Vietnam Business News: Week in Review (25 Oct 2025)

Vietnam has quickly become one of Asia’s most dynamic economies, offering foreign investors and entrepreneurs an attractive environment for growth. With its ongoing regulatory reforms, digital transformation, and focus on compliance, doing business in Vietnam is no longer just about market entry - it’s about understanding how innovation and law interact to create sustainable opportunities.

This week’s Vietnam business update highlights key developments:

• Ho Chi Minh City Leads Vietnam’s Digital Public Services Transformation
• Administrative Simplification through Data Integration
• National Science Data System Strengthens Information Governance
• Revised Investment Law Aims to Simplify Market Entry
• Tougher Cybersecurity and Data Protection Requirements for Businesses

United Consulting provides regular business updates to highlight the most important shifts affecting entrepreneurs, SMEs, and foreign investors. Whether you’re already doing business in Vietnam or exploring new Business & Investment opportunities, staying ahead of these changes will help you navigate compliance and seize growth potential. Follow us on LinkedIn or Facebook to always stay up to date! 

HCM City Leads Vietnam’s Digital Public Services Transformation

Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) is setting the pace for Vietnam’s e-government and compliance modernization.

Key updates:

• 2,251 administrative procedures now available; 1,996 (89.1%) online, with 1,778 fully digital — already surpassing the 2025 goal.
• 284 procedures cut or simplified, reducing processing time and costs by at least 30%.
• 38 local administrative teams established; 32 have smart kiosks, and 5 use AI-powered support robots.
• Performance rates: 93.47% on-time resolution and 91.79% citizen satisfaction.
• Full digitization of eligible procedures expected by November 1, 2025.

Why it matters: Faster licensing, lower compliance costs, and reduced bureaucracy for companies doing business in Vietnam, particularly in HCMC.

Administrative Simplification through Data Integration

To make governance more efficient, the Prime Minister has issued Directive 201/CĐ-TTg, focusing on data-driven administrative simplification.

Directive details:

• Government agencies must stop requesting documents already available in national databases.
• Review covers 734 procedures under Project 06 and 668 locally issued ones.
• Localities must update their regulations by November 15, 2025, or their next Council session.
• The Ministry of Justice will identify legal clauses for amendment and coordinate a new Government Resolution to enforce data-based reforms.

Impact:

Businesses will face less paperwork, fewer repetitive submissions, and faster administrative processing - improving overall ease of doing business in Vietnam.

National Science Data System Strengthens Information Governance

Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology has issued Circular 22/2025/TT-BKHCN, regulating data under the National Information System on Science, Technology, and Innovation (NISSTI).

Highlights:

• NISSTI consolidates R&D, innovation, IP, and atomic energy data into one platform.
• Data integrated via API or user input; all stored at the National Data Center.
• Focus on real-time data sharing and consistency across ministries.
• Must comply with laws on science, technology, personal data protection, and IP rights.

Impact for businesses: Tech and innovation-driven companies gain easier access to standardized national data - improving research quality and regulatory compliance in Vietnam.

Revised Investment Law Aims to Simplify Market Entry

The upcoming Investment Law revision is designed to reduce administrative hurdles and create a more open investment environment.

Proposed reforms:

• Limit projects needing investment policy approval to those with major infrastructure, environmental, or security impacts.
• Remove or reform 21 conditional business sectors, including rice export and frozen food re-export.
• Transfer investment policy approval from the National Assembly to the Prime Minister.
• Shift from pre-inspection to post-inspection to speed up project implementation.
• VCCI recommends replacing “acceptance” procedures with simpler “registration” systems.

Principles guiding the reform:

• Eliminate bottlenecks.
• Enhance decentralization.
• Ensure consistency across related laws.

Why it’s important:

These revisions will make doing business in Vietnam faster and less bureaucratic - particularly for foreign-invested and large infrastructure projects.

Tougher Cybersecurity and Data Protection Requirements

Vietnam is tightening enforcement of cybersecurity and personal data protection laws, signaling a new era of mandatory compliance.

Key regulatory changes:

• IT projects must allocate at least 15% of total budget to cybersecurity.
• Adoption of TCVN 14423:2025, a new risk-based standard aligned with ISO 27001.
• Under the Personal Data Protection Law (effective Jan 1, 2026):
  • Data divided into basic and sensitive categories, each requiring tailored safeguards.
  • 72-hour breach reporting rule remains.
  • Response time for data requests extended to 10 working days.
  • Companies must prove explicit consent through documents or voice records.

Business takeaway:

Non-compliance can lead to heavy penalties or suspension. Strengthen internal cybersecurity frameworks now to stay compliant with Vietnam business regulations.

Conclusion: Compliance Is Power in Vietnam’s Digital Future

Vietnam’s current regulatory direction is clear:

• Digital public services to reduce bureaucracy.
• Simplified investment laws to attract more capital.
• Strict cybersecurity standards to protect businesses and citizens.

For foreign investors and SMEs, understanding and adapting to these changes is key to staying competitive and compliant in the evolving Vietnam business landscape.

As Vietnam compliance requirements become more data-driven and transparent, those who stay ahead will benefit most from the country’s rapid modernization and expanding market opportunities.

Need help navigating Vietnam’s new business and compliance landscape?

United Consulting can help you interpret regulations, implement compliant frameworks, and seize new investment opportunities in Vietnam.

📞 Contact United Consulting today for expert guidance on doing business in Vietnam.