2025 Setup Costs: Foreign Companies in HCMC

13 March, 2026 4 Views

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Establishing a foreign-invested company in HCMC is the first step for international investors to access the Vietnamese market—a dynamic market with significant growth potential. However, beyond the opportunities, investors must consider implementation costs, potential legal risks, and the selection of an appropriate advisory unit to ensure efficiency and regulatory compliance.

Costs for Establishing a Foreign-Invested Company in HCMC (2025)

Investment costs extend beyond state fees to include expenses for legal consultancy, translation, document notarization/legalization, and initial operational costs. Miscalculating these expenses can lead to project delays or financial burdens during the early stages.

Specifically:

- State Fees: Includes fees for the issuance of the Investment Registration Certificate (IRC), the Enterprise Registration Certificate (ERC), and the announcement of business registration contents. The total ranges from 500,000 to 1,000,000 VND, depending on the filing method.
- Translation, Notarization, and Consular Legalization: Applicable to dossiers and documents of foreign investors (especially organizations). Costs range from 2 to 10 million VND, depending on the volume, language, and country of origin.
- Comprehensive Legal Consultancy Fees: Includes reviewing business lines, capital contribution structures, drafting investment dossiers, liaising with licensing authorities, and supporting post-licensing procedures (opening investment accounts, etc.). Market rates typically range from 20 to 50 million VND, depending on the complexity and scope of work.
- Office Rental Costs: HCMC strictly controls the conditions for registered headquarters, especially for FDI companies. The average price for an office eligible for business registration ranges from 3 to 8 million VND/month, with higher rates in central districts.
- Other Incidental Costs: Including seal carving, digital signature registration, bank account opening, initial tax declarations, and labor registration, which may add another 1 to 3 million VND.
  Note: The above costs are estimates; actual figures will vary based on specific cases

Legal Risks in the Investment Process

Based on practical experience, many foreign investors—particularly individuals or those new to Vietnam—often encounter the following common mistakes:
- Failure to Properly Assess Business Lines: While Vietnam has committed to opening its market, certain industries still impose conditions such as capital contribution ratios (equity caps), professional experience requirements, Vietnamese partner requirements, or scope of operation restrictions. Failure to evaluate WTO commitments, CPTPP, EVFTA, and specialized local laws may lead to application rejection or prolonged appraisal.
- Using “Nominee” Vietnamese Entities: Using a Vietnamese citizen to hold a name on behalf of a foreign investor is a violation of the law. In the event of a dispute or inspection, the foreign investor’s legal status will not be recognized, while the nominee may face full civil and even criminal liability.
- Incorrect Capital Contribution Methods: Contributing capital in foreign currency via personal accounts or failing to contribute the full charter capital within the 90-day deadline results in legal consequences such as administrative fines, non-recognition of charter capital, and difficulties in management or repatriating profits.
- Subjectivity in Explaining Investment Conditions: Even if a Ministry has approved a project in principle, local authorities may still require detailed explanations regarding urban planning, capacity, personnel, and operational models. This is a common bottleneck causing licensing delays.
- Choosing the Wrong Corporate Form or Capital Structure: Lack of proper advice can lead to an sub-optimal corporate structure, resulting in limited voting rights, profit distribution issues, or difficulties in future capital transfers

Solutions from Professional Investment Consultants – The Role of BKC Law

Having an attorney specializing in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from the outset helps investors save time and costs while optimizing business plans within the legal framework. As a specialized foreign investment consultancy, BKC Law provides comprehensive legal services:

Strategic Market Entry Advice: Aligning with Vietnam’s opening policies, specifically within the context of CPTPP and EVFTA.
Condition Analysis: Evaluating investment conditions based on business lines, international treaties, and domestic laws.
Dossier Management: Drafting, submitting, and working with the Department of Finance and relevant specialized Ministries.
Post-Licensing Support: Consular legalization, investment account opening assistance, capital transfer guidance, initial tax filing, seal carving, and applying for sub-licenses (if required).
Post-Investment Partnership: Support for capital transfers, capital increases, license amendments, dissolution, and internal corporate dispute resolution.

Our Commitment:

No hidden costs beyond the contract.
Full support in explaining and protecting the investor’s interests throughout the business lifecycle.
Absolute confidentiality of investment information.

In conclusion, opening a foreign-invested company in HCMC is not merely an administrative procedure but a strategic investment planning process. Choosing the right consultant from the start is the difference between a successful investment plan and a project plagued by long-term risks.

Contact Us

To receive the fastest support regarding legal procedures for foreign investment, please contact us:

Phone: 0901 3333 41
Email: info@bkclaw.vn
District 1 Office: 9th Floor, Diamond Plaza Building, 34 Le Duan, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
Binh Tan Office: 41 Ten Lua, Binh Tan District, Ho Chi Minh City.