted a fifty (50) per cent reduction for the three (3) subsequent years.
3. The projects referred to in clause 3 of article 46 of this Decree and investment projects in regions where investment is encouraged shall be exempt from corporate income tax for four (4) years commencing from the time when their operations start to earn profits, and shall be granted a fifty (50) per cent reduction for the four (4) subsequent years, except for projects which are exempt from corporate income tax for eight (8) years.
4. BOT, BTO, and BT enterprises investing in regions included in the list of regions where investment is encouraged; hi-tech industrial enterprises; hi-tech service enterprises in hi-tech zones; afforestation projects, projects for construction and operation of infrastructure facilities in regions with especially difficult socio-economic conditions; and large scale projects with a significant socio-economic impact which are included in the list of specially encouraged investment projects, shall be exempt from corporate income tax for eight (8) years commencing from the time when their operations start to earn profits.
5. Duration for tax exemption, tax reduction shall run consecutively from the first profit making year.
6. The exemption from, and reduction of, corporate income tax mentioned above shall not apply to projects in the fields of hotels, offices, apartments for lease (except where investment is conducted in regions where investment is encouraged, or where assets will be transferred to the State of Vietnam without any compensation after the expiry of the duration of operation) and investment projects in the fields of finance, banking, insurance, trade and provision of services (except for projects in industrial zones, export processing zones or hi-tech zones).
Article 49 Adjustment of preferential tax rates and duration of exemption from and reduction of corporate income tax
1. Where an enterprise with foreign owned capital or a foreign business co?operation party fails, during the course of business, to satisfy the conditions for entitlement to preferential corporate income tax rates and the duration of corporate income tax exemptions and reductions provided for in articles 46 and 48 of this Decree, the investment licence issuing body shall adjust the tax rates, duration of exemption from, and reduction of corporate income tax stipulated in the investment licence.
2. The Ministry of Finance shall make a decision regarding any tax exemption or reduction in accordance with the applicable regulations in cases where difficulties are encountered during the course of business resulting from a natural calamity, fire or other events of force majeure.
Article 50 Profit remittance tax
1. Upon being transferred abroad or retained outside Vietnam, profits earned by foreign investors from their investments in Vietnam (including corporate income tax refunded resulting from any reinvestment and profits earned from assignment of capital) shall be subject to profit remittance tax.
2. The rates of profit remittance tax shall be applied as follows:
(a) Three (3) per cent of profits transferred abroad in respect of:
- Vietnamese permanently residing overseas investing in Vietnam in accordance with the provisions of the Law on Foreign Investment;
- Foreign investors investing in industrial zones, export processing zones or hi-tech zones;
- Foreign investors contributing no less than ten (10) million USD to the legal capital or capital for the implementation of a business co-operation contract;
- Foreign investors investing in regions with especially difficult socio-economic conditions included in the list of regions where investment is encouraged.
(b) Five (5) per cent of profits transferred aboard in respect of foreign investors contributing from five (5) million USD to less than ten (10) million USD to the legal capital or capital for the implementation of a business co-operation contract and in respect of foreign investors investing in the fields of medical examination and treatment, education and training, and scientific research;
(c) Seven (7) per cent of profits transferred abroad in respect of foreign investors contributing to the legal capital or to the capital for the implementation of a business co-operation contract, which is not covered in sub-clauses (a) and (b) of clause 2 of this article.
3. Profit remittance tax shall be collected each time when profits are transferred.
4. In a case where a foreign investor has paid profit remittance tax but then does not transfer the profits abroad, the amount of profit remittance tax already paid shall be refunded.
Article 51 Refund of corporate income tax in the case of reinvestment
1. A foreign investor using profits and other lawful income earned from investment activities in Vietnam to reinvest in projects under implementation or in new projects under the Law on Foreign Investment shall be entitled to a partial or total refund of any corporate income tax already paid in respect of the amount of profits reinvested (except the cases specified in the Law on Petroleum), provided that the following conditions are satisfied:
(a) The reinvestment is made in projects entitled to corporate income tax incentives mentioned in article 46 of this Decree;
(b) The reinvested capital is used for at least three (3) years;
(c) The legal capital or the capital for the implementation of the business co-operation contract has been fully contributed as stated in the investment licence.
2. In respect of the amount of profits reinvested in Vietnam, corporate income tax shall be refunded at the following rates:
(a) One hundred (100) per cent if reinvestment is made in projects entitled to a corporate income tax rate of ten (10) per cent;
(b) Seventy five (75) per cent if reinvestment is made in projects entitled to a corporate income tax rate of fifteen (15) per cent;
(c) Fifty (50) per cent if reinvestment is made in projects entitled to a corporate income tax rate of twenty (20) per cent.
3. When the requirement to use profits for reinvestment arises, the foreign investor shall prepare a file for submission to the Ministry of Finance for consideration of a refund of corporate income tax, comprising:
(a) An application for a refund of corporate income tax due to reinvestment;
(b) A commitment to use the profits for reinvestment for at least three (3) years;
(c) A warranty of the board of management of a joint venture enterprise, or by foreign investors or the business co-operation parties that the foreign investors have fully contributed to the legal capital or the capital for the implementation of the business co-operation contract;
(d) A copy of the investment licence;
(dd) A certificate of the tax office in relation to the amount of corporate income tax already paid.
4. Within fifteen (15) working days from the date of receipt of a complete and proper file, the Ministry of Finance shall notify the foreign investor of its decision; if approval is granted, the foreign investor may proceed with the procedures for a refund of corporate income tax on the profits reinvested. If approval is pending or not granted upon expiry of such time limit, the Ministry of Finance shall notify the foreign investor in writing, stating clearly the reasons therefor.
Where any profits registered to be reinvested are not reinvested, the investor must return any corporate income tax refunded, plus an amount of interest payable on the amount of tax to be returned at the loan interest rate.
Article 52 Corporate income tax in respect of assignment of capital
Any assignment of capital shall be carried out in accordance with article 33 of the Law on Foreign Investment and shall be taxed as follows:
1 In case where profits are earned from the assignment of capital, the assigning party shall pay corporate income tax at the rate of twenty five (25) per cent on the profits earned.
2. Taxable profits shall be equal to the assigned value less the original value of the assigned capital less any assignment expenses (if any).
In case where the assignee investor thereafter continues to assign its capital, the original value of the assigned capital on each subsequent occasion shall be equal to the assigned value stated in the preceding assignment contract plus additional contributed capital (if any).
3. After the investment licence issuing body confirms the registration of the capital assignment contract by adjusting the investment licence, the capital assigning party or the authorised person shall submit to the local tax office a tax declaration in respect of the capital assignment activities and relevant documents as stipulated by the tax office.
Article 53 Tax year
The tax year applicable to enterprises with foreign owned capital and business co-operation parties shall commence on the first day of January and end on the thirty first day of December of each Gregorian year.
Enterprises with foreign owned capital and business co-operation parties may apply to the Ministry of Finance for permission to adopt their own twelve (12) month financial year for the purpose of corporate income tax calculation and payment.
Article 54 Profits subject to corporate income tax
The profits subject to corporate income tax shall be the difference between the enterprise's total revenue and its total expenses plus other additional profits in the tax year, less any losses carried forward in accordance with article 40 of the Law on Foreign Investment. The profits subject to corporate income tax shall comprise the taxable profits of the enterprise's headquarters and its subsidiary establishments (if any).
The determination of the amount of profits subject to corporate income tax shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of article 9 of the Law on Corporate Income Tax. Enterprises with foreign owned capital or business co-operation parties shall be permitted to include in their expenses the payments confirmed by the tax office as being reasonable payments for humanitarian or charitable purposes to Vietnamese organisations or individuals.
Article 55 Carry forward of losses
Enterprises with foreign owned capital and business co-operation parties, which suffer losses during their operations after tax finalisation with the tax office, shall be permitted to carry their losses forward to the following years. Such losses may be set off against taxable income. The period for carrying forward losses shall not exceed five (5) years.
Article 56 Appropriation for formation of enterprise funds
After the payment of corporate income tax and fulfilment of other financial obligations, an enterprise with foreign owned capital shall be permitted to appropriate an amount from the remaining profits to form a reserve fund, social welfare fund, production expansion fund and other funds as decided by the enterprise.
Article 57 Exemption from import duty on imported goods
1. Enterprises with foreign owned capital and business co-operation parties shall be entitled to exemption from import duty in respect of goods imported to form fixed assets, comprising:
(a) Equipment and machinery;
(b) Specialised means of transport which form part of a technological line, and specialised means of transport used for transporting employees (automobiles of twenty four (24) seats or more and watercraft);
(c) Components, details, parts, spare parts, fittings, moulds and accessories accompanying the above mentioned machinery, equipment and specialised means of transportation referred to in sub-clause (b) of this clause;
(d) Raw materials and materials imported to manufacture equipment and machinery in technological lines or to manufacture details, parts, spare parts, fittings, moulds and accessories accompanying machinery, equipment;
(dd) Construction materials which are not yet domestically produced.
2. Raw materials and materials imported for the implementation of BOT, BTO and BT projects; and species of plants and animals or specialised agricultural chemicals permitted to be imported for the implementation of agricultural, forestry and fishery projects shall be exempt from import duty.
3. The exemption from import duty applicable to the imported goods referred to in clauses 1 and 2 of this article shall also apply in the case of expansion of a project or of replacement or renewal of technology.
