Some Amendments to Business Registration As of October 10th, 2018 by Decree 108/2018/ND-CP

Decree 108/2018/ND-CP amending and supplementing a number of articles of Decree 78/2015/ND-CP effective from 10/10/2018, has stipulated new points of business registration.

The new decree stipulates clearly some contents on procedures of business registration, especially not needing to seal on the business registration documents and clarifying the power of attorney for individuals to establish an enterprise without notarization or certification in Article 1.1, 1.2 of Decree 108/2018/ND-CP.Since previously there were no regulations on this issue, competent authority required seal business registration documents and notarize or certify power of attorney to ensure valid documents, which caused difficulties when carrying out procedures. This new regulation will receive more support and solve practical problems.

Previously an enterprise may only establish its business locations within the provinces in Vietnam in which its headquarters or branches are located. It means that in case establishing another business location where headquarters or branches are not located, the enterprise must implement two procedures: establishing a branch and establishing a business location, but procedures and dossiers for establishment of branches are more complex than establishment of business locations. Now, enterprises are allowed to directly set up business locations in any province in Vietnam without headquarter or branch. It facilitates enterprises to expand scope of business, save expenses and reduce the workload for the enterprise.

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Regulation on time limits for evaluation of online bid documents comes into effect

The Ministry of Planning and Investment has recently promulgated the Circular No. 05/2018/TT-BKHDT elaborating on preparation of reports on evaluation of bidding documents for procurements in which contractors are selected via the national bidding network system.

The Circular prescribes the time limit for evaluation of bidding documents via the E-HSDT system as follows:

- The maximum time limit is 45 days from the bid opening date to the date of the bid solicitor’s submission of an application for approval of contractor selection results to the investor. 

The duration for evaluation via E-HSDT does not include the period of assessment and approval or the period of assessment of results of evaluation of the technical proposal for the procurement carried out according to the single-stage two-envelope bidding procedure.

- The maximum time limit is 25 days from the bid opening date to the date of the bid solicitor’s submission of application for approval of contractor selection results to the investor with respect to the small-scale procurement.

Where necessary, the duration for evaluation via E-HSDT may be extended to no more than 20 days to ensure the project execution progress. 

The Circular No. 05/2018/TT-BKHDT will take effect on September 1, 2019.

-Thuvienphapluatvn-

ANT Lawyers is a Vietnam law firm with English speaking lawyers whom understand the laws of Vietnam within the business and the local culture context.

For Vietnam legal matters or services, the clients could reach ANT Lawyers, the exclusive Vietnam law firm members via email at ant@antlawyers.vn or call the telephone at +84 28 730 86 529.

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Legal Regulations in Purchasing Real Estate in for Foreigners in Vietnam

Vietnam has become a better place for foreigners to visiting and staying. Many chose Vietnam as home and they come to Ho Chi Minh City, Ha Noi, Da Nang, Phu Quoc, Nha Trang… to buy real estates for living. Many foreigners consider seeking understanding and with the advisory of their real estate lawyers in Vietnam to purchase the property under their name for best interest protection. There are a number of foreigners seek to cooperate with local Vietnamese under investment agreement to invest in properties. It has always been suggested the buyer or investor to receive legal advice from lawyers and real estate law firms in Vietnam before committing the investment to a certain extent.

According to the Law on housing 2005, foreign organizations and individuals investing in construction of houses for sale and lease in Vietnam have the right to own the houses in Vietnam. However, according to the provisions of the Law on housing 2014, the house owners expand and include foreigners being investors building the houses under investor projects, foreign organizations operating in Vietnam and foreign individuals being allowed to enter Vietnam under the provisions of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam; and are not entitled to diplomatic privileges and immunities.

Under the provisions of the Law on housing 2014, foreign organizations and individuals are allowed to own apartments, individual houses (villas and townhouses) in commercial housing projects. The total number of foreign individuals/organizations owned does not exceed 30% of an apartment building or does not exceed 10% or 250 houses of a housing project. Foreign individuals may own houses for up to 50 years and are allowed to extend for no more than 50 years. Foreign organizations own the houses according to the time limit on the Investment Registration Certificate and the extension period. During the time of owning the houses, foreign individuals are allowed to sublease, but foreign organizations are not allowed to sublease the houses.

For foreign individuals/organizations, when buying the houses in Vietnam, it is necessary to have a well drafted sales contract for purchase and sale of the houses because all rights and obligations related to the purchase, sales and ownership of houses are regulated in the contract. Therefore, the buyer should consider the contract carefully, usually with the help of real estate lawyers whom understand Vietnam laws before signing, in order to protect their legitimate rights and interests.

The foreigner when buying and selling the houses, especially off-plan house, need to also pay attention to the regulations on payment schedule in the contract. According to Article 57 of the Law on housing 2015, the payment in the purchase, sales, lease sales of the off-plan real estate in Vietnam is carried out in installments, and the first time must not exceed 30% of the contract value, the next times must be in accordance with the construction schedule, however, not exceeding 50% of the contract value when not handed over when the buyer is an enterprise with foreign investment, not exceeding 70% the value of contract, if the buyer is the foreigner individual the payment is not exceed 50% the value of the contract before handing over the house to the buyer. Until the buyer is issued with a certificate of land use right, ownership of houses and other assets attached to the land, the buyer shall pay no more than 95% the value of contract.

Foreigners in Vietnam need to be assisted to be familiar with the laws relating to the purchase and sale of real estate in order to protect their legitimate rights and interests when participating in transactions in Vietnam. It is important that the foreigners consider using the services of law firm in Vietnam specializing in real estate to advise and help manage the transaction.

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Certain provisions of 2012 Labor Code will be amended

The Law on Amendments and Supplements to 37 Laws relating to planning and the XIVth National Assembly’s Resolution No. 72/2018/QH14 prescribes certain contents of the 2012 Labor Code which have been and will be amended or supplemented, including:

- Delete the word “planning” in clause 2 of Article 235 on state management of labor.

- Intend to amend and supplement Chapter XIII on trade unions with a view to giving permission for establishment of employees’ representative organizations which are not subordinate to the Vietnam General Federation of Labour, including the following regulations: 

+ Regulation on the employee’s right to establish and accede to representative organizations which are not subordinate to the Vietnam General Federation of Labour;

+ Principles-based regulation on requirements and processes for establishing, authority to register, operations and dissolution of employees’ representative organizations.

- Intend to supplement Chapter V, Chapter XIII and Chapter XIV relating to trade unions, employees’ representative organizations, right of discussion at workplace, collective bargaining agreements, resolution of collective labor disputes and strikes.

This also includes the regulation on resolution of labor disputes that may arise in the context of multiple representative organizations in existence, such as disputes between representative organizations about the right of collective bargaining, etc.

-thuvienphapluatvn-

ANT Lawyers is a law firm in Vietnam located in the business centers of Hanoi, Danang and Ho Chi Minh City. We provide convenient access to our clients. Please contact us to book your time in advanced to let us provide our best service. 

Call us at +84 28 730 86 529 or send us email ant@antlawyers.vn

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