THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM Independence – Freedom – Happiness

  THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
OF THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
Legislature X, 7th Session

LAW ON FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN VIETNAM¹

In order to expand economic co-operation with foreign countries, to serve the work of industrialization [and]² modernization, [and] to develop the national economy on the basis of efficient exploitation and use of the country’s resources;
Based on the 1992 Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam;
This Law sets forth provisions on foreign direct investment in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

CHAPTER I	GENERAL PROVISIONS
	• Article 1 • Article 2 • Article 3
.	.
CHAPTER II	FORMS OF INVESTMENT
	• Article 4 • Article 5 • Article 6 • Article 7 • Article 8 • Article 9 • Article 10 • Article 11 • Article 12 • Article 13 • Article 14 • Article 15 • Article 16 • Article 17 • Article 18 • Article 19 • Article 19a
.	.
CHAPTER III	INVESTMENT GUARANTEE MEASURES
	• Article 20 • Article 21 • Article 21a • Article 22 • Article 23 • Article 24
.	.
CHAPTER IV	RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF FOREIGN INVESTORS AND ENTERPRISES WITH FOREIGN CAPITAL INVESTMENT
	• Article 25 • Article 26 • Article 27 • Article 28 • Article 29 • Article 30 • Article 31 • Article 32 • Article 33 • Article 34 • Article 35 • Article 36 • Article 37 • Article 38 • Article 39 • Article 40 • Article 41 • Article 42 • Article 43 • Article 44 • Article 45 • Article 46 • Article 47 • Article 48 • Article 49 • Article 50 • Article 51 • Article 52 • Article 53
.	.
CHAPTER V	STATE MANAGEMENT OVER FOREIGN INVESTMENT
	• Article 54 • Article 55 • Article 56 • Article 57 • Article 58 • Article 59 • Article 60 • Article 61 • Article 62 • Article 63 • Article 64
CHAPTER VI	IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS
	• Article 65 • Article 66 • Article 67 • Article 68

NOTES:

1. Background: The Law on Foreign Investment in Vietnam was originally adopted on December 29, 1987 by the National Assembly, Legislature VIII, during its 2nd Session (the "1987 FIL"). The 1987 FIL was revised twice on June 30, 1990 and December 23, 1992 respectively. On November 12, 1996 the National Assembly of Vietnam repealed the 1987 FIL in its entirety and adopted its replacement anew ("the 1996 FIL"). The 1996 FIL was amended on June 9, 2000 by the National Assembly under Law No. 18/2000/QH10 ("the 2000 Amendments"). The title of the Law remains unchanged. In this translation, the 2000 Amendments are incorporated into the main body of the 1996 LIF for purposes of convenience.

2. Added words and footnotes: Because Vietnamese and English have very different grammatical structures and because each language possesses its own unique legal and cultural tradition, it is impossible in some instances to have a "perfect" word for word English translation of a Vietnamese legal document. With this in mind, we have taken the liberty of adding words and phrases in this translation where appropriate as to (i) facilitate readability and understanding, and (ii) conform with the English language convention in a manner consistent with the meaning of the original Vietnamese text. Added words are placed in square brackets for easy identification. Furthermore, footnotes and annotations are also added so as to (i) render commentaries on the choice of words and legal terminology in this translation, and give cross-references to related or equivalent legal concepts and terms adopted by common law, and (ii) make notes on legal issues and ambiguous expressions found in the original Vietnamese text of this Law during the course of translation.

Punctuation: In the original Vietnamese text of this Law, the drafters often use commas and semicolons instead of writing clearly the words "or", "and" or "and/or". In Vietnamese, the comma and semicolon may be conjunctive or disjunctive. Therefore, the meaning of certain provisions in the original text of this document appears ambiguous. Throughout this translation, commas and semicolons are translated as "and", "or" or "and/or" according to the context. Words added in place of commas and semicolons are placed in square brackets for easy identification.