ANT Lawyers

Vietnam Law Firm with English Speaking Lawyers

ANT Lawyers

Vietnam Law Firm with English Speaking Lawyers

ANT Lawyers

Vietnam Law Firm with English Speaking Lawyers

ANT Lawyers

Vietnam Law Firm with English Speaking Lawyers

ANT Lawyers

Vietnam Law Firm with English Speaking Lawyers

5.10.2016

HOW TO PREPARE AND FILE A LAWSUIT IN VIETNAM?

If two parties have a dispute over a commercial matter in Vietnam, they should try to resolve disputes through negotiation, or mediation before considering to file a lawsuit against the other at a court in Vietnam.


To implement their right to sue, the plaintiff must prepare and submit the claim at the competent court in Vietnam.  The dispute lawyers in Vietnam with experience and understanding the litigation process should be invited at the early stage to advise, represent and prepare to defend the client.  The claim filing should include the petition and the supporting documents.  The petition is the most important legal document for the court to review and resolve the claim of the plaintiff, as such it should be carefully prepared to meet the requirements of the form, authority, and further contain information about the plaintiff, defendant, summary of the case and the request of the plaintiff.
The contents of the petition must be presented in full, brief, clear, and in logic.  The plaintiff should provide all documents, and evidence to prove the merit of the claim including contract, purchase order, separate terms and conditions, appendixes (if any), minutes of meetings of negotiations, invoices, delivery proof, legal status of plaintiff and defendant, documents to determine the legal status of the representative of the plaintiff such as appointment decision, power of attorney.  In order for the document issued in foreign country to be valid in Vietnam, the documents presented have to be original or notarized, legalized and authenticated copy and translated into Vietnamese in accordance with Vietnam laws.
When the claim has been filed at the competent court in Vietnam provided all conditions of acceptance are met, the court will notify the plaintiff or its representative know the court fees. When the applicant advance the court fee, the case will be recorded and brought into the process for settlement.
At the trial preparation process, the case will be assigned to a judge whom after studying would request parties to present additional necessary papers and documents relating to the case.  Parties or their representative would then be requested to meet the judge to provide further information or testimony or attend reconciliation.  If the disputing parties resolve disputes with each other, the court will make a record to acknowledge the successful reconciliation and issue the decision to recognize the agreement of the parties. Where reconciliation fails, the court records that and shall issue the decision to bring the case to trial.
Disagreements or disputes arise when parties can not agree on issues related to contract provisions, expected outcome or performance starndards…There are cases when the dispute is over a debt obligations matters which a debt recovery law firm could assist at an early stage to manage the collection process pre litigations including negotitions and managing expectations of both sides.    
ANT Lawyers, a law firm in Vietnam will be available to assist the clients when required to handle dispute matters out of court, at court or through arbitration in Vietnam.  

TOP 10 CHALLENGES OF DOING BUSINESS IN VIETNAM

Expanding gross domestic product (GDP), modern infrastructure and a dramatic increase in foreign direct investment (FDI) are signs that Vietnam has transformed into an attractive investment destination, but there are still barriers to doing business which are best navigated with local help on board.

