Vietnam Investor Visa: Complete Guide 2026
Investing in Vietnam in 2026: Investment Certificate, DT visa up to 5 years, minimum capital, promising sectors for French investors, legal structures (100% foreign-owned, joint venture) and tax advantages. Complete guide for expat entrepreneurs.
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Investing in Vietnam: an exceptional playground
Vietnam is one of the most dynamic economies in Southeast Asia. With growth of 6-7% per year, a population of 100 million, half of whom are under 35, and a still very competitive labor cost, the country attracts investors from all over the world. And the French are not left out.
If you are considering starting a business in Vietnam, investing in real estate, opening a restaurant or launching a tech startup, this guide is for you. We will review everything: the investor visa, the Investment Certificate, the legal structures, the promising sectors, and especially the pitfalls to avoid.
The DT investor visa: what is it?
The DT visa (for "Đầu Tư", investment in Vietnamese) is specifically intended for foreigners who invest in Vietnam. It exists in several categories:
- DT1: for investors who inject at least 100 billion VND (~4 million USD) or who invest in priority sectors of the government
- DT2: for investors who inject between 50 and 100 billion VND (~2-4 million USD)
- DT3: for investors who inject between 3 and 50 billion VND (~120,000 - 2 million USD)
- DT4: for investors with capital less than 3 billion VND (~120,000 USD)
In practice, the vast majority of French entrepreneurs in Vietnam find themselves in DT3 or DT4.
Duration of the DT visa
- DT1 and DT2: up to 5 years
- DT3: up to 3 years
- DT4: up to 12 months, renewable
With a DT visa, you can also apply for a Temporary Residence Card (TRC) for a duration of up to 5 years (DT1/DT2 category).
The Investment Certificate (IRC): the mandatory sesame
What is it?
Before you can obtain a DT visa, you must first obtain an Investment Certificate (IRC, or "Giấy chứng nhận đầu tư"). This is the official document that approves your investment project in Vietnam. Without it, no investor visa, no company, nothing.
How to obtain it
The IRC application is made to the Department of Planning and Investment (DPI, "Sở Kế hoạch và Đầu tư") of the province where you intend to invest:
- Deadline: 15 to 45 working days depending on the complexity of the project and the sector
- Required documents: business plan, proof of capital, passport, proof of office address, commercial lease, etc.
Minimum capital: the question that always comes up
Contrary to what we sometimes hear, there is no universal minimum capital to invest in Vietnam. The amount depends on the sector of activity and the type of company.
In practice, here are the realities on the ground:
- Service company (consulting, IT, marketing): from ~500 million VND (~20,000 USD), but in practice the authorities prefer to see at least 1-2 billion VND
- Restaurant/cafe: 1 to 3 billion VND (~40,000-120,000 USD) minimum, because the F&B sector requires tangible investments
- Retail trade: 2 to 5 billion VND (~80,000-200,000 USD), with additional conditions
- Real estate: the amounts vary considerably depending on the project, often several million USD
- Education/training: 2 to 10 billion VND (~80,000-400,000 USD) depending on the type of establishment
Field advice: don't arrive with a 10,000 USD project hoping to open a business. The authorities are increasingly demanding on the financial credibility of projects. A capital of 50,000 USD minimum is a reasonable benchmark for most sectors.
Possible legal structures
1. 100% foreign-owned enterprise (WFE / WFOE)
This is the most popular structure among foreign investors. You hold 100% of the capital, without a mandatory Vietnamese partner.
- Advantages: total control, repatriation of profits, decision-making independence
- Disadvantages: some sectors are closed or limited for 100% foreign-owned companies (real estate, media, some services...)
- Legal form: generally a LLC (Limited Liability Company, "Công ty TNHH") with one or two members
2. Joint Venture (JV)
You partner with a Vietnamese partner. This structure is sometimes mandatory in certain sectors (distribution, media, some professional services).
- Advantages: access to restricted sectors, local expertise, partner's network
- Disadvantages: sharing of control, risk of disagreements, dependence on the partner
- Distribution: the foreign partner can hold from 1% to 99% depending on the sector
Expat advice: if you opt for a JV, maximum legal protection. Have the shareholders' agreement drafted by an international lawyer specializing in this field, not by a low-cost local firm. Disputes between partners are the number 1 nightmare of foreign investors in Vietnam.
3. Representative office
This is not an investment structure...