Free e-book · Edition 1

Vietnam Franchise Guide 2027

Most “doing business in Vietnam” guides cover company law in general. This one is about franchising only: how a foreign brand registers, discloses, protects its trademark, gets paid and — if it runs stores itself — gets licensed under Decree 342. Fifteen pages, every point linked to its source. Free, no email required.

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Edition 1, reviewed 9 Oct 2026. Updated every January. Reference only; not legal, tax or investment advice.

What is inside — read each chapter online

1. Part 1The steps and a realistic timeline
   From the first trademark filing to the first store, with the time each step really takes.
2. Part 2Registering a franchise with Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade
   Who must register a franchise with Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade, the dossier, how long it takes, the fee and the fine.
3. Part 3The franchise disclosure document in Vietnam
   When a franchisor must give the disclosure document and sample agreement in Vietnam, what it contains, language, and what Vietnam does not require.
4. Part 4The one-year rule: why a new company may not be able to franchise in Vietnam
   Vietnam requires a franchise system to operate for a year before franchising. How MOIT applies it to the franchisor company itself.
5. Part 5Trademarks: file in Vietnam before you do anything else
   Vietnam is first-to-file and trademark registration takes 16–24 months. Why franchisors should file before anything else, and what squatting looks like.
6. Part 6How royalties and franchise fees paid abroad are taxed in Vietnam
   Vietnam withholds 10% corporate income tax on royalties paid abroad; VAT depends on how the fee is characterised. Why tax treaties rarely lower the rate.
7. Part 7Master franchise, joint venture or your own subsidiary?
   Master franchise, joint venture or own subsidiary: how registration, the one-year rule and Decree 342 apply to each route into Vietnam.
8. Part 8Decree 342/2026: retail licensing for foreign-invested operators
   Checked against the official text: the ENT, the same-brand rule, security review and reporting.
9. Part 9The market in numbers
   Foreign brands registered with MOIT, the sector split and the data gap on Vietnamese brands abroad.