Market Entry Services
Overview: A practical, multi-disciplinary path to Vietnam entry
What we help you achieve
Our mission is to transform the complexity of the Vietnamese market into a competitive advantage for your business through end-to-end Vietnam market entry consulting services.
- Speed: Accelerated timelines through efficient administrative handling.
- Compliance Confidence: Total alignment with Vietnamese laws from day one.
- Reduced Execution Risk: Identification of “red flags” before they impact your capital or reputation.
Why a tailored approach matters in Vietnam
In Vietnam, there is no “one-size-fits-all” solution. Entry must be driven by your specific sector and desired structure, whether you operate in manufacturing, retail, technology, deliver market entry strategies architectural services, or require market entry services for b2b tech companies.
Capital requirements, ownership conditions, and sub-license needs can vary significantly, so we adapt custom foreign market entry consulting services to match these regulatory nuances, especially when you are comparing options among top-rated market entry consulting services.
When to use Vietnam market entry services
- First-time Entry: Setting up a brand-new legal entity, securing primary licenses, and ensuring operational readiness via market entry services.
- Market Expansion: Launching new business lines, securing additional sub-licenses, or establishing presence in new provinces.
- Acquisition-led Entry: Navigating the “buy vs. build” decision and validating risks before committing to an investment.
Core service pillars
Financial & Tax Due Diligence
Uncover hidden risks and quantify tax liabilities to safeguard your investment and strengthen your negotiating position.
Commercial Due Diligence
Validate business sustainability by auditing key commercial dependencies and flagging potential related-party or compliance issues.
Market Reviews
Gain an independent, data-driven view of market parameters to pinpoint high-value opportunity gaps.
Valuations
Determine the true worth of an entity through risk-adjusted logic that accounts for local growth drivers and market volatility.
Competitor Analysis
Analyze the local landscape to understand how direct and indirect rivals operate and how you can outmaneuver them.
Entry options and expansion strategies
Corporate Structuring: Building the Legal Foundation
We evaluate and design the optimal ownership architecture to ring-fence liabilities and facilitate future growth, whether your plan prioritizes local operations or export market entry services.
- Offshore Holding Companies: Utilizing jurisdictions like Singapore or Hong Kong to benefit from Double Taxation Agreements (DTAs), ease of future share transfers, and international dispute resolution.
- Onshore Special Purpose Vehicles (SPV): Establishing direct Vietnamese entities (LLCs or JSCs) tailored to specific project needs or localized operations.
- Hybrid Combinations: Designing multi-tier structures that allow for local operational flexibility while maintaining a global corporate governance standard.
Tax Optimization and Transfer Pricing Readiness
Vietnam’s tax landscape is rigorous and rapidly evolving. We ensure your business is compliant from day one while maximizing available incentives.
- Incentive Mapping: Identifying eligibility for Corporate Income Tax (CIT) holidays, preferential rates for high-tech industries, or specialized economic zone benefits.
- Transfer Pricing (TP) Framework: Proactively designing intercompany pricing models that align with Vietnam’s Decree 132. We help you prepare Master Files and Local Files to mitigate audit risks before they arise.
- Indirect Tax Strategy: Managing VAT refunds for exporters and optimizing Import/Export duties to streamline the supply chain.
Capital and Treasury Management: Flow of Funds
A common hurdle in Vietnam is the strict control over foreign exchange. We plan your “Capital In – Profit Out” cycle to ensure liquidity.
- Capital Repatriation Planning: Structuring the legal pathways to remit dividends and return capital to the parent company without administrative delays.
- DICA Account Management: Expert guidance on the Direct Investment Capital Account (DICA) – the mandatory portal for all FDI-related fund flows.
- Foreign Loan Registration: Advising on shareholder loans or external financing, including the mandatory registration of medium-and-long-term foreign loans with the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV).
Exit Strategy Planning: Designing the “Exit at Entry”
Success in a volatile market requires knowing how to leave or pivot. We build exit flexibility into your initial setup.
- Transferability Readiness: Ensuring the corporate charter and shareholder agreements are drafted to facilitate smooth M&A or equity sell-downs in the future.
- Capital Gains Tax (CGT) Advisory: Structuring investments to manage potential tax liabilities arising from a future sale of the business or its assets.
- Licensing Continuity: Planning for the transfer of licenses and permits to ensure that the business value remains intact during a change of ownership.
Entry options and expansion strategies
Step 1: Planning & Feasibility
- Sector Check: Analyzing Foreign Ownership Limits (FOL) and WTO commitments for your specific industry.
- Tax Analysis: Evaluating CIT, VAT, and treaty benefits to determine the most cost-effective model.
- Roadmap: Defining timelines, licensing requirements, and total entry costs as part of our market entry strategy services.
Step 2: Optimal Structuring
- Entity Selection: Choosing between a Limited Liability Company (LLC), Joint Stock Company (JSC), or Representative Office.
- Jurisdiction Planning: Designing offshore holding structures (e.g., Singapore/HK) to optimize tax and future exits.
- Capital Flow: Setting up the framework for compliant fund injections and profit repatriation.
Step 3A: Establishing a New Entity (Greenfield)
- IRC & ERC: Securing the Investment Registration Certificate and Enterprise Registration Certificate.
- Sub-licensing: Obtaining industry-specific permits (e.g., Retail, Logistics, or Food Safety licenses).
