Market access guide
Registering a franchise with Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade
A franchisor based outside Vietnam must register with the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) before it starts franchising into the country. Domestic and outbound franchises only report to the provincial trade department. Here is the dossier, the real timeline and what happens if you skip it.
Who has to register
Franchises coming into Vietnam from abroad register with MOIT before franchising starts. Franchises between two Vietnamese parties, and Vietnamese brands franchising abroad, only report to the provincial Department of Industry and Trade.Source: Decree 35/2006 consolidated text, VBHN 15/VBHN-BCT (Ministry of Industry and Trade) (25 Apr 2014) · Ministry of Industry and Trade, franchise registration notice (3 Sept 2025)
MOIT also accepts applications from franchisors in export-processing zones, non-tariff areas and separate customs zones.Source: Vietnam Briefing (Dezan Shira & Associates) (8 May 2024)
What goes in the dossier
Vietnam Briefing lists these documents:Source: Vietnam Briefing (Dezan Shira & Associates) (8 May 2024)
- The franchise registration form.
- The franchise disclosure document: franchisor details, intellectual property, costs, obligations, market overview and a sample agreement.
- The foreign franchisor's incorporation documents.
- Proof that the trademark or other IP used in the franchise is protected, or licensed to the franchisor.
- Audited financial statements.
- Approval from the original franchisor, if you are sub-franchising rights you hold as a master franchisee.
Legalisation and translation
Foreign documents must be consularly legalised and translated into Vietnamese before they are filed. Allow time for this in your home country; it is often the slowest part of the file.Source: Vietnam Briefing (Dezan Shira & Associates) (8 May 2024)
How long it takes, and what it costs
The statutory period is five working days from a complete dossier. In practice Vietnam Briefing says it can take up to a month, and Tilleke & Gibbins reported one to two months.Source: Vietnam Briefing (Dezan Shira & Associates) (8 May 2024) · Tilleke & Gibbins (24 Jul 2018)
There have been no state fees for franchise registration since 2017.Source: Vietnam Briefing (Dezan Shira & Associates) (8 May 2024)
After registration
Changes to the registered information must be notified within 30 days, and franchisors report periodically on matters such as investment costs and the sample contract.Source: Vietnam Briefing (Dezan Shira & Associates) (8 May 2024)
What happens if you do not register
Franchising without registering is an administrative offence. Vietnam Briefing puts the fine at roughly US$394–788 for organisations and US$197–394 for individuals. The bigger risk is commercial: an unregistered franchisor cannot point to a MOIT record when a franchisee or partner asks.Source: Vietnam Briefing (Dezan Shira & Associates) (8 May 2024)
You can check recent registrations in our English registry, which tracks the ministry's public list every week.
Frequently asked questions
Does a Vietnamese master franchisee also register?
The MOIT registration covers franchising from abroad into Vietnam. When a master franchisee sub-franchises to others, the dossier includes the original franchisor's approval to sub-franchise (Vietnam Briefing). Confirm the exact filing with counsel.
Is there a fee to register a franchise in Vietnam?
No state fee has applied since 2017 (Vietnam Briefing, May 2024). Budget instead for legalisation, translation and advisers.
How long does MOIT registration take?
Five working days by law from a complete dossier; up to a month in practice according to Vietnam Briefing, and one to two months according to Tilleke & Gibbins.
Sources
- Decree 35/2006 consolidated text, VBHN 15/VBHN-BCT (Ministry of Industry and Trade), “Văn bản hợp nhất số 15/VBHN-BCT ngày 25/04/2014”, 25 Apr 2014.
- Ministry of Industry and Trade, franchise registration notice, “Thông báo chấp thuận đăng ký hoạt động nhượng quyền thương mại”, 3 Sept 2025.
- Vietnam Briefing (Dezan Shira & Associates), “Franchising in Vietnam: Legal Framework and Registration Requirements”, 8 May 2024.
- Tilleke & Gibbins, “Answers to Commonly Asked Questions about Franchising in Vietnam”, 24 Jul 2018.
Related guides
How to franchise in Vietnam: the 2027 guide
The full journey from trademark filing to the first store, with a timeline.
GuideDisclosure document
When a franchisor must give the disclosure document and sample agreement in Vietnam, what it contains, language, and what Vietnam does not require.
GuideOne-year rule
Vietnam requires a franchise system to operate for a year before franchising. How MOIT applies it to the franchisor company itself.
GuideTrademarks
Vietnam is first-to-file and trademark registration takes 16–24 months. Why franchisors should file before anything else, and what squatting looks like.