4. Enterprises with foreign owned capital and business co-operation parties in the fields of hotels, offices, apartments for lease, residential houses, commercial centers, technical services, supermarkets, golf courses, tourist resorts, sports centres, entertainment centres, medical examination and treatment establishments, training, culture, finance, banking, insurance, auditing, and consultancy services shall also be entitled to exemption from [import] duty as provided in clauses 1 and 3 of this article, except for the imported furniture and equipment which shall be entitled to a once off import duty exemption as stipulated in the appendix to this Decree.
5. Enterprises with foreign owned capital and business co-operation parties investing in projects included in the list of specially encouraged investment projects, or investing in regions with especially difficult socio-economic conditions provided in the appendix to this Decree shall be entitled to exemption from import duty in respect of raw materials for production for five (5) years from the time when production commences.
6. Enterprises with foreign owned capital and business co-operation parties investing in the manufacture of mechanical, electrical and electronic components and parts shall be entitled to exemption from import duty in respect of production materials for five (5) years from the time when production commences.
7. Raw materials, spare parts, parts and materials imported for production of goods for export shall be exempt from import duty;
8. Other goods and materials used for specially encouraged investment projects under a decision of the Prime Minister of the Government shall be exempt from import duty.
9. On the basis of the investment licence, technical-economic explanatory statements and the technical design of the project, the Ministry of Trade or its authorised body shall determine the list of duty free imported goods. The imported goods mentioned above shall not be sold in the Vietnamese market. Where necessary, the sale of such goods in the Vietnamese market must be approved by the Ministry of Trade and subject to the relevant taxes in accordance with the law.
Article 58 Import duty on raw materials and materials imported for production of goods for export, and on raw materials for production of products for sale to enterprises engaged in production of goods for export
1. Enterprises with foreign owned capital and business co-operation parties engaged in production of goods for export shall be entitled to temporarily defer payment of import duty on raw materials and materials imported for production of goods for export, for the period stipulated in the Law on Import and Export Duties. Due to the requirements of production or production cycle of a number of export products, the Ministry of Finance shall determine the above mentioned period of deferring payment.
After the expiry of such period, enterprises with foreign owned capital and business co-operation parties shall pay import duty and, upon export of finished products, shall be refunded the amount of import duty paid on the imported raw materials and materials in proportion to the ratio of finished products exported.
2. Enterprises with foreign owned capital and business co-operation parties, when selling their products to other enterprises directly producing goods for export, shall be entitled to exemption from import duty in respect of the raw materials in proportion to the volume of such products.
Article 59 Price for calculation of import duty
The price for the calculation of import duty on imported goods subject to import duty shall be determined in accordance with the price recorded in the invoice of imported goods. Where there is no such invoice, the price for the calculation of import duty shall be determined in accordance with provisions of the Ministry of Finance.
Article 60 Value added tax
1. Enterprises with foreign owned capital and business co-operation parties shall be entitled to temporarily defer payment of value added tax in respect of raw materials and materials imported for production of export goods during the period of deferring payment of import duty in accordance with the provisions of the Law on Import and Export Duties.
2. Enterprises with foreign owned capital and business co-operation parties are not subject to value added tax on:
(a) Equipment, machinery and specialised means of transport which form part of a technological line not yet produced domestically and which are imported to form fixed assets of the enterprise with foreign owned capital or for the implementation of the business co?operation contract.
In the case of imported complete line of machinery and equipment not being subject to value added tax but containing machinery and equipment which can be produced domestically, value added tax shall not apply to the whole complete line of machinery and equipment;
(b) Construction materials which are not yet domestically produced and are imported to form fixed assets of the enterprise with foreign owned capital or for the implementation of the business co?operation contract;
(c) Raw materials imported for production of products to be supplied to other enterprises directly producing goods for export.
Article 61 Depreciation of fixed assets
Enterprises with foreign owned capital and business co-operation parties shall implement the depreciation of fixed assets as provided for by the Ministry of Finance.
CHAPTER V
Accounting System, Statistics and Insurance
Article 62 Accounting, auditing and statistical work
1. Accounting, auditing and statistical work for enterprises with foreign owned capital and for business co-operation foreign parties shall be conducted in accordance with the law of Vietnam on accounting, auditing and statistics.
2. Enterprises with foreign owned capital and foreign business co-operation parties shall apply the Vietnamese accounting system.
In cases where there is a legitimate reason for requiring to apply a different commonly used foreign accounting system, the approval of the Ministry of Finance must be obtained.
3. The foreign business co?operation party shall keep accounting records as appropriate to the type of business co?operation concerned.
Article 63 Standard units of measurement, currency, accounting and statistics
1. The standard units of measurement used in accounting and statistics shall be the official units of measurement of Vietnam. All other units of measurement must be converted into the official Vietnamese units of measurement.
2. The monetary unit to be used in accounting and statistics shall be the Vietnamese Dong. In a case of necessity, enterprises with foreign owned capital and foreign business co-operation parties may request the Ministry of Finance to approve the use of a foreign currency unit.
3. Books of accounts and statistics shall be kept in Vietnamese or in both Vietnamese and a commonly used foreign language.
Article 64 Financial statements
An enterprise with foreign owned capital or a foreign business co-operation party must, within three (3) months of the close of its financial year, submit its annual financial statements to the investment licence issuing body, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Finance, and the General Department of Statistics.
The annual financial statements of an enterprise with foreign owned capital or a foreign business co-operation party shall, prior to being submitted to the above bodies, be audited by an independent auditing company permitted to operate in Vietnam in accordance with the auditing law and regulations.
The auditing company must be responsible before the law for the independence, objectiveness and truthfulness of the audit results.
The audited financial statements of an enterprise with foreign owned capital or a foreign business co-operation party may be used as the basis for determining and finalising tax obligations and other financial obligations to the State of Vietnam.
Article 65 Provisions on insurance
1. Enterprises with foreign owned capital and foreign business co-operation parties shall take out insurance under insurance policies entered into with insurance companies permitted to operate legally in Vietnam in accordance with the provisions of the law.
2. Enterprises with foreign owned capital and foreign business co-operation parties shall take out voluntary insurance and compulsory insurance in accordance with law.
Items to be insured comprise people, assets, civil liability and other items stipulated by law.
CHAPTER VI
Foreign Exchange Control
Article 66 Opening bank accounts
Enterprise with foreign owned capital and business co-operation parties shall open foreign currency accounts and Vietnamese Dong accounts with banks permitted to operate in Vietnam.
In special cases where it is necessary for some projects, enterprises with foreign owned capital may open accounts with banks abroad upon the approval of the State Bank of Vietnam. Enterprises shall be responsible for reporting to the State Bank of Vietnam on the operations of the bank accounts opened abroad. The opening, operating and closing of bank accounts of enterprises shall be conducted in accordance with the regulations of the State Bank of Vietnam.
Article 67 Provisions on assurance of foreign currency
1. Enterprises with foreign owned capital or foreign business co-operation parties may purchase foreign currency from commercial banks permitted to trade in foreign currency in order to meet the demands of their current transactions and other permitted transactions in accordance with the provisions of the law on foreign exchange control.
2. With respect to specially important investment projects investing in accordance with the programs of the Government in each period, the Prime Minister of the Government shall make a decision on guarantee of foreign currency balance of enterprises with foreign owned capital and business co-operation parties as shall be stated in the investment licence;
3. The Government of Vietnam shall assure its assistance in the foreign currency balance for enterprises with foreign owned capital and business co-operation parties investing in the construction of infrastructure facilities and some other important projects where commercial banks fail to provide sufficient foreign currency required as mentioned in clause 1 of this article.
Article 68 Transfer abroad of income of foreign investors
1. After fulfilling their tax obligations, foreign investors may transfer abroad:
(a) Their profits earned from business operations and distributed income;
(b) Payments received from provision of services and transfer of technology;
(c) Principal and interest on any foreign loan;
(d) Invested capital ;
(dd) Other sums of money and assets lawfully owned by them.
2. Upon termination of operation and dissolution of an enterprise, foreign investors may transfer abroad assets lawfully owned by them.
3. In cases where the amount transferred abroad as stipulated in clause 2 of this article is greater than the initial amount of capital and reinvestment capital, the excess amount may only be transferred abroad upon approval by the investment licence issuing body.
Article 69 Transfer abroad of income of foreigners
Foreigners working in enterprises with foreign owned capital and for business co-operation parties may transfer abroad, in foreign currency, their salaries and other legal income after payment of income tax and other expenses.
Article 70 Rates of exchange
The exchange rate for conversion of foreign currency into Vietnamese currency and vice versa applicable during the process of investment, production and business of enterprises with foreign owned capital and business co-operation parties shall be in accordance with the provisions of the State Bank of Vietnam at the time of conversion.
CHAPTER VII
Import and Export, Technology Transfer
and Environmental Protection
Article 71 Registration of import plans
1. Within sixty (60) days from the date of issuance of an investment licence, enterprises with foreign owned capital and business co-operation parties shall register plans for import of machinery, equipment, parts, materials, raw materials and so forth for the whole duration of capital construction of the project or for each year in accordance with the schedule of construction and installation. The import plan may be added to or adjusted in the first month of each quarter and on an annual basis in conformity with the schedule of capital contribution, the schedule of construction and the production and business program.