Step 3B: Investing or Acquiring (M&A)
- Due Diligence: Conducting financial, tax, and legal audits to identify deal-breakers.
- M&A Approval: Navigating the mandatory regulatory approvals for foreign share acquisitions.
- Execution: Managing the SPA, escrow setup, and formalizing the ownership transfer.
Step 4: Post-Licensing/Transaction Support
- Admin Setup: Handling corporate seals, digital signatures (Tokens), and mandatory public announcements.
- Banking: Opening mandatory Capital Accounts (DICA) and operational accounts.
- Capital Management: Monitoring the statutory 90-day window for charter capital injection as part of our market entry support services.
Step 5: Ongoing Compliance (Managed Services)
- Accounting & Tax: Managing VAS-compliant bookkeeping, VAT filings, and annual audits.
- Payroll & HR: Processing monthly payroll, social insurance, and labor reporting.
- Statutory Reporting: Filing mandatory periodic reports to the Investment and Statistics Departments.
Entering the Vietnamese market offers immense growth potential, but success requires navigating a complex regulatory and operational landscape, which is why our Vietnam market entry consulting services provide the strategic clarity and technical expertise needed to transform these challenges into a competitive advantage.
By integrating structuring, licensing, and compliance into a tailored roadmap, we ensure your business is built on a foundation of speed and total compliance. Whether you are establishing a new entity or expanding through M&A, our multi-disciplinary approach minimizes execution risk. Partner with us to secure a seamless and professional entry into one of Southeast Asia’s most vibrant economies.
Our Market Entry Services
Feasibility Studies & Opportunity Assessments
Partner Search & Distributor Identification
Market Entry Strategy Design
Business Setup Support
Regulatory Guidance
What you get when using Alau Vietnam’s services
Market Entry Roadmap
Structuring Memo
Licensing Plan
Due Diligence Pack and Negotiation Issue List
Post-Entry Compliance Plan
Our Solutions
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Why choose Alau Vietnam?
At Alau Vietnam, we support international companies in their entry, growth, and long-term success in Vietnam. Through a combination of market entry consulting, market intelligence, regulatory & compliance expertise, and operational support services, we make expansion in Vietnam smooth, compliant, and results-driven. We combine deep local knowledge with international working standards, ensuring clear communication, structured execution, and reliable outcomes. Our multilingual team (Dutch, French, English, and Vietnamese) bridges cultural and business barriers, enabling faster decisions and more efficient implementation. Whether you need tailored market insights, product registrations and approvals, ongoing compliance support, payroll and bookkeeping, or a trusted Employer of Record (EOR) partner; we deliver end-to-end solutions aligned with your business goals. Our mission is simple: to help international companies enter and scale in Vietnam efficiently and sustainably; while we manage the complexities on the ground.
What makes Vietnam attractive?
Vietnam is one of Southeast Asia’s most dynamic and rapidly expanding economies. With a young population, increasing consumer spending power, and a strategic geographic position, Vietnam offers exceptional opportunities for international companies looking to grow in Asia. Competitive operating costs, a stable political environment, and a business climate that welcomes foreign investment make Vietnam a highly attractive market for long-term expansion. In addition, Vietnam is strongly integrated into global trade through major Free Trade Agreements such as EVFTA, CPTPP, and RCEP, creating easier market access, reduced tariffs, and improved competitiveness for exporters and manufacturers. For companies aiming to access the wider ASEAN region, Vietnam is the ideal gateway; combining growth potential, strategic advantage, and economic stability.
How we support with all your regulatory needs?
Vietnam’s regulatory landscape is detailed, diverse, and varies across industries. Different product categories follow different approval pathways, documentation formats, and authority oversight; and local representation is required for most registrations and renewals. Navigating these requirements without local expertise can lead to delays, rejections, and increased costs. At Alau Vietnam, we manage the full regulatory and compliance process across sectors; ensuring dossiers meet national standars, handling communication with authorities, and even holding registrations on behalf of our clients when needed. We reduce complexity, accelerate approvals, and help you achieve faster, compliant market access in Vietnam.
What are our capabilities?
At Alau Vietnam, we combine deep local market knowledge with international standards to support successful business expansion in Vietnam. Our capabilities cover the full journey; from market analysis to execution and ongoing compliance. We provide: Market Entry Support – strategy, opportunity assessment, partner search, business setup. Market Intelligence & Insights – industry research, trend analysis, competitor mapping, customer insights. Regulatory & Compliance Management – dossier preparation, approvals, authority communication, and the ability to hold registrations. Operational & Administrative Support – EOR, payroll, bookkeeping, and accounting for smooth day-to-day operations. What sets us apart: Multilingual team (Dutch, French, English, Vietnamese), strong authority relationships, and a hands-on execution approach with a European mindset.
How does Alau Vietnam work with clients and deliver support?
We operate as your local execution partner in Vietnam; combining strategic guidance with hands-on operational support. Our approach is collaborative, transparent, and result-focused. We take the time to understand your goals, align with your processes, and tailor our support to your business needs. From market entry evaluation and intelligence research to regulatory compliance and operational support, we manage the details on the ground so you can focus on strategy and growth. With clear communication, structured processes, and international working standards, we make doing business in Vietnam straightforward, predictable, and compliant.