Vietnam

Please click here for introduction in Vietnamese.

 

In recent years, Vietnam has been gaining more attention from Japanese investors as one of the most promising investment destinations. In 2011, we formed an alliance with A-PAC INTERNATIONAL LAW FIRM (APAC), a law firm with experience in negotiating with government authorities in Vietnam. Through this alliance, we have been providing Japanese legal services to clients by continuously seconding Japanese attorneys to APAC in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

 

In July 2024, we established Atsumi & Sakai Vietnam Law Firm, a local office in Ho Chi Minh City. Based on the trust and track record we have built up over the years in Vietnam, we provide efficient and precise legal services in accordance with local legal practices, regulations and operations. Currently, Japanese attorneys Katsunori Irie and Taisuke Oikawa are stationed in our Ho Chi Minh City office.

 

Wataru Kamihigashi in our Tokyo office has experience working at APAC and works with other attorneys in our Vietnam practice in our Tokyo and affiliate offices who have knowledge and experience in areas of interest to Japanese companies doing business in Vietnam, and together with our Ho Chi Minh City office, we are able to assist with the various local needs of Japanese companies.

 

By providing attentive and tailored support locally in Vietnam, and closely working with attorneys from our various offices, we provide high-quality legal services in a wide variety of areas, including support for business expansion, M&A and corporate reorganization, negotiations with government authorities, corporate legal affairs, labor disputes, dispute resolution, withdrawal support, and legal research.

 

Sample Material Transactions

• Supported Japanese companies establishing subsidiaries in Vietnam
• Conducted legal due diligence and prepared reports for Japanese companies acquiring Vietnamese companies
• Supported restructuring and M&A for local subsidiaries of a Japanese-affiliated company
• Resolution of labor disputes and employee termination
• Pursued arbitration at the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre to recover the transfer price of shares in a Vietnamese subsidiary
• Researched regulatory law on cross-border loan operations in Vietnam by Japanese financial institutions
• Reviewed master agreements in Vietnam for Japanese companies operating in Vietnam
• Advised on establishing privacy policies for Japanese companies in Vietnam
• Advised on corporate law and changes in officers for Japanese companies in Vietnam
• Advised on dissolution of joint venture between Japanese company and Vietnamese local company, reviewed contracts

 

Related Practices

Related Newsletters

• “Xu hướng sửa đổi pháp luật liên quan đến chuyển đổi xanh tại Việt Nam — Tập trung vào Luật Bảo vệ môi trường, quy định về khí thải và tín chỉ carbon” (October, 2026)
• "Trends in Amendments to Vietnam's GX-Related Legislation — Focusing on the Environmental Protection Law, Exhaust Emissions Regulations and Carbon Credits" (October, 2026)
• "Legal Considerations for AI System Implementation in Vietnam— In Light of the Enforcement of the Law on Artificial Intelligence and Its Implementing Decree" (July, 2026)
• "Key Points of the New Personal Data Protection Regime in Vietnam" (April, 2026)
• "Current Status and Prospects of Laws and Regulations for the Fintech Industry in Vietnam - In Light of the Establishment of the International Finance Center (IFC) -" (February, 2026)
• "Vietnam M&A Strategy: Legal Perspectives on Market Entry and Exit via Equity Transfer" (October, 2025)
• “Establishment and Operation of Whistleblower Systems in Vietnam” (July, 2025) 
• “Key points of the Vietnam Data Law” (April, 2025) 
• “Prospects for the Carbon Credit Market in Vietnam and its Impact on Japanese Companies” (February, 2025)
• "Doing E-commerce Business in Vietnam - From the Perspective of Personal Data and Consumer Protection Legislation -" (November, 2024)  
• "Key Changes to Foreign Investment in Real Estate Businesses and Foreign Use of Land in Vietnam" (July, 2024)  
• "Current Situation of Vietnamese Competition Law - Focusing on the Enforcement of Merger Control (Economic Concentration Regulation)" (April 18, 2024)  

• "Key Points and Risk Management for M&A Targeting Vietnamese Companies" (December 24, 2021)

 

Legal Update

• "Chứng nhận Apostille chính thức thay thế cho hợp pháp hóa lãnh sự giữa Việt Nam và Nhật Bản kể từ ngày 11/9/2026" (October 2026)
• "Official Apostille certification has officially replaced consular legalization between Vietnam and Japan from 11 September 2026" (October 2026)
• "Nghị định 320/2026/ND-CP: Các thay đổi quan trọng về chế độ xác thực và nhận dạng điện tử tại Việt Nam áp dụng đối với công dân nước ngoài" (September 2026)
• "Decree 320/2026/ND-CP: Key changes to Vietnam electronic authentication and identification regime applicable to foreign nationals" (September 2026)
• "Câu hỏi thường gặp về Nội quy lao động tại Việt Nam" (August 2026)
• "FAQs about Internal Labor Regulations in Vietnam"  (August 2026)
• "Tài khoản VNeID của doanh nghiệp – Những yếu tố quan trọng cần xem xét đối với các doanh nghiệp FDI trong quá trình chuyển đổi số của Việt Nam （June 2026）
• "Enterprise VNeID Accounts: Key Considerations for FDI Enterprises During Vietnam’s Digital Transformation （June 2026）
• "Key Highlights of the Decree Implementing the Law on Artificial Intelligence （May 2026）
• "Các điểm mới quan trọng của nghị định hướng dẫn Luật Trí tuệ nhân tạo" （May 2026）
• “Đầu tư trực tiếp nước ngoài: Tư duy mới về trình tự cấp phép” (May 2026)
• "Foreign Direct Investment: A New Approach to Licensing Procedures" (April 2026)
• "Vietnam’s Evolving Commercial Landscape: Insights from the Draft Decree on Foreign Trading Activities" (January 2026)
• "Vietnam Introduces New Business Procedure Framework" (July 2025)
• "Denial of Exit from Vietnam due to Certain Tax Debts"(March 2025)
• "New Regulations on Management of Internet Services and Cyber Information in Vietnam"(November 2024)
• "Vietnam Draft Personal Data Protection Law" (October 2024)
   

Related Professionals

Ho Chi Minh City Office

Tokyo Office

Fukuoka Affiliate Office*