Accordingly, the foreign trade promotion organization is entitled to set up not more than one representative office in one province or centrally-run city. A foreign trade promotion agency will be licensed if it meets two conditions: it is a legally established organisation under foreign law and it has a charter and operating principles that comply with Vietnamese law.
Also under the Decre, the representative office, as a subordinate unit of the foreign trade promotion organization, is not permitted to set up a representative office under it.A representative office can function as a contact agency and promote the activities of a foreign company, including assisting the foreign enterprise in exploring the domestic market, performing market research and providing economic, trade and market information to foreign companies and organisations. However, a representative office cannot directly conduct profit-making operations in Viet Nam.
The decree will take effect on December 15.