Adding Tourism Business Lines in Vietnam companies

With Vietnam’s tourism industry experiencing strong growth and being identified as a key economic sector, expanding into tourism services is becoming an attractive strategy for many businesses. However, to officially enter this promising market, companies need to add tourism business lines to their Business Registration Certificate. This article will provide detailed guidance on the process, necessary documents, and important considerations to help businesses make this change quickly and legally.

Reasons for adding tourism business lines

Reasons for adding tourism business lines

• Compliance with business law requires the formal registration of new business lines (such as travel agencies, tourism agencies) before operation; otherwise, it will be considered an unregistered activity and subject to administrative penalties.
• Legalization of travel agency, tourism agency, and accommodation business activities.
• Expansion of business strategies and seizing market opportunities, exploiting tourism potential.
• For travel businesses (international or domestic), adding business lines is the first and mandatory step for businesses to proceed with subsequent procedures such as depositing a security fund and applying for a travel service business license from the regulatory authority.

Procedures for adding tourism business lines

Procedures for adding tourism business lines

Step 1: Prepare the documents to submit to the business registration agency under the Department of Finance

The documents for adding tourism business lines include:

• Notification of changes to business registration details
• Minutes of the General Meeting of Shareholders/Minutes of the Board of Members Meeting
• Decision of the General Meeting of Shareholders/Decision of the Board of Members/Decision of the owner of a single-member limited liability company.
• Power of attorney for an individual to submit the documents, Service contract with the authorized organization to submit the documents (If the legal representative directly submits the documents, no power of attorney is required)
• Notarized copy of the personal identification documents of the person submitting the documents

List of business lines belonging to the tourism industry group

Note: Due to the requirements for obtaining an international travel business license, a deposit of VND 500 million is required for outbound and VND 250 million for inbound services. Therefore, if a business has registered capital below the deposit amount, it must increase its registered capital and add new business lines.

Businesses should register for transportation and accommodation business codes, which are closely related to tourism business.

Step 2: Submitting the application and receiving the results

The business founder or authorized representative registers the business with the Business Registration Authority using the following methods:

• Registering the business directly at the Business Registration Authority;
• Registering the business via postal service;
• Registering the business via electronic information network.

Within 3 working days from the date of receiving the application, the Business Registration Authority is responsible for reviewing the validity of the business registration application and granting the business registration; if the application is invalid, the Business Registration Authority must notify the business founder in writing of the necessary amendments and additions. In case of refusal to register the business, the Business Registration Authority must notify the business founder in writing and clearly state the reasons.

Step 3: Announcing business registration information

The business prepares a dossier including a request for announcement of business registration information, a power of attorney authorizing an individual to submit the dossier, and a notarized copy of the applicant’s identity card, and submits them directly to the Department of Planning and Investment after receiving the results.

Step 4: Applying for a Travel Business License and a Transportation License

For a travel business license

• Procedure for granting a domestic travel business license
• The business applying for a domestic travel service business license submits one set of documents to the provincial-level tourism authority where the business is headquartered;
• Within 10 days from the date of receiving a valid dossier, the provincial-level tourism authority will appraise and issue the domestic travel service business license to the business; in case of refusal, a written notification stating the reasons must be provided.
• The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall prescribe the mẫu (template) for the domestic travel service business license.
• Procedure for granting International travel business licenses
• Enterprises applying for an International Travel Service Business License shall submit one set of documents to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism;
• Within 10 days from the date of receiving a valid application, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism shall appraise and grant the International Travel Service Business License to the enterprise and notify the provincial tourism authority where the enterprise is headquartered; in case of refusal, a written notification stating the reasons must be provided.
• The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall prescribe the mẫu (template) for the International Travel Service Business License.

For a transportation licenses

• Businesses applying for transportation licenses submit their applications to the Department of Construction where the transportation business unit has its head office or branch office.
• The unit submits the application to the Department of Construction in person, via the online public service system, or by post.
• The processing time for issuing a transportation business license is 5 working days from the date of receipt of a complete application. In case amendments or additions to the application are required, the licensing authority will notify the unit within 3 days from the date of submission of a complete application.

The above is the advice from Viet An Law Firm regarding adding tourism business lines in Vietnam companies. For further assistance, please contact us for prompt support.