Since 1988, there have been 13,544 foreign investment projects with a total registered capital of US$213 billion in Vietnam, building a large overseas investment sector which occupies about 17% of GDP and 43.4% of industrial product value. Overseas firms are attracted by Vietnam’s 87 million-strong population which supports a large and young workforce and that has also seen an increase in disposable income in recent years.
Strong economic growth rates have been a common feature of the Vietnamese economy since the 1990s, and even though the high levels slumped slightly during the global financial crisis, the country has rapidly returned to pre-crisis growth trends and is expected to continue on this path. Infrastructure, tourism development, and related real estate and retail sector development in urban areas are all attracting large amounts of FDI, and overseas firms are increasingly attracted by the country’s move from a centralised to a market-orientated economy.
However, The World Bank and International Finance Corporation (IFC) rank Vietnam in 99th place in the world for ease of doing business, which means it is essential to seek local help when expanding in the country.
Starting a Business
There are 10 procedures to undertake when starting a business in Vietnam, making it among the most complex start-up environments in the world. What’s more, many tasks facing new corporate entities may be unfamiliar to overseas companies, making the task far more rigorous. Registration of the seal-sample at the Police Department, for example, or publically announcing the formation in a local newspaper are procedures most companies generally don’t have to complete.
Dealing with Construction Permits
It takes 110 days and 11 procedures to get permits for construction in Vietnam, once again requiring interaction with several official departments. Inspections must be carried out by the Department of Construction and the municipality, and certificates should be obtained from the Firefighters Prevention Department, the Department of Construction and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment.
Getting Electricity
Getting electrical connection is among the most rigorous tasks facing startups in Vietnam, taking 115 days to complete and costing a significant percentage of income per capita. Inspections by the local power corporation are required before completing processes with the Traffic and Transport Department and the Firefighters Prevention Department.
Registering Property
Registering property takes 57 days to complete, which is far higher than the OECD norm but around average for East Asia and Pacific. Contracts between the transferor and the transferee are signed before taxation is paid and registration for the right to use land is complete.
Getting Credit
Vietnam is home to quite a stable credit environment, and obtaining capital is a relatively smooth process for businesses. However, the lack of a private credit bureau can make the process a little trickier for overseas firms.
Protecting Investors
Investor protection is an area in which Vietnam fails miserably. It is ranked in 169th place by the World Bank and IFC, with a weak director liability index and shareholder suits index.
Paying Taxes
There are a massive 32 corporate tax payments to be made each year which takes an average of 872 company hours to complete. Compared to the OECD norm of 176 and the East Asia and Pacific average of 209, taxation is one of the most burdensome processes of doing business in Vietnam.
Trading Across Borders
Given its strong manufacturing base and reliance on interconnectivity, trading across borders is a cheap endeavour. However, that isn’t to say the process is not complicated, and the stream of documentation required for both importing and exporting highlights that cross-border trade can be difficult at the best of times.
Enforcing Contracts and Resolving Insolvency
Enforcing contracts takes 400 days to complete and 34 procedures. Resolving insolvency is a far more laborious process, taking five years on average to complete and with a low recovery rate.
Culture
The Vietnamese believe in the teachings of the early Chinese philosopher Confucius which emphasise the importance of relationships, responsibility and obligation. Vietnam is also a collectivist country and community concerns will almost always come before business or individual needs.
ANT Lawyers
We have the local knowledge to help you navigate these minefields. Whether you want to set up in Vietnam or just want to streamline your Vietnamese operations,

4.24.2016

NEW VIETNAM REAL ESTATE DRAFT LAW GIVING MORE RIGHTS TO FOREIGNERS IN VIETNAM

ANT Lawyers’ real estate legal practice gives client legal advice on real estate legal matters in Vietnam.  We are keeping track with changes in the Vietnam legal environment to ensure giving our client the best advice.  



Real estate market in Vietnam is experiencing a difficult time.  The government has realized that there is a huge demand from the foreigners and oversea Vietnamese investing in Vietnam in owning real estate in Vietnam however the legal regulations on such matter have not yet encouraged them to make the investment.  
The Vietnam Ministry of Construction has enacted the fifth Draft of Law on Real Estate Business (amending), which regulates two new noteworthy provisions relating to the scope of real estate business of foreigners and Vietnamese overseas.
While the current regulations in Law on Real Estate 2006 only allow the foreign and oversea Vietnamese organizations, individuals to establish houses, construction works for sale, lease, lease-buy; to invest, reclaim land and set up facilities on the leased land for leasing.  The new Draft of Law on Real Estate expands the scope to i) rent houses, construction works in order to sub-lease; ii) foreign and oversea Vietnamese organizations or individuals operating in real estate area, foreign invested capital enterprises, branches, representatives of foreign enterprises, investment funds, branches of foreign banks currently operating in Vietnam are also permitted to rent, buy and own the office areas for their own work or for lease; to buy, rent, lease-buy houses according to Vietnam law on houses.
Our real estate lawyers in Vietnam have experience in the field of real estate and we have solutions for our client based on client’s unique situation.
ANT Lawyers is a Vietnam law firm with international standards, recognized by IFLR1000 on Financial and Corporate practice. We are an exclusive Vietnam member of Prae Legal, the global law firm network covering more than 150 jurisdictions. The firm provides a range of legal services as following to multinational and domestic clients.