2. Within fifteen (15) days from the date of receipt of a complete file, the body authorised by the Ministry of Trade shall approve the import plan for each project on the basis of the investment licence, the economic-technical explanatory statement, and the technical design of the project. If approval is not granted within the above time limit, the body authorised by the Ministry of Trade must notify in writing the enterprise and the business co-operation parties and specify reasons therefor.
3. When commercial terms are equal, enterprises with foreign owned capital and business co-operation parties are encouraged to purchase goods in Vietnam in lieu of import.
Article 72 Requirements in respect of imported equipment, machinery and materials
The equipment, machinery and materials imported into Vietnam for the purpose of implementing an investment project must satisfy the standards and quality in accordance with the requirements of production, environmental protection, and labour safety as specified in the economic-technical explanatory statement, technical designs, and the provisions on importing equipment and machinery.
Except for used machinery and equipment included in the list of prohibited imports, enterprises with foreign owned capital and business co-operation parties shall be entitled to decide on, and shall be responsible for the economic and technical efficiency of, the import of used equipment and machinery and shall comply with the provisions of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment.
Article 73 Inspection of imported equipment and machinery
1. Equipment and machinery imported for the purpose of implementing an investment project must be inspected with respect to its value and quality prior to being imported or prior to installation except for equipment and machinery purchased through tendering.
2. Customs offices in charge of border gates shall, on the basis of the approved import plan, permit the import of machinery and equipment without requiring a certificate of inspection to be presented.
3. The organisation inspecting the value of imported equipment and machinery may be an inspection company permitted to operate in Vietnam, Vietnamese State organisations in charge of inspection, or overseas inspection companies in respect of the inspection of equipment and machinery before import. The investor must provide the investment licence issuing body with information on the selected inspection company.
The inspection organisation shall be legally and materially responsible for the results of the inspection. In cases where the value of inspected equipment and machinery is less than that reported by the investor, the investor must adjust the value in accordance with the results of the inspection. Any fraud discovered shall, depending on the seriousness of the breach, be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the law.
4. Where necessary, the investment licence issuing body may require a re-inspection of the value of imported equipment or machinery.
Article 74 Finance lease and lease of equipment and machinery
1. In respect of a number of projects with special requirements, enterprises with foreign owned capital and business co-operation parties may lease equipment and machinery in and outside Vietnam for the purpose of implementing the project.
2. Where enterprises with foreign owned capital and business co-operation parties conduct finance lease of equipment and machinery for the purpose of forming fixed assets, they shall be entitled to exemption from import duty.
3. Where enterprises with foreign owned capital and business co-operation parties lease equipment and machinery for the purpose of conducting production or business activities, they shall comply with the following provisions:
(a) Lease is only permitted in respect of equipment and machinery which are not included in the technological line specified in the economic-technical explanatory statement and accompanying moulds and accessories for production for a definite duration;
(b) Equipment and machinery leased from a foreign country must be re-exported upon expiry of the lease.
Enterprises with foreign owned capital and business co-operation parties shall fulfil financial obligations on behalf of the lessor in accordance with the law.
Enterprises may include expenses for leasing equipment and machinery in their business expenses but may not account for depreciation of the leased equipment and machinery and may not include the value of the leased assets in the value of the enterprises.
Leased equipment and machinery shall not be treated as assets of a lessee during the procedures for dissolution or bankruptcy of the enterprise.
Article 75 Processing and reprocessing
Enterprises with foreign owned capital and business co-operation parties may process or reprocess products in accordance with the objectives stated in the investment licence, in particular:
1. May process for foreign entities;
2. May process for domestic entities;
3. May engage local entities to process a part of the products or stages if the capacity of the machinery, equipment or technological line do not allow for such production.
Article 76 Export of goods
Enterprises with foreign owned capital and business co-operation parties may directly export or authorise agents to export their products and may act as authorised agents to export in accordance with the law.
These enterprises shall complete procedures for export with the customs office and shall not be required to register an export plan.
Except for goods included in the list of prohibited exports, or in the list of conditional exports, enterprises with foreign owned capital and business co-operation parties may directly purchase goods and products in the Vietnamese market for processing for export or for export in accordance with the provisions of the Ministry of Trade.
Article 77 Sale of products in the Vietnamese market
In respect of products sold in the Vietnamese market, enterprises with foreign owned capital may sell such products directly or through their agents and shall not be limited within any localities for sale of such products. The enterprises may act as agents to sell products of the same type which other enterprises manufacture in Vietnam.
Selling prices of products shall be determined by enterprises. In the case of goods and services whose price is under the unified control of the State, selling prices shall comply with the tariff published by the authorised State body.
Article 78 Sale of products by export processing enterprises into the Vietnamese market
Export processing enterprises may sell their products into the domestic market, including:
1. Raw materials and semi-finished products to enterprises which directly manufacture goods for export;
2. Goods which the domestic market needs to import;
3. Commercially valuable scrap and substandard products.
The procedures and payment of duty for the above-mentioned goods shall be fulfilled in accordance with the provisions on import and export.
Article 79 Bonded warehouse
An enterprise with foreign owned capital producing goods for export may establish a bonded warehouse at the enterprise. Goods delivered into the bonded warehouse shall temporarily not be subject to payment of import duty.
An enterprise with the need to establish a bonded warehouse for the above purpose must satisfy the following conditions and procedures:
1. At least fifty (50) per cent of its products shall be exported;
2. Goods delivered from the bonded warehouse to the production plant must be registered and be subject to the supervision of custom authorities;
3. Goods delivered into the bonded warehouse must not be sold in the Vietnamese market. In special circumstances where the Ministry of Trade permits the sale of goods in the Vietnamese market, the enterprise must pay import duty and other taxes in accordance with the law;
4. Goods delivered into the bonded warehouse which are damaged, reduced in quality, or unable to satisfy production requirements must be re-exported or destroyed. The destruction of such goods must be in accordance with the provisions, and subject to the supervision of custom authorities, the tax office and environmental authorities.
The General Department of Customs shall, pursuant to the above provisions, provide guidelines for the issuance of licences to establish bonded warehouses at enterprises with foreign owned capital and shall carry out the management and supervision of the operation of bonded warehouses.
Article 80 Protection and encouragement of technology transfer
1. The Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam shall create favourable conditions and shall protect the lawful rights and interests of a party transferring technology into Vietnam for the purpose of implementing an investment project in accordance with the laws on technology transfer; shall encourage the accelerated transfer of technology, especially of advanced technology and technology satisfying one of the following criteria:
(a) Producing new and necessary products in Vietnam or products for export;
(b) Increasing technical capability, product quality, or production capacity;
(c) Saving raw materials and fuel; efficiently exploiting and utilising natural resources.
2. Any transfer of technology which has an adverse effect on the ecological environment, public order and labour safety is prohibited.
Article 81 Technology transfer and capital contribution in the form of technology
1. A transfer of technology by enterprises with foreign owned capital and by business co-operation parties shall be carried out on the basis of a technology transfer contract in accordance with the law on technology transfer.
2. The value of technology transferred in the form of capital contribution shall be agreed by the parties and shall, in all cases, not exceed twenty (20) per cent of the legal capital.
Patents, technical know-how, technological processes, technical services and so forth which are used for capital contribution shall be exempt from taxes relating to technology transfer.
3. When making capital contribution in the form of technology, the investor shall prepare a file for transfer of technology. The file for transfer of technology shall be submitted together with the application file for an investment licence and shall contain documents relating to the industrial property, certificates of protection of industrial property rights, and other certificates of technical capability and the principles on which the value of the technology is determined as agreed by the joint venture parties.
Capital contribution in the form of technology must be approved by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment. The investment licence issuing body shall adjust the investment licence after the capital contribution in the form of technology is approved.
Article 82 Environmental protection
1. Enterprises with foreign owned capital and business co-operation parties shall be responsible for satisfying standards of environmental protection, and abiding by the Vietnamese law on environmental protection.
2. Based on the nature of the operation, the level of technology and the degree of environmental impact, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment shall issue a list of projects which are required to prepare an environmental impact evaluation report.
The preparation and appraisal of the environmental impact evaluation report shall be carried out in accordance with the law on protection of the environment.
3. For projects not specified in the above list, the investor shall only be required to set out in the investment application file an explanation of any factors which may have an environmental impact, the measures it proposes to deal with those factors, and an undertaking to protect the environment during the period of construction and business operation.
4. In cases where the investor applies advanced international environmental standards during construction and business operation in Vietnam, the investor shall only be required to register with the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment.
CHAPTER VIII
Labour Relations
Article 83 Recruitment of employees
1. Enterprises with foreign owned capital and business co-operation parties shall recruit Vietnamese employees through Vietnam labour supply organisations. Where the Vietnamese labour supply organisation fails to recruit within fifteen (15) days from the date of receipt of a request for labour supply from the enterprises with foreign owned capital and business co-operation parties, the enterprises with foreign owned capital and the business co-operation parties shall be entitled to directly recruit Vietnamese employees.
2. Where foreign labour is required, enterprises with foreign owned capital and business co-operation parties shall complete procedures with the Department of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs or with boards of management of industrial zones for consideration of the issuance of a work permit in accordance with the provisions of the law on labour.
Article 84 Salaries payable to Vietnamese employees
1. Minimum wages and salaries of Vietnamese employees working for enterprises with foreign owned capital and business co-operation parties shall be stipulated and paid in Vietnamese dong. The Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs shall publish the minimum wages applicable from time to time.
