Conditional Business Lines: Vietnam’s Official List

Navigating Vietnam’s dynamic regulatory environment is essential for a successful company formation and ongoing operational compliance. Conditional business lines: Vietnam’s official list specifies the sectors in which an enterprise is permitted to operate only upon meeting strict legal conditions, such as obtaining licenses, practicing certificates, or meeting legal capital requirements. From July 1, 2026, Vietnam will retain only 142 conditional business lines in accordance with Resolution 66.17/2026/NQ-CP. In this article, Viet An Law will systematically detail the latest regulations and key legal considerations on this issue for those seeking corporate legal consulting.

Summary of regulations on conditional business lines in 2026

List of conditional business lines through various amendments and supplements

The list of conditional business lines is stipulated in Appendix IV of the Law on Investment 2020, and through the amendments in 2022 and 2024, it was adjusted from 227 business lines to 236 conditional business lines.

Amended Law on Investment dated December 11, 2025 (effective from March 1, 2026)

On the morning of December 11, 2025, the National Assembly passed the amended Law on Investment. Accordingly, the Law officially reviews and cuts 38 conditional business investment lines and adjusts the scope of 20 business lines, conforming to the spirit of Resolution 68-NQ/TW on improving the business environment.

From July 1, 2026, to the end of February 28, 2027, there are only 142 conditional business investment lines

The Government issued Resolution No. 66.17/2026/NQ-CP on cutting and amending conditional business investment lines. Accordingly, from July 1, 2026, the number of conditional business investment lines will decrease from 198 (from March 1, 2026) down to 142 (applicable from July 1, 2026), marking a reduction of 56 business lines.

From July 1, 2026, there are only 142 conditional business lines

List of conditional business lines from July 1, 2026, to the end of February 28, 2027

The conditional business lines effective from July 1, 2026, promulgated together with Resolution No. 66.17/2026/NQ-CP dated May 15, 2026 of the Government, include:

List of conditional business lines cut in 2026

In 2026, 38 conditional business lines were cut from March 1, 2026, and an additional 56 business lines were cut from July 1, 2026. The abolished business line groups belong to the following sector groups:

List of 38 business lines abolished from March 1, 2026

• Finance, accounting, and commerce
  • Business of performing tax procedures: The state shifts to a post-inspection mechanism.
  • Customs procedure service business: Low risk thanks to the electronic customs process.
  • Insurance auxiliary services: Merely supportive nature (not insurance business).
  • Commercial examination service business: Examination responsibility is tied directly to liability for damages; civil and commercial laws sufficiently regulate.
  • Temporary import and re-export of goods subject to special consumption tax: Already controlled by customs and tax.
  • Temporary import and re-export of frozen food: Food safety is managed by quality standards and quarantine.
  • Temporary import and re-export of used goods: Controlled by technical regulations and specialized inspection.
  • Energy auditing: Fully controlled by specialized laws.
  • Money printing and minting operations: Belongs to State monopoly.
  • Archival service business: Currently has a comprehensive legal framework for data security and archiving.
• Culture, society, and health
  • Employment service business: Shift to management by operating standards, contractual responsibility, and post-inspection.
  • Services business of managing and operating cremation facilities: Managed by specialized standards.
  • Cosmetic surgery service business: The Law on Medical Examination and Treatment manages according to facility licensing conditions and practicing certificates.
  • Services for art performances, fashion shows, and organizing beauty and model contests: Only managed by specific events.
• Construction and transportation
  • Automobile warranty and maintenance service business: The market self-regulates through competition and quality assessment.
  • Repair service business for inland waterway vehicles and seagoing ships: Controlled by vehicle registration and technical standards.
  • Maritime safety assurance service business: Separated into specific safety standards and technical requirements.
  • Seagoing ship towing service business: Regulated by safety standards and shipowner responsibilities.
  • Flight operation assurance service business: Falls under the management authority of the aviation agency according to specialized laws.
  • Multimodal transport service business: The management mechanism by transport type is already sufficient.
  • Architectural service business: Only requires an individual practicing certificate according to specialized laws.
  • Construction activities of foreign contractors: Shift to management by capacity certificates, bidding dossiers, and contracts.
  • Practice of construction investment cost management services: Conditions applied to practicing individuals.
  • Condominium management and operation service business: Shift to capacity standard registration mechanism.
• Agriculture – forestry and fisheries
  • Breeding, planting, exporting, importing, and trading wild flora and fauna under CITES Appendices and the List of endangered, precious, and rare forest plants, forest animals, and aquatic species: Operations are subject to management by CITES permits and traceability according to conservation law.
  • Breeding ordinary forest animals: Directed towards management by farm registration and pet origin.
  • Animal and animal product quarantine isolation service business: Already possesses technical standards, quarantine, and veterinary supervision.
• Technology and land
  • Data center service business: Encourages investment in digital infrastructure; cybersecurity is managed under the Cybersecurity Law.
  • Services business of inspecting, calibrating, and testing measuring instruments and measurement standards: Operations depend on technical standards and testing laboratory capacity.
  • Services business for building land information system infrastructure: Managed by bidding, technical standards, and information security.
  • Land database construction service business: Shift to technical, security, and capacity standards in bidding.