WORK PERMIT REGULATIONS IN VIETNAM UNDER DECREE NO. 102/2013/ND-CP

The Government has issued Decree No. 102/2013/ND-CP dated September 5, 2013 providing for the granting of work permits for foreign laborers to work in Vietnam.


According to this Decree, foreign workers who want to be granted a work permit are required to meet the five following conditions. First, the worker is capable of civil acts as prescribed by law. Second, the worker’s health is suitable for his or her job. Third, the worker is a manager, executive officer, expert, or technician. The foreign workers that provide medical examination and medical treatment in Vietnam, or work in education and vocational training must meet the conditions for provision of medical examination, medical treatment, education and vocational training of Vietnam’s law.  Fourth, the worker is not a criminal or liable to criminal prosecution according to Vietnam’s law and the foreign country’s law. Fifth, the employment of the foreign worker is approved in writing by a competent.  The employer will be responsible for apply application for work permit at least 15 working days before the day on which the foreign worker intends to start working, the employer shall submit the application for the work permit to the Service of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs of the province where the foreign worker works for the employer the whole time. Where the foreign worker does not work for the employer in the same province the whole time, the application for the work permit shall be submitted at the Service of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs of the province where the employer’s head office is situated.  The duration of a work permit shall not exceed 2 years, and follow the duration of Decree 102/2013/ND-CD also provides about the cases in which the work permit shall be reissued. Namely, these cases include when the work permit is lost, damaged, or the contents of the work permit such as name, date of birth, nationality, passport number, or workplace is changed and when the work permit.  The employers shall be responsible for apply application for reissuance of the work permit to Service of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs that issued it so as to obtain new work permit. For the cases of expiring, the duration of the work permit reissued does not exceed 02 years and follows the duration of particular situations. Where the work permit reissued in remaining cases, this duration is equal to the duration of the issued work permit minus the period of time the foreign worker has worked up to the day the application for the reissuance of the work permit is submitted.  Besides, this Decree also provides the cases in which the foreign worker is exempt from applying for the work permit such as foreign workers working as contributing member, or owners of limited liability company, coming to Vietnam with a period of less than 03 months to offer services.  The cases of revocation of the work permit and expelling the foreign workers also provided in this Decree.
In order to seek further advice, please contact us at ant@antlawyers.vn or call + 84 35202779.

4.21.2016

HOW TO SET-UP TRAVEL SERVICES BUSINESS IN VIETNAM

Foreign investor could only set-up joint venture with Vietnam travel agency to set-up travel services business in Vietnam because transport of passenger belongs to investment areas with conditions applied to foreign investor inVietnam.


Travel Services Business
Travel Services Business in Vietnam
No one could deny that information technology has tremendously changed the way travel services business operates.  The use of booking reservation system application on smartphone and internet are widespread that make travel has never been easier.   Foreign investor would be interested to explore the travel services market. However, 100% foreign owned company is not allowed to set-up in travel services business in Vietnam. As this investment area is conditional, it is advised that a law firm in Vietnam should be consulted to ensure compliance with local regulations.
The application process and documents requirements are briefly as following:
I. Required documents:
  1. Application for the International Travel Business License (form);
  2. Certificate of business registration (copy – certified)
  3. Business plan for the international travel agency;
  4. Tour schedule
  5. Proof of at least 4 years of experience in international travel business operations
  6. Certified copies of the tourist guides’ cards whereby at least 3 international tourist guides are required
  7. Confirmation of bank deposit (as per regulations);
  8. Proof of office premises or legally registered place of business
II. Business License Application Procedure
  1. Submission of the required documents to the correct authority (Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the province/city where the business is headquartered).
  2. The Department of Tourism of the province/city completes the records of appraisal and submits a written request with the agency’s records to the Minstry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in Vietnam within ten working days from the date of receipt of a valid application. When cases are not eligible for the proposed permit to the state agencies, the provincial tourism department shall cite the specific reasons for refusal.
  3. The state management agency of tourism (VNAT – Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) is responsible for reviewing and licensing the international travel business within ten working days from the date of both receipt of the file and written request of the state agency of tourism in the province. In case of refusal, the ministry shall state the specific reasons to the state and provincial tourism authorities
III. Number of records
– Submission to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism: 01
– Tourism Authority Filed in: 01

