Representative office
Liaison, market research and promotion within the licensed scope; no direct commercial operation.
Foreign trader representative office in Vietnam
Establish a liaison presence for market research and business promotion while keeping its permitted activities distinct from trading and revenue-generating operations.
START WITH THE RIGHT ROUTE
Is a representative office the right presence?
A representative office (RO) is a dependent unit of a foreign trader. It can represent and promote the trader’s interests and conduct liaison and market research within its licensed scope. It is not the vehicle for directly selling goods, issuing invoices for commercial operations or carrying out the foreign trader’s full business in Vietnam.
Compare the proposed activities with a foreign-trader branch or a Vietnamese company with foreign investment before committing to premises or hiring. A plan to sign and perform local revenue-generating contracts may point to another structure.
Foreign-trader branch
A potentially broader operating presence, subject to stricter eligibility and sector access.
Foreign-invested company
A separate Vietnamese legal entity for the approved investment and business activities.
KEY DECISIONS
Six checks before filing
Foreign trader status
Confirm the parent is lawfully established or recognised in its home jurisdiction.
Operating history
Check at least one year of operation and the remaining validity of any fixed-term registration.
Permitted activities
Keep liaison and market research distinct from direct sales or service delivery.
Office premises
Confirm a lawful address and a name that matches the licence application.
Chief representative
Review the appointment, identity documents and potential role conflicts.
Foreign documents
Plan certification, legalisation and translation early, subject to exemptions.
PRACTICAL GUIDANCE
Eligibility and operating scope
The foreign trader must be legally established or recognised abroad and generally have operated for at least one year. If its business registration has a fixed term, at least one year should remain when the application is filed. The proposed activities must fit the permitted RO scope and Vietnam’s relevant commitments and rules.
Review the office name, lawful premises and proposed chief representative at the same time. A mismatch between those details and the foreign records is a common reason for clarification. Sector-specific restrictions can require a different route or authority.
PRACTICAL GUIDANCE
Documents and filing
The file typically includes the prescribed application, the trader’s incorporation or equivalent record, audited financial statements or other evidence of operation, appointment of the chief representative, their identification and premises documents. Foreign records may need certification, consular legalisation and Vietnamese translation, subject to applicable exemptions.
We check the document chain, prepare the application, coordinate signing and file with the competent provincial authority. A statutory review period applies to a complete, valid file, but foreign-document preparation and any requested clarification must be planned separately.
HOW WE WORK
After the licence is issued
Verify the licensed name, address, chief representative, scope and term. The office must operate within that scope, handle its seal, tax and employment formalities where applicable, and manage reporting or change notifications. Expansion into direct trading should be reviewed as a new structural decision rather than assumed to be covered by the RO licence.
A CLEAR SEQUENCE
From initial review to the next decision
- Confirm the permitted scopeCompare the actual business plan with the RO’s permitted scope.
- Check the foreign trader's eligibilityCheck parent eligibility, premises and representative; agree a document list and quote.
- Prepare foreign and local documentsPrepare foreign records, translations, application and signatures.
- File and plan post-licence complianceFile, respond to authority requests, verify the licence and hand over operating steps.
PRACTICAL GUIDANCE
Our service and fees
Duong Tri Law reviews whether the RO is suitable, checks the foreign trader and premises records, prepares and files the licence application, follows up on authority questions and hands over an operating checklist. The quote separates legal fees, official charges and third-party translation or legalisation. Timing and price are confirmed against the actual documents and authority.
BEFORE YOU FILE
Timing and cost: separate the authority period from preparation
The foreign trader’s document readiness often determines the real project schedule. Confirm the applicable published procedure for a complete file and plan legalisation, translation and premises records before that clock starts.
Document preparation
Foreign incorporation and financial records may require certification and Vietnamese translation.
Authority review
The published procedure sets its own period for a complete valid file; clarification or sector review can add time.
Cost components
Request a quote separating legal work, official licence charge and outside document costs.
BEFORE YOU FILE
Operate within the licensed scope
A representative office needs an operating checklist after approval. The licence is a starting point, not permission to turn the office into a sales operation.
People and premises
Keep the representative, address and employees aligned with the approved office.
Tax and reporting
Identify employer, tax, statistical and periodic reporting tasks that apply.
Change or closure
Review amendment or termination steps when the parent trader, office or Vietnam strategy changes.
BEFORE YOU FILE
Where applications commonly slow down
The source page highlights document chains across jurisdictions, a vague proposed scope and unresolved premises or chief-representative details. We resolve these issues before filing rather than leaving them for authority clarification.
INITIAL REVIEW
What to send for the first review
These copies help us identify the route and a realistic scope. We will specify originals, authentication and translations after checking the case.
- Country of incorporation, incorporation date and the foreign trader's current registration record.
- Proposed Vietnam activities, target customers and whether the office would sign or perform local sales contracts.
- Proposed chief representative, office address and intended start date.
- Latest financial or operating evidence and the countries in which source documents were issued.
Questions before you proceed
Can an RO sign sales contracts in Vietnam?
An RO cannot be used as a general direct trading vehicle. Contract authority and the proposed activities require a specific review of the licence and applicable law.
Can the chief representative also hold another role?
Potential conflicts and statutory restrictions should be checked before appointment.
Is a representative office the same as a branch?
No. Their eligibility, permitted activities and licensing routes differ.
Do foreign-issued records need consular legalisation?
Often they do, unless a treaty or other applicable exemption applies. Check the issuing country and the exact document before ordering translations.
Can a shared office be used?
The premises must meet the applicable legal and licensing requirements and be supported by suitable occupancy documents. Assess the actual arrangement before signing.
How long does the RO licence last?
The statutory maximum and the remaining term of the foreign trader’s registration both matter. Check the period granted on the actual licence.
What does the quoted service fee cover?
Confirm the agreed scope in writing: licence work, post-licence assistance, official charges and translation or legalisation are separate items unless expressly included.
LEGAL FRAMEWORK
Legal and procedure references
The requirements, authority and current procedure must be checked for the facts and filing date of each case.
NEXT STEP
Discuss the facts before choosing a filing route
Send the current documents, proposed change and timing. We will identify the initial questions and agree the scope of work.