56 business lines cut from July 1, 2026, compared to the list dated March 1, 2026

One of the notable business lines in the reduction list this time includes:

• Finance, accounting, and commerce sector:
  • Paintball gun business
  • Business of signal-emitting equipment of prioritized vehicles
  • Property auction practice
  • Bailiff practice
  • Accounting services business
  • Duty-free shop business
  • Reinsurance business, Insurance brokerage, Insurance agency
  • Gas business
  • Alcohol business
  • Waterway transport, sea transport, and pipeline transport business
  • Unmanned aircraft business (however, import, export, research, manufacturing, production, and repair are still restricted)
• Culture, education, and society sector:
  • Publication distribution service business
  • Occupational safety and hygiene training service business
  • Operations of specialized schools, Joint training operations with foreign countries, Educational quality accreditation
• Construction and transportation sector: Construction execution service business (excluding preservation, repair, and restoration projects of relics), construction testing services
• Information technology sector:
  • Domain name registration and maintenance service business
  • Information content service business on mobile telecommunications networks and the Internet
  • Cyber information security products and services business
• Land sector: Land valuation service business, consulting on land investigation and evaluation, formulation of land use planning and plans
• Agriculture – forestry and fisheries sector: Plant protection service business, Veterinary technical service business, Trading in chemicals and insecticidal and germicidal preparations used in the medical household sector

Additionally, the new list also supplements and amends several conditional business lines, such as:

• Adding support services for transactions on the domestic carbon trading floor to the securities registration and depository service group in accordance with Decree 29/2026/ND-CP.
• Adding mobile money provision services to the intermediary payment service group.
• Removing electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco from conditional tobacco business operations, bringing them into the list of PROHIBITED business operations.
• Removing jewelry and fine art gold from the conditional gold business list.

Enterprises need to note when registering conditional business lines

• Not just any registration means immediate operation
• Many lines must apply for sub-licenses
• Some lines require a practicing certificate
• Some lines require legal capital
• Conducting business with incorrect conditions can lead to suspension.

Frequently asked questions about conditional business lines

Can an enterprise do business in lines not yet on the list?

Based on the principle of business freedom, enterprises are entitled to operate in all business lines that the law does not prohibit. If that sector is not on the list of conditional business lines, the enterprise absolutely does not need to apply for any additional supplementary licenses.

How is doing business without sufficient legal conditions handled?

The act of deploying business operations when a business license has not been granted or failing to maintain sufficient conditions prescribed by law will be administratively sanctioned. The fine level depends on each specific management sector, accompanied by remedial measures such as deprivation of the right to use the license or time-limited suspension of operations.

Where to look up conditional business lines?

This list is stipulated in detail in Appendix IV promulgated together with the Law on Investment 2025 and Resolution 66.17/2026/NQ-CP. Furthermore, investors can proceed to look up information quickly and accurately through the National Business Registration Portal.

Do all business lines require a license?

No. According to the principle of business freedom, enterprises are entitled to do business in all lines that the law does not prohibit. Only those business lines belonging to the list of conditional business lines must meet the license, certificate, or legal conditions as prescribed.

How many conditional business lines are there in 2026?

From July 1, 2026, Vietnam only retains 142 conditional business lines according to Resolution 66.17/2026/NQ-CP. Compared to before, the list has been strongly cut in order to simplify business investment procedures.

How is one penalized for doing business when conditions are not fully met?

Enterprises doing business without sufficient legal conditions can be administratively sanctioned, have operations suspended, have licenses revoked, or be forced to cease business depending on each sector and the severity of the violation.

Is it allowed to register first and then apply for a license later?

Yes. Enterprises are allowed to register business lines in advance at the business registration authority. However, they are only permitted to actually operate after having fully met the conditions and being granted a business registration license according to the provisions of law.

Corporate legal consulting services at Viet An Law

• Evaluate feasibility and provide in-depth advice on the legal condition system for each specific business line of the client;
• Represent the enterprise to draft legal dossiers, provide professional explanations, and work directly with competent state agencies to apply for license issuance;
• Support comprehensive company formation procedures, applying for business licenses;
• Optimize appraisal time, save administrative costs, ensure the enterprise strictly complies with the provisions of law, and minimize arising risks.

Grasping the changes to conditional business lines: Vietnam’s official list is the most critical legal stepping stone for an enterprise to deploy lawful and sustainable projects. If clients have any related questions or need advice on business licenses, please contact Viet An Law for the best consultation and support!