2. The minimum wages and salaries of Vietnamese employees may be adjusted when the consumption price index increases by more than ten (10) per cent compared with the last adjustment.
CHAPTER IX
Land, Construction, Tendering, Acceptance
and Finalisation of Projects
Article 85 Land lease and payment of land rent
Enterprises with foreign owned capital and business co-operation parties may lease land from the State of Vietnam for the purpose of implementing investment projects and shall pay land rent in accordance with the provisions of the Ministry of Finance.
Article 86 Rates of land rent and exemptions or reductions of land rent
Based on the land rent tariff and the conditions for exemption or reduction [of land rent] stipulated by the Ministry of Finance, a provincial people's committee shall decide a rate of land rent and exemption or reduction in respect of each project. The land rent shall remain unincreased for a minimum period of five (5) years and any increase in rent shall not exceed fifteen (15) per cent of the previously applicable rent.
In cases where enterprises with foreign owned capital or parties to business co-operation contracts leasing land from the State have paid rent for the whole duration of the project or for several years, such payment shall not be readjusted if the rent is increased under a decision during that duration.
Article 87 Provisions on lease of land in industrial zones, export processing zones and hi-tech zones
1. In respect of investment projects in industrial zones, export processing zones and hi-tech zones where infrastructure development enterprises invest in and construct the infrastructure, the land rent and the rent of sub-leased land on which the infrastructure is developed and the fees for use of infrastructure facilities shall be paid on the basis of a contract signed with the infrastructure development enterprise.
2. Enterprises with foreign owned capital and business co-operation parties leasing land or sub-leasing land in industrial zones, export processing zones and hi-tech zones shall be issued with a certificate of the land use right in accordance with guidelines provided by the General Department of Land Administration.
Article 88 Authority to decide on lease of land
The Prime Minister of the Government shall make a decision on the lease of land to projects which require five (5) or more hectares of urban land, or fifty (50) or more hectares of other land. Provincial people's committees shall decide on the lease of land to other projects.
Article 89 Compensation, site clearance and land lease files
1. In respect of enterprises to which the State of Vietnam leases land, the provincial people's committee of the locality where the investment project is located has the responsibility to organise compensation and site clearance and to complete all formalities relating to land leasing. Expenses for compensation and site clearance shall be included in the invested capital of the project. Provincial people's committees shall agree with lessees on financing sources for conducting compensation and site clearance.
2. Where a Vietnamese party makes capital contribution in the form of the value of the land use right, the Vietnamese party shall be responsible for carrying out compensation and site clearance and completing all formalities in relation to obtaining the land use right. Expenses for compensation and site clearance shall be included in the capital contribution of the Vietnamese party or otherwise accounted as agreed by the parties.
3. Rates of compensation shall be in compliance with the general provisions of the State.
4. In respect of projects for which provincial people's committees issue investment licences, consideration of land lease shall be carried out at the same time as consideration of the issuance of investment licences.
5. In respect of projects for which the Ministry of Planning and Investment issues investment licences, an application file for leasing land shall be submitted together with the application file for an investment licence and shall contain the following items:
(a) the location and area of the land used;
(b) the land rent as proposed by the provincial people's committee on the basis of the land rent tariff stipulated by the Ministry of Finance;
(c) the plan for compensation and site clearance.
6. The formalities and the file for leasing land or sub-leasing land shall be completed in accordance with guidelines provided by the General Department of Land Administration.
Article 90 Duration for which land rent is calculated or capital contribution in the form of the value of the land use right
Where enterprises with foreign owned capital and business co-operation parties lease land for the purpose of implementing investment projects, or where Vietnamese parties make capital contribution in the form of the value of the land use right, the period for calculating land rent or the period for calculating the value of the capital contribution of the Vietnamese parties shall commence as from the date when the land is handed over on site.
Article 91 Preferential treatment for land rent
Enterprises with foreign owned capital and business co-operation parties shall be entitled to lease land at the lowest land rent rate, and shall be entitled to exemption from or the maximum reduction in taxes in the case of an investment in the construction of residential houses for employees or of infrastructure facilities outside the boundaries of the project. The lowest rate of land rent shall also apply [for projects in the fields of] medical examination and treatment, education and training and scientific studies.
Article 92 Mortgage of the value of the land use right and of assets attached to land
1. Enterprises with foreign owned capital may mortgage the value of the land use right and assets attached to land within the term of the lease of land or sub-lease of land with Vietnamese credit institutions, with foreign bank branches operating in Vietnam, and with joint venture banks between Vietnam and a foreign country in accordance with the Law on Credit Institutions, for the purpose of borrowings for business in accordance with the law in the following cases:
(a) Enterprises with foreign owned capital have already paid land rent for several years, provided that the remaining period for which land rent has been paid is at least five years;
(b) Joint venture enterprises where the Vietnamese party has made capital contribution in the form of the value of the land use right, provided that the remaining period for which capital contribution has been made is at least five years.
2. The mortgaged value of the land use right shall include expenses for compensation and site clearance and land rent already paid minus the land rent for the used period.
3. Application files and procedures for mortgage of the value of the land use right shall be completed in accordance with guidelines provided by the General Department of Land Administration and by the State Bank of Vietnam.
Article 93 Discharge of the mortgage of the value of the land use right and of assets attached to land
1. Upon completing the obligation to pay the debts secured by the mortgage of the value of the land use right and assets attached to land, the enterprise with foreign owned capital shall discharge the mortgage in accordance with the provisions of the law.
2. Where an enterprise with foreign owned capital fails to fulfil the obligation to pay a debt under a loan agreement, the mortgaged assets shall be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the law.
3. Any organisation or individual receiving the lawful right to use land resulting from the mortgage in accordance with the law, shall continue to use the land for the purpose of implementing the investment project in accordance with the issued investment licence; any change of or addition to the objectives of operation must be approved by the investment licence issuing body.
Article 94 Management of construction of works with foreign owned capital
Management of construction of works with foreign owned capital shall be carried out in the following areas:
1. Evaluation of the zone planning and of the architecture of the construction works;
2. Evaluation of technical designs;
3. Checking of the implementation of the tendering for construction, and the issuance of consultancy and construction contractor licences to awarded contractors;
4. Management of the quality of construction works.
Article 95 Evaluation of zone planning and architectural plans
The application file for an investment licence must include a preliminary design indicating the proposed architecture.
Zone planning and the proposed architecture of the project shall be evaluated during the process of evaluation of the investment project.
Article 96 Evaluation of technical designs
The following aspects of the construction design of a project shall be evaluated:
1. The legal status of the design organisation;
2. The conformity of the design with zone planning and with the project architecture already evaluated and the zone planning already approved;
3. Compliance with Vietnamese construction and design technical standards or with foreign technical standards approved by the Ministry of Construction.
Article 97 Authority on evaluation of technical designs and approval of construction
The authority on evaluation of technical designs shall be as follows:
1. The Ministry of Construction shall evaluate the technical designs of Group A projects as stipulated in article 114 of this Decree, except for small scale and simple construction works. Provincial people's committees shall evaluate the technical designs of other projects.
The Ministry of Construction shall provide guidelines for evaluation of technical designs.
2. The evaluation of technical designs and notification of the decision to investors shall be conducted within twenty (20) working days from the date of receipt of a proper file. After the technical design has been approved, the investor may commence construction works.
After the expiry of the above twenty (20) working days time-limit, if the design evaluation body fails to notify the investor of its decision, the investor may commence construction works in accordance with the submitted technical design file.
3. The investor must notify the date of commencement of construction works to the provincial people's committee where the construction will take place, at least ten (10) working days in advance.
Article 98 Responsibilities for construction works
1. Investors shall be responsible before the law of Vietnam for the quality of construction works, for the safety of construction works, for fire and explosion prevention and fighting, and for environmental protection during the period of construction as well as during the whole period of operation of the construction works.
2. Surveying and designing organisations and construction contractors must be responsible to investors and before the law of Vietnam for the quality of the part of the works they perform.
Article 99 Commissioning of construction works
Upon completion of the construction work, the investor shall report to the project design evaluation body on the completion of the construction work and may commence operating the construction work. Where necessary, the above body may inspect the construction work; any breach of the approved design and construction provisions which is discovered shall be dealt with in accordance with the law.
Article 100 Provisions on tendering in respect of projects with foreign invested capital
1. Joint venture enterprises and business co-operation contracts in which State owned enterprises participate with at least 30% of the legal capital or business capital must conduct tendering for procurement of goods and for construction and installation in accordance with the law on tendering. Boards of management of joint venture enterprises or authorised representatives of business co-operation parties shall be responsible for approving tendering plans and tendering results on the basis of agreement with the investment licence issuing body.
2. In addition to projects provided for in clause 1 of this article, investors of other projects are encouraged to organise tendering in accordance with the law on tendering.
Article 101 Finalisation of construction works
1. Within six (6) months from the date of completion and commissioning of a construction work or items of a construction work, an enterprise with foreign owned enterprises and business co-operation parties shall submit a finalisation report of the construction work to the investment licence issuing body. The investor(s) shall be responsible for the truthfulness and accuracy of the finalisation report.
2. Within thirty (30) days from the date of receipt of the finalisation report of the construction work, the investment licence issuing body shall be responsible for considering and issuing a certificate of registration of the finalisation report of the construction work.
When necessary, the investment issuing body may evaluate the finalisation report on the invested capital and require the invested capital to be adjusted in accordance with appropriate costs.