HOW TO ESTABLISH A COMPANY IN VIETNAM

Foreign investors may invest in the form of 100% capital to establish a limited liability company, joint stock company, partnership company or other forms in investment in Vietnam.


Foreign investors that invest in Vietnam for the first time must have investment projects and fill in investment registration or examination procedures at state agencies in charge of investment in order to be granted investment registration certificates. Investment certificates shall concurrently be business registration certificates.  Company with 100% foreign capital has founded and operated from the date of issuance of the investment certificate.
A project dossier for establishing a company in Vietnam shall comprise:
  • Registration/Request for issuance of Investment Certificate;
  • A report on financial capability of the investor;
  • Draft of the company’s charter;
  • List of members of company: a) copy of the people’s identity card, passport or other lawful personal certification, for individual members; b) copy of the establishment decision, business registration certificate or other equivalent document, for member organizations; copies of the authorization document, the people’s identity card, passport or other lawful personal certification, for authorized representatives. Copies of the business registration certificates of the foreign member organizations must be authenticated within three months before the date of submission of the business registration dossier by agencies where such organizations are registered;
  • Written authorization of the investor in case investor is organization and valid copy of the lawful personal certification of the authorized representative. Documents in foreign languages must be translated into Vietnamese, notarized and legalized;
  • The joint-venture contract or Business Cooperation Contract (BCC);
  • Other documents required by Vietnam law.
The establishment of a company in Vietnam would take from 30 days.  The extra time might be needed in case theinvestment area is conditional or the State government needs to examine the investment project.  Minimum capital, special licenses or other conditions might be required in certain investment projects.

NEW VIETNAM REAL ESTATE DRAFT LAW GIVING MORE RIGHTS TO FOREIGNERS IN VIETNAM

ANT Lawyers’ real estate legal practice gives client legal advice on real estate legal matters in Vietnam.  We are keeping track with changes in the Vietnam legal environment to ensure giving our client the best advice.  

Vietnam real estate draft law
Vietnam real estate draft law
Real estate market in Vietnam is experiencing a difficult time.  The government has realized that there is a huge demand from the foreigners and oversea Vietnamese investing in Vietnam in owning real estate in Vietnam however the legal regulations on such matter have not yet encouraged them to make the investment.  
The Vietnam Ministry of Construction has enacted the fifth Draft of Law on Real Estate Business (amending), which regulates two new noteworthy provisions relating to the scope of real estate business of foreigners and Vietnamese overseas.
While the current regulations in Law on Real Estate 2006 only allow the foreign and oversea Vietnamese organizations, individuals to establish houses, construction works for sale, lease, lease-buy; to invest, reclaim land and set up facilities on the leased land for leasing.  The new Draft of Law on Real Estate expands the scope to i) rent houses, construction works in order to sub-lease; ii) foreign and oversea Vietnamese organizations or individuals operating in real estate area, foreign invested capital enterprises, branches, representatives of foreign enterprises, investment funds, branches of foreign banks currently operating in Vietnam are also permitted to rent, buy and own the office areas for their own work or for lease; to buy, rent, lease-buy houses according to Vietnam law on houses.
Our real estate lawyers in Vietnam have experience in the field of real estate and we have solutions for our client based on client’s unique situation.
ANT Lawyers is a Vietnam law firm with international standards, recognized by IFLR1000 on Financial and Corporate practice. We are an exclusive Vietnam member of Prae Legal, the global law firm network covering more than 150 jurisdictions. The firm provides a range of legal services as following to multinational and domestic clients.