Retail

Foreign Franchises Interested in Vietnam Market Entry

By Marco Azzaro

May 18 – Several franchising brands are beginning to view the Vietnamese market more favorably than in past years. According to the country’s Ministry of Industry and Trade, up to 70 foreign brands have registered their franchising business in Vietnam and franchising growth is up 30 percent.

Most of them are consumer brands focused on youth and middle class consumers. Brands such as KFC, Pizza Hut, Lotteria, and Jollibee have been pioneers in the Vietnamese market, but other well-known fast food brands from the United States – such as McDonald’s, Starbucks, Focus Brands and Melting Pot – are reportedly seeking a way into Vietnam or looking for suitable Vietnamese partners. Continue reading →

Posted in Business, FDI and Foreign Trade, Retail | Tagged Fast Food Chains, Jollibee, KFC, Lotteria, Pizza Hut, Vietnam Franchising | Leave a comment

Foreigners Eligible for VAT Refund When Leaving Vietnam

Apr. 30 – On April 12, 2012, Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance promulgated Circular No.58/2012/TT-BTC to guide the implementation of Decision No. 05/2012/QD-TTg dated January 19, 2012 on implementing a pilot project allowing VAT refunds for foreigners departing Vietnam from Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi or Tan Son Nhat International Airport in HCMC.

Foreigners who buy goods in Vietnam and leave from either of those airports will be reimbursed the VAT they have paid. However, the tax refund service fee which commercial banks are entitled to charge is equal to 15 percent of the total amount of VAT on goods eligible for refund that foreigners carry when leaving the airports. As such, the amount of value added tax which foreigners will be refunded is equal to 85 percent of the total amount of VAT paid. Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Finance, Tax and Accounting, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Retail | Tagged Hanoi, HCMC, Value-Added Tax, VAT, Vietnam Tax, Vietnam Tourism | Leave a comment

Growth in Vietnam’s Entertainment Sector Attracting Foreign Investors

An investor who visits the Megastar Cinema in Vincom City Tower in Hanoi will likely be met by large crowds. A visit to the West Lake, passing through the Ho Tay water park, will generate a similar experience.

By Jonathan Choppin

Jul. 12 – The entertainment industry in Vietnam is showing increasing potential and positive indicators like growing cinema audiences and an increasing number of karaoke venues, western-style bars and nightclubs. Much of this industry’s growth, which tripled in value between 2004 and 2009, can be attributed to the country’s stable economy. On the whole, the entertainment industry will play an important role in Vietnam’s economy through jump starting investment in infrastructure and providing sources of employment. Continue reading →

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Early Warning Web Site Launched to Help Prevent Anti-Dumping Cases

Sept. 24 – The Vietnam Competition Authority and and the Global Competition Fund of Denmark launched an early warning web site on Wednesday to help prevent anti-dumping cases and support exporters in Vietnam.

The web site is available in Vietnamese and English and initially concentrates on the Vietnam’s top export products: garments and textiles, footwear, seafood, wood products and electric cables for the U.S. and EU markets. Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Economy and Politics, FDI and Foreign Trade, Legal and Regulatory, Manufacturing, Retail, Shipping & Logistics | Leave a comment

Use of Digital Signatures Encouraged

Aug. 25 – Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Information and Communications encouraged the use of digital signatures for government agencies and companies during a workshop held in Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday.

The use of digital signature will pave the way for the development of electronic commerce in the country. “One of the solutions to ensure data security in e-transactions is the use of digital signatures,” said Tran Huu Linh, deputy head of the Department of Commerce and Information and Technology. Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Culture and History, Economy and Politics, FDI and Foreign Trade, IT & Telecom, Legal and Regulatory, Retail | Leave a comment

Cancelation of Express Shipping Taxes to Begin October

Aug. 20 – Following Government Decree 87/2010/ND-CP, Vietnam will exempt export and import express packages from tax beginning October 1.

The decree will also waive tax on imported raw materials or appliances for specific investment sectors or those not made in the country five years after production date. Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Economy and Politics, FDI and Foreign Trade, Finance, Tax and Accounting, Manufacturing, Retail, Shipping & Logistics | Leave a comment

Update on CIT Incentives and Deductibles

Aug. 19 – Tax authorities clarified in June that corporate income tax incentives shall not apply to new business activities after a foreign company has already been granted an investment certificate.

Official Letter 2057 says a foreign invested company that decides to offer business activities in addition to the activities stated on its investment certificate shall be considered as expanding its business. The new activity will not be qualified for CIT incentives but will be charged a 25 percent tax. Continue reading →

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Vietnam Currency Devalues, Drops to Record-Low

Aug. 18 – Vietnam’s currency, the dong, dropped a further 1.1 percent to VND19,320 against the U.S. dollar from VND19,425 earlier as part of government efforts to rally economic growth and increase exports, said economists.

Yesterday, the central bank let the dong’s daily reference rate slip by 2 percent to VND18,932 per dollar. “The main reason for the central bank’s move is to balance onshore foreign-exchange demand-and-supply and to support exporters,” said Prakriti Sofat, a Singapore-based economist at Barclays Capital. “Vietnam largely exports low value- added goods and typically competes on prices.” Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Economy and Politics, FDI and Foreign Trade, Legal and Regulatory, Manufacturing, Retail, Shipping & Logistics | Leave a comment

Imports to be Classified into Four Categories Starting Aug. 22

Aug. 16 – Beginning August 22, Vietnam Customs will group imports under four categories following Decision 1807/QĐ-TCHQ.

Authorities will include documents, trade vouchers, goods enjoying exemption preferences, and duty-free treatment in the first category while the second category will include taxable imports worth up to VND1 million in registration value. These categories will not be required to undergo a customs check. Continue reading →

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Vietnam to Promote Border Trade

Aug. 13 – The Vietnamese government plans on spending VND16 billion to push border trade promotion programs, says the deputy director of the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Mountainous Area Trade Department.

The agency will be responsible for managing the campaign and allotting the funds. “This is the first time money has been poured in trade promotion in border areas, so we have carefully scrutinized the programs,” said Nguyen Van Hoi adding that the money would be divided among six trade promotion programs.

Of the money, an estimated VND4.5 billion will be set aside just for improving agricultural exports at the China border gates located in northern Lang Son and Lao Cai Province. Moreover, VND3 billion will be used to develop capacity building for agricultural export businesses dealing with Chinese trade by making training courses on law, certification of origin, payment, contracts and technology available. Continue reading →