Register Foreign Massage Company in Vietnam

Massage services, also known as body massage services, have become increasingly popular in recent times. The demand for such services among the public has also risen, leading to a proliferation of businesses offering these services. Foreign investors are now permitted to register foreign massage companies in Vietnam. However, both foreign investors and establishments providing these services must comply with the conditions stipulated by law. In this article, Viet An Law will present the legal provisions related to register foreign massage company in Vietnam.

What is a massage service business?

Massage services, also known as body massage services, have become increasingly popular in recent times. According to Article 3 of Decree 96/2016/ND-CP, amended and supplemented by Decree 56/2023/ND-CP, massage services include the use of physical therapy for massage and kneading for healthcare purposes.

Market access conditions for foreign investors

According to the WTO commitments schedule, massage services fall under the category of specialized medical services (CPC 9312), which includes:

• Diagnostic and therapeutic services are provided by physicians to treat a specific disease in a healthcare facility (including both inpatient and outpatient facilities).
• Other services related to healthcare (such as rehabilitation, post-discharge care, etc.).

Accordingly, foreign service providers are permitted to provide services through joint ventures with Vietnamese partners or business cooperation contracts. The minimum investment for a specialized treatment facility is 200,000 USD.

Thus, Vietnam has opened its doors to foreign investors to establish companies providing massage services.

Conditions for the massage services business

Pursuant to the Investment Law 2020, massage services are classified as a conditional business line. Therefore, when establishing a company in this field, certain conditions must be met.

According to Decree 96/2016/ND-CP, as amended by Decree 56/2023/ND-CP, massage services are a business line that must ensure security and order and must meet the following conditions:

Medical conditions

According to Article 46 of Decree 96/2023/ND-CP, in case of performing massage, there must be:

• Patient beds for acupuncture, massage, and acupressure;
• Enough tools for acupuncture, massage, and acupressure;
• Enough tools and instructions for handling complications during acupuncture.
• In case of herbal saunas: There must be a system of herbal vaporizers, a regulating valve, sauna instructions, and an alarm system in case of emergency.
• It has anaphylaxis response kits and enough specialist emergency drugs suitable for specialties within its scope of professional operations.

Conditions of security and order

According to Article 7 of Decree 96/2016/ND-CP, as amended, supplemented by Decree 56/2023/ND-CP, massage businesses must be registered, licensed, or established following Vietnamese law. The person responsible for the security and order of the establishment must not fall into any of the following categories:

• Has been prosecuted; has a criminal record for crimes against national security or other intentional crimes for which they have been sentenced to more than 3 years in prison;
• Is currently serving a suspended prison sentence; is currently serving a non-custodial reform sentence; is currently under probation, house arrest, banned from holding positions, or banned from conducting conditional business lines related to security and order;
• Is currently subject to educational measures; has a decision to apply administrative sanctions, is currently addicted to drugs;
• Is currently having the decision to place them in a compulsory education facility or a compulsory drug rehabilitation facility suspended or temporarily suspended.
• Has not been granted a residence certificate by a competent Vietnamese authority for Vietnamese citizens residing abroad and holding foreign passports and foreigners.

Fire safety conditions

Massage service establishments must meet all fire safety requirements as stipulated by fire safety laws. Business areas must comply with fire safety standards and be equipped with full fire safety equipment, including:

• Adequate fire safety regulations, no smoking signs, warning signs, diagrams, or directional signs for fire prevention and escape;
• Safe electrical systems, lightning protection, anti-static systems, electrical equipment, fire-making and heat-generating equipment, and the use of fire and heat sources;
• Transportation systems, water supply, communication systems for firefighting, a database management system for fire prevention and firefighting, and incident reporting systems.

Register foreign massage company in Vietnam

Application for Investment Registration Certificate

• Foreign investors wishing to register foreign massage company in Vietnam must go through the investment registration procedures as prescribed by the Investment Law 2020.
• The investment registration agency shall issue the investment registration certificate to the investor within 15 days from the date of receipt of a complete dossier. In case of a refusal to issue the investment registration certificate, the investment registration agency must issue a written notification stating the reasons.

Application for Enterprise Registration Certificate

• Enterprises may apply for an Enterprise Registration Certificate to the Business Registration Office of the Department of Planning and Investment, where the enterprise’s headquarters is located.
• Within 3 working days, the Business Registration Office shall issue the business license if the dossier is complete and compliant. In case the dossier is incomplete, the enterprise will receive a notification requesting amendments and supplements before resubmitting.

Application for a license to meet security and order conditions

Notes

Possible industry codes for registering a foreign massage company:

• 9610: Steam bath, massage, and similar health enhancement services (except sports activities). This group includes steam bath services, massage, sunbathing, and non-surgical aesthetics (tummy tucks, body shaping…).
• 9631: Hairdressing, hair styling, and shampooing. Excluding: wig making, which is classified under 32900 (Other manufacturing not elsewhere classified).
• 8620: Activities of general practitioners, specialists, and dentists. Details: Treatment services, nursing, rehabilitation using acupuncture, moxibustion, qigong, and herbal steam baths of traditional medicine.

When submitting the business registration application, a copy of the investment registration certificate must be attached (if having foreign investors).

Within 5 days from the commencement of business operations, a written notification must be sent to the local police station along with a copy of the certificate of compliance with security and order conditions.

Some companies provide massage services in Vietnam

Sen Spa Saigon Company Limited

Sen Spa Saigon Company Limited is located at 122 Street No. 4, quarter 3, Binh Hung Hoa A ward, Binh Tan District, Ho Chi Minh City. Located in the center of  Ho Chi Minh City via an alley entrance, Sen Spa is separated from the noisy atmosphere to open into a gentle and serene space. Arriving at Sen Spa, customers will enter a luxurious and tranquil world, interwoven between modern and classic to accentuate the image of the elegant lotus flowers.

With almost 30 therapists being professionally trained and certified following international standards, Sen Spa is proud to be a perfect wellness destination that meets the needs of the most fastidious guests from all around the world.

Spa Tran Company Limited

Spa Tran Company Limited, also known as Tran International Spa, is located at 43 Giang Vo Street, Cat Linh Ward, Dong Da district, Hanoi City.

Tran Spa is a leader in treating melasma, freckles, and skin rejuvenation using modern technology. It also provides steam baths, massages, and other similar health enhancement services.

Charmed Spa Company

Charmed Spa company was granted an Enterprise Registration Certificate by the Department of Planning and Investment on December 25, 2017, and is located at 12 Quan Tho 1 Alley, Ton Duc Thang Street, Hanoi City.

Charmed Spa is a renowned high-tech beauty center for men in Hanoi. In addition to retailing medicines, medical equipment, cosmetics, and hygiene products, the center also provides steam bath and massage services.

For any legal questions regarding register foreign massage company in Vietnam, please contact Viet An Law Firm for the best advice and support!

Update: 9/2024