Investment Capital Account of Foreign Investors in Vietnam

According to Vietnam laws, any transaction relating to direct or indirect investment operation of foreigner must be implemented by an investment capital account opened in a licensed bank which is commercial bank or branch of foreign bank permitted to trade and supply foreign exchange service according to legal provisions. It is imperative that, the foreign exchange control in Vietnam is strictly regulated, it is suggested the investors whom invest in Vietnam to consult with banking lawyers in Vietnam to receive legal advice on transaction in the activities of investment through direct investment or M&A transactions.

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In particular, the regulations on investment capital account of foreign investor are set forth in Circular No. 05/2014/TT-NHNN dated on March 12^th, 2014 of the State Bank of Vietnam guiding the opening and use of indirectly- invested capital accounts for implementation of foreign indirect investment activities in Vietnam and Circular No. 19/2014/TT-NHNN dated on August 11^th, 2014 of the State Bank of Vietnam guiding the foreign exchange management for the foreign direct investment in Vietnam.

What is Foreign Direct Investment?

Foreign direct investment in Vietnam means the transfer of capital for investment and participation in the management of investment activities in Vietnam by foreign investors.

The subject matters governed by Circular No. 19/2014/TT-NHNN include residents which are enterprises receiving the direct foreign investment; non-residents involved in the business cooperation agreement in Vietnam; non-residents who are foreign investors of FDI enterprises; organizations, individuals regarding the foreign direct investment in Vietnam.

The invested capital contribution of foreign and Vietnamese investors into an FDI enterprise must be performed in the form of money transfer into the direct investment accounts. In order to perform the foreign direct investment activities in Vietnam, FDI enterprise and foreigner participating in business cooperation contract are entitled to open their foreign currency and Vietnamese dong account of direct investment at a licensed bank.

What is Foreign Indirect Investment?

Foreign indirect investment in Vietnam means the investment into Vietnam by foreign investors through purchase and sale of securities, other valuable papers, contribution of capital and purchase of shares, and through securities investment funds, other intermediary financial institutions in accordance with the law of Vietnam but without direct participation in management of investment activities.

The subject matters governed by Circular 05/2014/TT-NHNN include foreign investors who are nonresidents conducting indirect investment activities in Vietnam; and organizations and individuals who are related to indirect investment activities in Vietnam. It means that this Circular does not govern foreign investors being residents who are foreign organizations and individuals. These subject mattes conduct indirect investment activities in Vietnam according to prevailing legal provisions on securities and other relevant normative legal documents.

All indirect investment activities of foreign investors in Vietnam must be conducted in Vietnam Dong. Transactions relating to foreign indirect investment activities must be conducted through an indirectly-invested capital account opened at a licensed bank.

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Banking and Finance in Vietnam

Banking and finance sector always attract investors as the growth of financial services in a growing economy. Our banking and finance lawyers in Vietnam constantly monitor the changes of the Vietnam regulations to update our client and provide them with best service.

Banking system in Vietnam has been organized according to the traditional model in which State Bank manages all commercial banks and other credit organizations. According to the Vietnam Law on Credit Institutions, there are six organizational forms of credit institutions: domestic commercial bank established and organized as joint stock company, state commercial bank formed as one-member limited liability company, domestic non-bank credit institution as joint stock or limited liability company, joint venture or wholly foreign-owned credit institution as limited liability company, cooperative bank and people’s credit funds as cooperatives, microfinance institution as limited liability company.

Banking and finance sector is a highly regulated area.  Vietnam laws require commercial bank on legal capital of VND 3,000 billion at the setting-up.  Further, commercial banks’ operation must comply with decisions of State Bank and other authorities. Each type of credit institution has different conditions on organization, management, operation. Commercial bank, the type allowed to operate in largest scope is permitted to take demand deposits, time deposits, savings deposits; issue deposit certificates, promissory note, treasure bills, bonds to raise capital at home and abroad; open payment accounts for clients, provide payment instruments, domestic and international payment services; extend credit while the others just conduct some of the above activities.

For foreign investor, to engage in banking and finance in Vietnam, they could commercially present in Vietnam in the forms of representative office, joint-venture bank, wholly foreign-owned bank, foreign bank branch, joint-venture finance company, wholly foreign-owned finance company, joint-venture financial leasing company and wholly foreign-owned financial leasing company base on the Law on credit institutions, Circular no.07/2013/TT-NHNN, Circular no. 20/2008/TT-BTC, and Circular no. 18/2018/TT-BTC.

Professionals at ANT Lawyers work on many a variety of banking and financial services cases. Our attorney’s industry knowledge and expertise allow us to effectively support the banking and financial services sector.  ANT Lawyers provide relevant industry-focused advice, delivered quickly to ensure that we add value from day one. ANT Lawyers, your lawyers in Vietnam.

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What are Application Dossiers to Apply for Bank Guarantee?

According to Vietnam Law on Credit Institution, and Circular 07/2015/TT-NHNN on bank guarantee, bank guarantee refers to a type of credit whereby the guarantor undertakes to act on behalf of the obligor to fulfill their financial obligations to the obligee in the event the obligor fails to fulfill or insufficiently fulfill their agreed-upon obligations to the obligee; the obligor must take on their debt obligations and repay the guarantor.

Bank Guarantee in Vietnam

Guarantee commitment is the written document issued by the guarantor or the counter-guarantee issuing party or the guarantee-confirmation issuing party.

According to Vietnam Law on Credit Institution, and Circular 07/2015/TT-NHNN, the application dossiers for bank guarantee are:

a) Written request for guarantee;

b) Materials related to customers;

c) Materials on guaranteed obligations;

d) Materials on security (if any);

dd) Materials related to other parties (if any).

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What Must Be Included in the Bank Guarantee Letter?

The guarantee commitment must include the following contents:

a) Applicable regulations;

b) Serial numbers and guarantee commitment form;

c) Information about parties in the guarantee relationship;

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d) Date of guarantee issuance, guarantee validity commencement and/or cases in which the guarantee validity begins;

dd) Date of validity termination and/or cases in which the guarantee validity is terminated;

e) Guarantee sum and currency;

g) Guarantee obligations;

h) Conditions for fulfillment of guarantee obligations;

i) Application for fulfillment of guarantee obligations;

k) How to check the authenticity of the guarantee commitment.

In Vietnam, there are banks whom only issue one original bank guarantee letter however the number of originals are not regulated in Vietnam laws.  It is also important to ensure the person whom sign the bank guarantee letter is legal representative or the authorized person whom is legally authorized to sign the bank guarantee letter.

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What is Bank Guarantee Letter?

According to Vietnam Law on Credit Institution, and Circular 07/2015/TT-NHNN on bank guarantee, bank guarantee refers to a type of credit whereby the guarantor undertakes to act on behalf of the obligor to fulfill their financial obligations to the obligee in the event the obligor fails to fulfill or insufficiently fulfill their agreed-upon obligations to the obligee; the obligor must take on their debt obligations and repay the guarantor.

Bank Guarantee in Vietnam

Guarantee commitment is the written document issued by the guarantor or the counter-guarantee issuing party or the guarantee-confirmation issuing party.

Letter of guarantee refers to the written commitment between the guarantor and the obligee to the guarantor’s fulfilling the financial obligation on behalf of the obligor in the event the obligor fails to fulfill or insufficiently fulfill agreed-upon obligations to the obligee.

To avoid confusion of bank, it is common to issue non conditional and irrevocable bank guarantee.  Having said that, the bank will release payment upon the first request from the obligee without the obligations to verify any contract non-performance.

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