Tool · Decree 342/2026/ND-CP

Does your next store in Vietnam need an Economic Needs Test?

From 18 Oct 2026, Decree 342 decides when a foreign-invested retailer must pass an Economic Needs Test (ENT) before opening another outlet. Answer six questions to see how the published rules read for your case. Nothing you enter leaves your browser.

1. Who will own the company that runs the stores?Has foreign shareholders (brand subsidiary, JV, or foreign-backed master franchisee)Wholly Vietnamese-owned franchisee

2. Investor's countryCountry of the foreign investor

3. Which outlet is this?The company's first outlet in VietnamSecond outlet or laterAnother foreign-invested company already runs a licensed store under this brand in Vietnam

4. Store formatFormat

5. Selling area and locationUnder 500 m²500 m² to under 3,000 m²3,000 m² or moreLocated inside a trade centre (shopping mall)

6. Outlets you already own or co-own in Vietnam in this size bandNumber of outlets

How the published rules read

ENT likely required for this outlet

We cannot name a treaty that abolishes the ENT for investors from South Korea. Vietnam's RCEP schedule keeps the ENT for outlets beyond the first.Source: Decree 342/2026/ND-CP, official signed text (Government of Vietnam) (3 Sept 2026) · RCEP Annex II, Viet Nam schedule of specific commitments for services (DFAT copy) (15 Nov 2020)
The small-outlet exemption needs the outlet to be inside a trade centre.Source: Decree 342/2026/ND-CP, official signed text (Government of Vietnam) (3 Sept 2026)
Where an ENT is required, the provincial ENT Council has 20 working days to assess a complete file, then the licensing authority has 5 working days to decide (Article 27).Source: Decree 342/2026/ND-CP, official signed text (Government of Vietnam) (3 Sept 2026)

National security review

Below the security-review threshold for this size band (100+ outlets already owned or co-owned). The decree does not say how mixed-size networks are counted.Source: Decree 342/2026/ND-CP, official signed text (Government of Vietnam) (3 Sept 2026) · VCCI (Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry) (6 Oct 2026)

Also note

South Korea is among the top origin countries of franchise brands registered in Vietnam (Vietnam Franchise Index, Q3 2026), but it is not a party to CPTPP, EVFTA or UKVFTA.
Every outlet still needs an outlet licence from the People's Committee of the province where it is located, and the site must comply with land, planning, construction, fire-safety and environmental rules.
Franchise registration is separate: a foreign franchisor registers with the Ministry of Industry and Trade before franchising into Vietnam.

This is not legal advice and does not replace a licensing decision. Confirm with Vietnamese counsel before acting. Read the full Decree 342 explainer.

How the checker decides

A wholly Vietnamese-owned operator is outside Decree 342 (Articles 1–2).
A company's first outlet needs no ENT — unless another foreign-invested company already runs a licensed store under the same brand, in which case it counts as beyond the first (Article 3(11)).
Investors from CPTPP members, the EU (EVFTA) and the UK (UKVFTA) are exempt (Article 22(1)). RCEP does not remove the ENT.
Otherwise, an outlet under 500 m², inside a trade centre, that is not a convenience store, mini-mart or supermarket, is exempt (Article 22(1)).
Dine-in restaurants and cafés are flagged “check with counsel”: Article 3(9) defines retail as selling goods.
Separately, applying while you already own or co-own 100+ outlets under 500 m², 50+ of 500 m² to under 3,000 m², or 30+ of 3,000 m² or more triggers a national security review (Article 8(3)(c)).

Each rule cites the article of the official decree text it comes from. For the full picture, read our Decree 342 explainer. If a country is not a treaty partner we can name, the checker says so rather than guessing. We have not checked ASEAN (ATISA) or the Vietnam–Korea FTA schedules line by line.