3. Within six (6) months from the date of completion and commissioning of construction works, investors shall submit documents relating to the completed construction work for archiving as stipulated by law.
4. The verification of the ownership of the construction work shall be carried out in accordance with applicable provisions of the law.
Article 102 Finalisation
1. An investor shall submit the certified and registered finalisation report of the construction work to the customs office to proceed finalisation procedures for the equipment, machinery, raw materials and materials which were imported for the construction and installation of the construction works.
2. In case where imported goods are not fully used for the project construction and installation, the investor shall so notify the investment licence issuing body and the customs office for resolution. The above mentioned goods shall only be sold on the domestic market upon obtaining approval from the Ministry of Trade and all related financial obligations must be fulfilled in accordance with the law.
Article 103 Assistance for technical infrastructure facilities outside the boundaries of the project
The Government shall assure to support construction of technical infrastructure facilities up to the boundaries of the enterprises with foreign owned capital, or of industrial zones, export processing zones and hi-tech zones. Where necessary, enterprises engaged in the construction and operation of technical infrastructure facilities may agree with enterprises engaged in infrastructure development of industrial zones, export processing zones and hi-tech zones or with enterprises with foreign owned capital on advanced financing or on other modes of arrangements for construction of technical infrastructure facilities.
CHAPTER X
Procedures for Issuance of Investment Licences
Article 104 Procedures for issuance of investment licences
1. Projects with foreign invested capital in Vietnam shall be approved in the form of investment licences. An investment licence shall be issued by the Ministry of Planning and Investment in the unified standard form.
2. Investment licences shall be issued in accordance with one of the two following procedures:
(a) Registration for issuance of investment licences;
(b) Evaluation for issuance of investment licences.
Article 105 Conditions for projects subject to registration for issuance of investment licences
1. Projects subject to registration for issuance of investment licences shall concurrently satisfy the following conditions:
(a) Not belong to the Group A projects stipulated in article 114 of this Decree;
(b) Conform to the approved planning;
(c) Not belong to the list of projects for which reports on environmental impact assessment must be prepared;
2. In addition to the conditions stipulated in clause 1 of this article, the projects subject to registration for issuance of investment licences must satisfy one of the following conditions:
(a) Export all their products;
(b) Invest in an industrial zone and satisfy the requirements for product export ratio as provided by the Ministry of Planning and Investment;
(c) Belong to a manufacture sector with an invested capital of up to five (5) million USD and with a product export ratio of at least eighty (80) per cent.
3. Investment licence issuing bodies may not refuse to grant investment licences to those projects which satisfy all the conditions for registration for issuance of investment licences.
4. Remaining projects shall be subject to evaluation for issuance of investment licences.
Article 106 Registration for issuance of investment licences
1. A registration file for an investment licence shall consist of:
(a) An application for registration of an investment licence;
(b) The joint venture contract and the charter of a joint venture enterprise, or the charter of an enterprise with 100% foreign owned capital, or the business co-operation contract;
(c) A document verifying the legal status and the financial position of the parties.
2. A registration file for an investment licence shall be made in five (5) sets, at least one of which shall be an original, and all shall be submitted to the investment licence issuing body.
3. Within fifteen (15) working days from the date of receipt of proper documentation, the investment licence issuing body shall notify its decision of approval in the form of an investment licence.
4. The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall provide guidelines on preparation of registration files for investment licences.
Article 107 Files for evaluation for issuance of investment licences
1. A file for evaluation for issuance of an investment licence shall consist of:
(a) An application for an investment licence;
(b) The joint venture contract and the charter of a joint venture enterprise; or the charter of an enterprise with 100% foreign owned capital, or the business co-operation contract;
(c) Technical - economic explanatory statements;
(d) A document verifying the legal status and financial position of the joint venture parties, of the business co-operation parties or of the foreign investor;
(dd) Documents relating to technology transfer (if any).
2. An application file shall be made into 12 sets with respect to Group A projects and 8 sets with respect to Group B projects, at least one of which shall be an original, and all sets shall be submitted to the licence investment issuing body.
The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall provide guidelines on preparation of application files for projects with foreign invested capital .
Article 108 Aspects of investment projects to be evaluated
The following aspects of investment projects shall be evaluated:
1. The legal status and financial position of foreign and Vietnamese investors;
2. The conformity of the project with the planning;
3. The socio-economic benefits (the possibility of creating new productivity, new sectors, new products, market expansion; the possibility of creating job opportunities; the economic benefits of the project and its contribution to the budget etc);
4. The applied technical and technological level, the effective use and protection of natural resources, the protection of the ecological environment;
5. The appropriateness of the land use and the valuation of the assets contributed as capital by the Vietnamese party (if any).
Article 109 Procedures for evaluation of projects for which investment licences are issued by the Ministry of Planning and Investment
1. With respect to Group A projects, the Ministry of Planning and Investment shall gather opinions from relevant ministries, branches and provincial people’s committees and submit them to the Prime Minister of the Government for consideration and decision. Where there are different opinions on important aspects of a project, the Ministry of Planning and Investment shall hold consultative meetings with the participation of competent representatives of relevant bodies for examination of the project prior to submission to the Prime Minister of the Government. On a case by case basis, the Prime Minister of the Government may require the State Evaluation Council on Investment Projects to study and advise so that the Prime Minister of the Government may then consider and decide;
2. With respect to Group B projects falling within the competence of the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Planning and Investment shall gather opinions from relevant ministries, branches and provincial people’s committees prior to its consideration and decision.
3. Time-limit for evaluation of projects:
(a) Within three (3) working days from the date of receipt of a proper file, the Ministry of Planning and Investment shall send the file to the relevant ministries, branches and provincial people’s committees for their opinions.
(b) Within fifteen (15) working days from the date of receipt of the proper file, relevant ministries, branches and provincial people’s committees shall provide their written opinions to the Ministry of Planning and Investment on the aspects of the project within the scope of their administration; upon the expiry of such time-limit, if no written opinions have been provided, [the relevant bodies] shall be deemed to have accepted the project.
(c) With respect to Group A projects, within thirty (30) working days from the date of receipt of the proper file, the Ministry of Planning and Investment shall submits its evaluation opinion to the Prime Minister of the Government. Within ten (10) working days from the date of receipt of the submission of the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Prime Minister of the Government shall issue a decision on the project. Within five (5) days from the date of receipt of the decision from the Prime Minister of the Government the Ministry of Planning and Investment shall notify the decision on the issuance of the investment licence to the project.
(d) With respect to Group B projects, within thirty (30) working days from the date of receipt of the proper file, the Ministry of Planning and Investment shall complete its evaluation of the project and issue the investment licence.
The above time-limits shall not include the period of time during which an investor amends or adds to the application file for an investment licence.
Any requirements by the Ministry of Planning and Investment regarding the investor's amendment of or addition to the proper file shall be made in writing within twenty (20) working days from the date of receipt of the proper file.
Upon the expiry of the time-limit stipulated above, if no investment licence has been issued, the Ministry of Planning and Investment shall notify the investors in writing stating clearly the reasons therefor with copies distributed to the relevant bodies.
4. The issuance of investment licences to projects in industrial zones, export processing zones and hi-tech zones shall be carried out in accordance with the authority delegated by the Ministry of Planning and Investment.
Article 110 Procedures for evaluation of projects, for which the investment licences are issued by provincial people’s committees
1. The aspects of investment projects to be evaluated shall be set out in article 108 of this Decree.
2. Time-limits for evaluation and issuance of investment licences:
(a) Within three (3) working days from the date of receipt of a proper file, provincial people’s committees shall send the project file to ministries in charge of technical and economic sectors and to relevant ministries and branches for their opinions.
(b) Within fifteen (15) working days from the date of receipt of the proper file, relevant ministries and branches shall provide their written opinions to the provincial people’s committee on the aspects of the project within the scope of their management; upon the expiry of the above time-limit, if no written opinion has been provided, [the relevant bodies] shall be deemed to have accepted the project;
(c) Within thirty (30) working days from the date of receipt of the proper file, the provincial people’s committee shall complete its evaluation of the project and issue the investment licence.
The above time-limits shall not include the period of time during which an investor amend or add to the application file for an investment licence.
Any requirements by the provincial people’s committee that the investor amends or adds to the project file shall be made in writing within twenty (20) working days from the date of receipt of the proper file.
Upon the expiry of the time-limit stipulated above, if no investment licence has been issued, the provincial people’s committee shall notify the investors in writing stating clearly the reasons therefor with copies distributed to the relevant bodies.
3. Within seven (7) working days from the date of issuance of an investment licence or an amended investment licence, the provincial people’s committee shall send the originals of the investment licence and the amended investment licence to the Ministry of Planning and Investment and copies to the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Trade, ministries in charge of technical and economic sectors and to the relevant State administration bodies.
Article 111 Amendment of investment licences
1. Any amendments of and additions to an investment licence shall be approved by investment licence issuing bodies in the form of amended investment licences.
2. The authority to issue amended investment licences is stipulated as follows:
(a) The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall decide on the issuance of amended investment licences with respect to projects stipulated in article 114 and clause 2 of article 115 of this Decree, and shall authorise industrial zone management boards to decide on the issuance of amended investment licences to projects under their authorisation.
(b) Provincial people’s committees shall decide on the issuance of amended investment licences to projects under their delegated authorisation to issue licences.
3. Where any amendments or additions to the investment licence are needed, an enterprise with foreign owned capital and business co-operation parties shall submit an application file for amendment of the investment licence to the investment licence issuing body as stipulated in clause 2 of this article. The application file shall consist of:
(a) An application for amendment of the investment licence;
(b) Resolutions of the board of management of the joint venture enterprise or agreement of the business co-operation parties or a proposal from the foreign investor on items of the investment licence applying for amendment;
(c) A report on the implementation status of the project.
4. The investment issuing body shall notify the enterprise with foreign owned capital or the business co-operation parties of its decision on the amendment of the investment licence within fifteen (15) working days from the date of receipt of the proper application file.
The above time limits shall not include the period of time during which the enterprise with foreign owned capital and the business co-operation parties make additional explanatory statements.
CHAPTER XI
State Administration of Foreign Investment Activities
Article 112 Guidelines on investment activities
1. Ministries, branches and provincial people’s committees shall be responsible for providing guidelines on foreign investment activities in sectors and localities under their administration; for providing necessary information and creating favourable conditions for investors to choose investment opportunities in Vietnam; for improving management and reviewing investment procedures so as to ensure quick and simple investment procedures.
2. Ministries, branches and provincial people’s committees shall obtain opinions of the Ministry of Planning and Investment prior to the issuance of legal documents which fall within their respective competence and which relate to foreign direct investment activities; different opinions should be reported to the Prime Minister of the Government for his consideration and decision.
Article 113 State administration co-ordination
1. Ministries, branches and provincial people’s committees shall exercise State administration of foreign investment in accordance with the law, and shall co-ordinate with each other in the management of enterprises.
2. Provincial people’s committees shall be responsible for promptly dealing with issues falling within their authority, and shall guide enterprises to operate in strict accordance with their investment licence and the law.
3. The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall summarise information on the status of foreign investment and provide it to ministries, branches and provincial people’s committees, and work periodically with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Trade, the State Bank, the General Department of Land Administration, the General Department of Customs and relevant provincial people’s committees in order to promptly solve problems arising, to deal with recommendations of enterprises with foreign owned capital or of business co-operation parties, and to propose policies and measures for improving the investment environment.
Article 114 Authority to make decisions on investment projects
1. The Prime Minister of the Government shall make decisions in relation to Group A projects comprising:
(a) Projects regardless of invested capital in the following sectors:
- Infrastructure construction of industrial zones, export processing zones, hi-tech zones, urban areas; BOT, BTO and BT projects;
- Construction and operation of sea-ports and air-ports; operation of sea and air transportation;
- Oil and gas;
- Post and telecommunication services;
- Culture; publication, press; radio and television broadcasting; medical examination and treatment establishments; education and training; scientific research and production of medicine for human diseases;
- Insurance, finance, auditing and inspection;
- Exploration and exploitation of rare and precious natural resources;
- Construction of residential houses for sale;
- National defence and security projects;
(b) Projects with invested capital of at least forty (40) USD million in the following fields: electricity, mining, metallurgy, cement, mechanical engineering manufacture, chemicals, hotels, apartments for lease, tourism-entertainment areas.
(c) Projects using at least 5 (five) hectares of urban land, or at least fifty (50) hectares of land of other categories.
2. The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall make decisions on Group B projects (being projects which are not stipulated in clause 1 of this article), except for projects referred to in clause 3 of this article;
3. Provincial people’s committees shall make decisions on projects stipulated in clause 1 of article 115 of this Decree.
Article 115 Delegation of authority to issue investment licences
1. Projects under the delegation of provincial people’s committees to issue investment licences, shall meet the following criteria and conditions:
(a) Be consistent with the approved planning and plan for socio-economic development;
(b) Not included in the list of Group A projects stipulated in clause 1 of article 114 of this Decree and have the amount of invested capital as stipulated by the Prime Minister of the Government.
2. Provincial people’s committees shall not be delegated with the authority to issue investment licences to the following projects (regardless of the amount of invested capital ):
(a) Construction of national roads or railways;
(b) Production of cement, metallurgy, electricity, sugar, alcohol, beer and cigarettes; manufacture and assembly of automobiles and motorbikes;
(c) Travel tours.
Article 116 Functions of provincial people’s committees in the State administration of foreign investment
Provincial people’s committees shall be responsible for:
1. Preparing and promulgating lists of projects calling for foreign investment in their localities, on the basis of the approved planning for socio-economic development and co-ordination with the relevant ministries and branches; and promoting investment.
2. Presiding over the evaluation, issuing investment licences and amending investment licences, making decisions on dissolution of enterprises with foreign owned capital and the termination of business co-operation contracts prior to the expiry of their duration with respect to those projects falling under their authority.
3. Participating in the evaluation of projects in the localities for which the Ministry of Planning and Investment issues investment licences.
4. Exercising State administration functions to foreign invested projects in their locality in the following main aspects:
(a) Supervision of the capital contribution and of the implementation of the provisions in the investment licence and other relevant legal documents;
(b) Supervision of the performance of provisions on financial obligations, labour and wages relations, social order, safety and protection of the ecological environment, prevention and fighting of fire and explosion;
(c) Granting certificates of the land use right; organising the implementation of site clearance; permitting the establishment of head-offices and branches; registering residence of foreigners; introducing Vietnamese employees to enterprises and granting certificates in compliance with the current provisions;
(d) Dealing with investors' difficulties within their authority, and making recommendations to ministries and branches on dealing with problems beyond their authority;
(dd) Presiding over, or co-ordinating with ministries and branches in, the checking and inspection of the operation of enterprises with foreign owned capital;
(e) Evaluating the socio-economic efficiency of foreign direct investment activities in their locality;
5. Provincial people’s committees shall send quarterly, semi-annual, and annual reports on the foreign investment activities in their locality to the Ministry of Planning and Investment on a periodical basis.
Article 117 Functions of the Ministry of Planning and Investment in the State administration of foreign investment
1. The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall be the co-ordinating body in dealing with matters arising from the formation and implementation of investment projects, including:
(a) Guiding and co-ordinating ministries, branches and people’s committees in the preparation of planning, plans and lists of projects calling for investment, and in conducting investment promotion activities;
(b) Presiding over the evaluation, issuing investment licences and amended investment licences for investment projects which fall within its authority;
(c) In accordance with decisions of the Prime Minister, delegating to industrial zone management boards the authority to issue, amend and withdraw investment licences with respect to foreign investment projects in industrial zones, export processing zones and hi-tech zones on the basis of proposals from provincial people’s committees or from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (for hi-tech zones);
(d) Conciliating disputes where required;
(dd) Organising checks and inspections of foreign investment activities;
(e) Conducting the overall evaluation of the socio-economic efficiency of foreign direct investment activities in Vietnam;
(g) Making decisions on the dissolution of enterprises with foreign owned capital and on the early termination of business co-operation contracts, for those projects which fall within its authority.
2. The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall annually summarise the status of the issuance of investment licences and foreign investment activities in Vietnam to report to the Prime Minister of the Government and to notify the relevant ministries and branches thereof.
Article 118 Functions of ministries, ministerial equivalent bodies and Government bodies in the State administration of foreign investment
Ministries, ministerial equivalent bodies and Government bodies shall be responsible for:
1. Co-ordinating with the Ministry of Planning and Investment in law-making, policy and planning formulation relating to foreign investment;
2. Preparing planning, plans and lists of projects calling for foreign invested capital of branches, and promoting investment;
3. Contributing opinions on the issues falling within their authority during the evaluation of projects, the issuance and amendment of investment licences;
4. Promulgating policies and providing guidelines for the implementation of policies; dealing with procedures relating to the implementation of investment projects;
5. Conducting specialised checking; and evaluating the socio-economic efficiency of investment projects within the management scope of a line ministry;
6. Issuing technical regulations and processes relating to a specialised technical and economic sector;
7. Performing other duties under their authority in accordance with the law.
Article 119 Provisions on checking and inspection
1. The checking and inspection of the operation of enterprises with foreign owned capital or of business co-operation parties shall be conducted in strict compliance with functions and powers and the provisions of the law on foreign investment and the law on checking and inspection.
2. The bodies in charge of checking and inspecting shall be responsible for formulating plans for periodical checks and inspection and submitting them to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, relevant provincial people’s committees and industrial zone management boards for co-ordination in checking and inspection. Periodical and specialised checking of any enterprise shall not be conducted more than once a year.
3. Any person who makes unlawfully decisions to conduct checks and inspections, or who misuses an inspection or check to seek gain from, to harass or create inconvenience to, the business operations of an enterprise shall, depending on the seriousness of the breach, be disciplined or prosecuted for criminal liability; and shall be obliged to pay compensation in accordance with the law if loss is caused.
4. Any foreign investor, enterprise with foreign owned capital, business co-operation party, organisation or individual shall have the right to lodge a complaint, or to take legal action against State bodies or officers whose illegal decision or conduct causes difficulties and inconvenience. Such complaint or legal action and the resolution thereof shall be in accordance with the provisions of the law on complaint and denunciation.
CHAPTER XII
Investment Guarantee and Dispute Resolution
Article 120 Investment guarantee
1. The Government of Vietnam guarantees to provide equal and fair treatment to foreign investors investing in Vietnam in accordance with the Law on Foreign Investment. Where a international agreement entered into or participated by the Socialist Republic of Vietnam contains provisions which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Decree and other legal instruments, the provisions of such international agreement shall be applied.
2. The signing of agreements or the application of measures for security and guarantee regarding investment shall only apply to specially important projects where investment is made in accordance with a Government program in the field of infrastructure, in the form of BOT, BTO and BT contracts, and to other specially important projects.
Article 121 Investment guarantee in the case of a change-in-law
1. Where changes in the law of Vietnam adversely affect the interests of enterprises with foreign owned capital and business co-operation parties, such enterprises with foreign owned capital and business co-operation parties shall continue to enjoy the preferential treatment provided in their investment licences, or the State shall take fair measures as follows:
(a) Changing the operational objectives of the project;
(b) Granting tax reductions or exemptions in accordance with the law;
(c) The damage suffered by the enterprises with foreign owned capital and business co-operation parties shall be set off against the taxable income of the enterprise;
(d) Considering payment of fair compensations in some necessary cases.
With respect to projects licensed by provincial people's committees or industrial zone management boards, the provincial people's committees or the industrial zone management boards must, prior to taking any of the above measures, reach agreement with the Ministry of Planning and Investment and with the Ministry of Finance.
3. Any new more favourable provisions which are promulgated after the issuance of an investment licence shall apply as a matter of course, replacing the related previous provisions. Where the application of such new provisions results in the necessity to amend investment licences, the investment licence issuing body shall make amendments to those investment licences.
Article 122 Dispute resolution
1. Disputes between parties to a joint venture enterprise, disputes between parties to a business co-operation contract, disputes between enterprises with foreign owned capital and foreign organisations or individuals, and disputes between foreign parties to a joint venture enterprise or foreign business co-operation parties with Vietnamese economic organisations, shall be primarily resolved through negotiation and conciliation between the disputing parties.
Where conciliation fails, the disputing parties may agree on the selection of one of the following dispute resolution alternatives:
(a) a Vietnamese court;
(b) a Vietnamese arbitration body or a foreign arbitration body or an international arbitration body;
(c) an arbitration tribunal established pursuant to the agreement of the parties.
2. Disputes between enterprises with foreign owned capital, or disputes between enterprises with foreign owned capital and Vietnamese economic organisations shall be resolved by Vietnamese arbitration organisations or by Vietnamese courts in accordance with the law of Vietnam.
3. Disputes between foreign investors and authorised State bodies arising from BOT, BTO and BT contracts; and disputes between BOT enterprises and Vietnamese economic organisations shall be resolved in accordance with the methods agreed by the parties in the contracts in accordance with the Government's regulations on investment in the form of BOT, BTO and BT contracts applicable to foreign investment in Vietnam.
CHAPTER XIII
Rewards and Dealing with Breaches
Article 123 Rewards
1. Enterprises with foreign owned capital, business co-operation parties and individuals making outstanding achievements in foreign investment activities in Vietnam shall be rewarded in accordance with the provisions of the law.
2. Based on the achievements of enterprises or individuals in production and business, and based on their contribution to the society and their compliance with the law of Vietnam, the competent State bodies shall make decisions on the forms of reward including:
(a) Decorations and the Medal of the State;
(b) Decorations and the Medal of the State President;
(c) Diplomas of merit of the Prime Minister of the Government;
(d) Diplomas of merit of Ministers or Heads of Ministerial equivalent bodies;
(dd) Diplomas of merit of chairmen of provincial people’s committees.
3. Enterprises with foreign owned capital, business co-operation parties and individuals who consider they have attained the achievements mentioned in clause 2 of this article, may submit a proposal in writing for consideration for reward as follows:
(a) A proposal to the State President, to the Prime Minister of the Government or to the Minister of Planning and Investment for reward shall be submitted to the Ministry of Planning and Investment. The Minister of Planning and Investment shall, in co-ordination with the relevant bodies, consider and issue a decision on rewarding the enterprise or individual in accordance with its authority or propose the State President or the Prime Minister of the Government to consider a reward.
(b) A proposal to ministers of line ministries or to heads of ministerial equivalent bodies for reward shall be submitted to the relevant ministries and bodies for consideration.
(c) A proposal to a chairman of a provincial people’s committee for reward shall be submitted to the provincial people’s committee for consideration.
Article 124 Dealing with breaches
1. Any Vietnamese public officer and State administration body who abuses power to cause troubles and difficulties to, or to hinder, foreign investment activities shall, depending on the seriousness of the breach, be dealt with in accordance with the law.
If loss and damage is caused by such breach, the public officer or State administration body must pay compensations to the organisation or individual which suffered the loss.
2. Enterprises with foreign owned capital, business co-operation parties, and foreign investors or employees who breach the provisions of investment licences or of the law of Vietnam shall be dealt with in accordance with provisions of the law.
CHAPTER XIV
Implementing Provisions
Article 125 Implementing provisions
1. This Decree shall be of full force and effect as of 1 August 2000 and shall replace Decrees of the Government No.12-CP dated 18 February 1997 and No.10-1998-ND-CP dated 23 January 1998. All previous provisions which are inconsistent with this Decree are hereby repealed.
2. Ministers, heads of ministerial equivalent bodies, heads of Government bodies and chairmen of people's committees of provinces and cities under central authority shall be responsible for the implementation of this Decree.
On behalf of the Government
Prime Minister
Phan Van Khai
Appendix I
I. LIST OF SPECIALLY ENCOURAGED INVESTMENT PROJECTS
- Producing, processing for export of at least eighty (80) per cent of products;
- Processing agricultural, forestry (except for wood) and aquaculture products from domestic material sources for export of at least fifty (50) per cent of products;
- Producing various kinds of new strains of high quality and with high economic efficiency;
- Cultivation of agricultural, forestry and aquaculture products;
- Manufacturing new materials and precious and rare materials; applying new bio-technology, and new technology for manufacturing communication and telecommunication equipment;
- Hi-tech industry;
- Investment in research and development;
- Producing equipment for waste treatment;
- Producing materials for antibiotic drugs;
- Treatment of pollution and protection of environment; treatment of waste;
- Investment under BOT, BTO and BT contracts.
II. LIST OF ENCOURAGED INVESTMENT PROJECTS
- Producing, processing for export of at least fifty (50) per cent of products;
- Producing, processing for export of at least thirty (30) per cent of products and using many domestic raw materials and materials (with a value of at least thirty (30) percent of total production costs);
- Intensively using employees and effectively utilising natural resources available in Vietnam;
- Processing agricultural, forestry (except for wood) and aquaculture products;
- Preserving food stuffs; post-harvest preservation of agricultural products;
- Exploration, mining and down-stream processing of minerals;
- Development of the petro-chemical industry; construction and operation of oil and gas pipelines, oil storage and ports;
- Manufacturing of equipment and component pack for oil and gas exploitation, mining, and energy fields; manufacturing of large-size lifting equipment;
- Production of high-quality steel, alloy, non-ferrous metal, and special metal, steel billet and sponge iron used in industry;
- Manufacturing machine tools for metal processing, and metallurgy equipment;
- Manufacturing precision mechanical equipment, equipment for safety examination and control; manufacturing jig and dies for metal and non-metal products;
- Manufacturing high and medium voltage electric devices;
- Manufacturing diesel engines with advanced technique and technology; manufacturing dynamic and hydraulic machinery, parts and compressing machines;
- Manufacturing automobile and motorcycle parts; manufacturing and assembly of equipment, vehicles and machinery for construction; technical equipment for transportation;
- Building ships; manufacturing of equipment and parts for transportation ships and fishing ships;
- Manufacturing communication and telecommunications equipment;
- Manufacturing electronic and informatics equipment and components;
- Manufacturing agricultural equipment, parts and machines, and irrigation equipment;
- Producing various types of materials for pesticides;
- Producing basic chemicals of various kinds, purified chemicals and dyes; various kinds of specialised chemicals;
- Producing materials for cleansing chemicals and additives for chemical industry;
- Producing special cement, composite materials, and sound, electricity and heat insulating materials, and wood-substitute synthetic materials, fire-proof materials, construction plastic and fibreglass;
- Manufacturing light construction materials;
- Producing paper pulp;
- Producing silk and faber of various kinds; special fabric for industry;
- Producing high-quality raw materials for manufacturing foot-wares and garments, for export;
- Producing high-quality packages for exports;
- Producing medical equipment for analytical and extractive technologies in medical sector.
- Producing medicine materials; producing medicines with the international GMP standard;
- Upgrading and developing the energy sources;
- Public passenger transportation;
- Construction and upgrading of bridges, roads, airports, ports, railway stations, bus stations and railways;
- Construction of water plants and water supply and drainage systems;
- Construction and operation of infrastructure facilities of industrial zones, export-processing zones and hi-tech zones.
III. LIST OF REGIONS WHERE INVESTMENT IS ENCOURAGED
(1) No
(2) Province/City
(3)Section A:Areas with specially difficult socio-economic conditions
(4)Section B:Areas with difficult socio-economic conditions
(1) (2) (3) (4)
1. Ha Giang All districts and towns
2. Cao Bang All districts and towns
3. Lai Chau All districts and towns
4. Lao Cai All districts and towns
5. Son La All districts and towns
6. Bac Kan All districts and towns
7. Tuyen Quang All districts and towns
8. Lang Son All districts and towns
9. Yen Bai All districts and towns
10. Thai Nguyen All districts and towns and Thai Nguyen City
11. Bac Giang All districts and towns
12. Vinh Phuc Lap Thach, Tam Duong and Binh Xuyen
Districts Districts not under Section A
13. Phu Tho All districts and towns and Viet Tri City
14. Hoa Binh All districts and towns
15. Bac Ninh Que Vo, Yen Phong, Gia Binh, Luong Tai and Thuan Thanh Districts
16. Hanoi Soc Son District
17. Ha Tay Ba Vi, My Duc, Phuc Tho, Quoc Oai, Thach That and Ung Hoa Districts
18. Quang Ninh Ba Che, Binh Lieu, Quang Ha, Hoanh Bo, Tien Yen and Dong Trieu Districts and Mong Cai Town Yen Hung District and Cam Pha and Uong Bi Towns
19. Hai Phong Vinh Bao and Tien Lang Districts
20. Hai Duong Chi Linh District All districts not under section A
21. Hung Yen All districts and towns
22. Thai Binh All districts and towns
23. Ha Nam All districts and towns
24. Nam Dinh All districts and Nam Dinh City
25. Ninh Binh Nho Quan, Yen Mo and Gia Vien Districts
Tam Diep Town and districts not under section A
26. Thanh Hoa Lang Chanh, Thuong Xuan, Quan Hoa, Ba Thuoc, Ngoc Lac, Nhu Xuan, Cam Thuy, Thach Thanh, Quan Son and Muong Lat Districts Districts not under section A
27. Nghe An Ky Son, Tuong Duong, Con Cuong, Quy Chau, Que Phong, Quy Hop, Nghia Dan, Anh Son, Tan Ky, Thanh Chuong and Do Luong Districts Cua Lo Town and other districts not under section A
28. Ha Tinh All districts Ha Tinh Town
29. Quang Binh All districts Dong Hoi Town
30. Quang Tri Quang Tri Town and All districts
Dong Ha Town
31. Thua Thien Hue All districts Hue City
32. Da Nang Hoa Vang, Thanh Khe, Ngu Hanh Son and Lien Chieu Districts
33. Quang Nam All districts and Hoi An Town Tam ky Town
34. Quang Ngai All districts Quang Ngai Town
35 Binh Dinh All districts Quy Nhon Town
36. Phu Yen All districts Tuy Hoa Town
37. Khanh Hoa Khanh Son and Khanh Vinh Districts District not under section A
38. Binh Thuan All districts Phan Thiet Town
39. Ninh Thuan All districts Phan Rang Town
40. Kon Tun All districts and towns
41. Gia Lai All districts and towns
42. Dak Lak All districts and Buon Ma Thuot City
43. Lam Dong All districts and towns and Da Lat City
44. Dong Nai Dinh Quan, Tan Phu and Xuan Loc Districts
45. Binh Phuoc All districts and towns
46. Binh Duong Ben Cat, Phu Giao, Tan Uyen and Dau Tien districts
47. Tay Ninh All districts
48. Ho Chi Minh City Can Gio and Cu Chi Districts
49. Ba Ria - Vung Tau Long Dat and Xuyen Moc Districts
50. Long An All districts Tan An Town
51. Dong Thap All districts and towns
52. Tien Giang All districts and towns My Tho City
53. Ben Tre All districts and towns
54. Vinh Long All districts and towns
55. Tra Vinh All districts and towns
56. An Giang All districts and Long Xuyen City
57. Can Tho All districts and towns Can Tho City
58. Soc Trang All districts and towns
59. Bac Lieu All districts and towns
60. Ca Mau All districts and towns
61. Kien Giang All districts and towns
IV. LIST OF SECTORS IN WHICH LICENSING OF INVESTMENT IS CONDITIONAL
1. Investment in the form of a joint venture enterprise or business cooperation contract (BCC) only
- Construction and operation of international telecommunication networks and local telecommunication networks (only in the form of a BCC).
- Exploitation and processing of oil and gas and precious and rare minerals;
- Consultancy services (except for technical consultancy);
- Air, railway and sea transportation; public passengers transportation; air ports and ports construction (except for BOT, BTO and BT projects);
- Production of industrial explosives;
- Afforestation;
- Travel tour;
- Culture.
2. Products requirement for the export ratio of which must be met
The export ratio required for each product which is domestically produced and has met the quality and quantity requirements shall be published from time to time by the Ministry of Planning and Investment.
3. Processing projects which must be in conjunction with an investment in creating material sources
- Dairy production and processing;
- Producing vegetarian oil and cane sugar;
- Processing wood;
4. Investment projects in import services and domestic distribution services shall be implemented in accordance with separate provisions of the Prime Minister of the Government.
V. LIST OF SECTORS IN WHICH INVESTMENT WILL NOT BE LICENSED
1. Projects which are prejudicial to the national security, defence and public interests;
2. Projects which are detrimental to the historical and cultural relics, and fine traditional customs of Vietnam;
3. Projects that may adversely affect the eco-environment; and projects for treatment of toxic wastes that are brought into Vietnam from abroad;
4. Projects for producing toxic chemicals or using toxic agents prohibited under an international convention.
Appendix II
I. DETAILED PROVISIONS ON MACHINERY, EQUIPMENT AND MEANS OF TRANSPORT WHICH FORM FIXED ASSETS OF ENTERPRISES WITH FOREIGN OWNED CAPITAL AND BUSINESS CO-OPERATION PARTIES ENTITLED TO IMPORT DUTY EXEMPTIONS
1. Main machinery and equipment being part of the technological line, comprising:
Production machinery and equipment; materials, components, spare parts accompanying for installation of equipment system, and moulds and patterns accompanying production machinery, equipment and tools and so forth to complete the production activities as provided for in the investment license.
2. Supporting machinery and equipment being part of the technological line, comprising:
1. Electricity systems: all equipment, machinery and materials to be used for complete installation of an electricity supply system.
2. Water supply and drainage system: all equipment, machinery, materials and pipelines and so forth to be used for complete installation of a water supply and drainage system, and waste water treatment.
3. Lighting system: all equipment, machinery and materials to be used for complete installation of a lighting system.
4. Air conditioning and ventilation systems of the production areas.
5. Equipment and instruments for the laboratory.
6. Equipment and instruments for fire fighting and prevention, anti-thunder equipment, working safety equipment and so forth.
7. Communications systems
8. Machinery and equipment necessary for product designs, or office equipment and facilities for production management.
3. Specialised means of transport being part of the technological line, comprising:
1. Specialised means of transport to be used for business activities as provided for in the investment licence.
2. Means of transport to be used for transportation of raw materials and products in the technological line.
II. DETAILED PROVISIONS ON GROUPS OF FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT ENTITLED TO IMPORT DUTY EXEMPTION OF ENTERPRISES ENGAGED IN THE FIELDS OF HOTELS, OFFICES, APARTMENTS FOR LEASE, RESIDENTIAL HOUSING, COMMERCIAL CENTRES, TECHNICAL SERVICES, SUPERMARKETS, GOLF COURSES, TOURIST RESORTS, SPORTS CENTRES, ENTERTAINMENT CENTRES, MEDICAL TREATMENT ESTABLISHMENTS, TRAINING, FINANCE, BANKING, INSURANCE, AUDIT AND CONSULTANCY SERVICES
A. List of groups of furniture and equipment entitled to import duty exemption in accordance with the general provisions:
1. Water supply system of various kinds (pumps, filter machines, water meter, boilers and so forth).
2. Air conditioning and ventilation systems (central air conditioning system or separate air conditioners and their synchronous materials and parts and so forth).
3. Fire fighting and prevention system.
4. Electricity and lighting systems (lights of various kinds, projectors and so forth).
5. Garbage and waste water treatment systems.
6. Communication system.
7. Transportation system (lifts, trams, trolleys of various kinds).
8. Washing and ironing systems.
9. Security guard system.
10. Furniture and equipment for sport, swimming pools, tennis course, hairdressers', discotheques, karaoke, recreation and entertainment, sauna massage (except for those furniture and equipment referred to in Section B of this Appendix, if any).
11. Machinery and equipment relating to grass care (lawn cutters, insecticide sprayers and so forth).
12. Water sprinkler, irrigation and drainage system.
13. Medical machinery, equipment and instruments and laboratory tools.
14. Teaching and learning facilities (including desks, benches, boards, teaching utensils, experimental tools and so forth).
15. Parts accompanied with the above machinery, furniture and equipment.
16. Machinery and equipment of various types which are exclusively used for banking and finance sectors (safety box, computers of various kinds, money counting machines, counterfeit note checking machines, communication systems, security guard machines, cash rollers).
17. Office furniture and equipment for management and business (computers, printers, facsimile machines, telex, photocopiers, tables and chairs, file cabinet and so forth).
B. List of groups of furniture and equipment entitled to once-off import duty exemption, not applicable for their substitutes
1. Furniture and equipment for hotel rooms and interior decoration (beds, wardrobes, tables, chairs, telephone sets).
2. Sanitary-ware (bathtubs, toilet bowls, wash-basins, accessories used for installation of sanitary-ware, mirrors and so forth).
3. Furniture and equipment for living rooms (tables, chairs).
4. Equipment and appliances for kitchens, dining rooms, restaurants, bars (cookers of various kinds and cooking utensils).
5. Paintings, statutes, carpets and other decorative items.
6. Fridges, television sets, microwave ovens, smoke inhaling machines, vacuum cleaners, deodorisers, glasses, cups, plates, bowls.
7. Video and audio equipment.
8. Golf stuff.
