1. What are travel services? What is a travel agency?

According to Article 3.9 of the Law on Tourism 2017, “travel services” refer to the development, sale, and organization of part or all of a tour program for tourists. Moreover, “a travel agency” is an organization or enterprise specialized in providing travel services related to tourism activities, such as:

• Organizing tours and travel programs;
• Related services: booking air tickets, hotels, tour guides, travel insurance;
• Other services to meet clients’ needs.

2. What are the service boundaries of travel agencies?

According to Articles 30.1 and 30.2 of the Law on Tourism 2017, travel agencies may operate within two main travel services as follows:

• Domestic travel service: for domestic tourists;
• International travel service: for inbound tourists and outbound tourists.

3. Are foreigners permitted to open a travel agency in Ho Chi Minh City?

According to the WTO Schedule of Specific Commitments on Services and Article 38 of the Law on Tourism 2017, foreign investors are permitted to open travel agencies in accordance with Ho Chi Minh Cityese Law and Treaties to which Viet Nam is a signatory, in the form of a joint venture with a Vietnamese partner, without any restriction on the foreign capital contribution ratio.

Besides, according to Article 30.4 of the Law on Tourism 2017: “Foreign-invested enterprises shall only provide international tours for inbound tourists, unless otherwise prescribed by the Treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Ho Chi Minh City is a signatory”.

Thus, foreign investors or foreign invested enterprises:

• Being permitted to establish a travel agency in Ho Chi Minh City;
• Form of establishment: Joint venture with Vietnamese partners;
• Ownership ratio: Less than 100%;
• Scope of business: International travel services.

4. What are the conditions for foreign investors to provide travel services?

As mentioned above, foreign investors are only permitted to provide international tour services. Accordingly, the conditions for provision of international tour services are as follows:

• The enterprise is established in accordance with the provisions of the law on enterprises;
• The enterprise has made a deposit to the bank for providing international travel services:

• The person in charge of travel services must have graduated from a college or higher in a major related to travel and tourism, such as: tourism service and travel management; travel management; tour operation; tourism marketing; tourism; travel tourism, etc.
• If he/she has graduated from a college or higher in another major, an international tour operation certificate is required.

For further clarification on these conditions, please contact Phong & Partners for detailed support and advice.

5. What licenses are required to open a travel agency in Ho Chi Minh City?

To establish a travel agency in Ho Chi Minh City, foreign investors must prepare the following licenses:

• Investment Registration Certificate (IRC);
• Enterprise Registration Certificate (ERC);
• Certificate of deposit payment for travel services .
• International Tour Operation License;

6. Dossier and procedures for establishing a travel agency in Ho Chi Minh City

To establish a travel agency in Ho Chi Minh City, foreign investors are required to carry out the following procedures:

6.1. Procedures for issuing Investment Registration Certificate (IRC):

a. Authority: Finance Department

b. Dossier:

• A written request for project implementation, including a commitment to bear all expenses and risks if the project is not approved;
• Documents proving the investor’s legal status;
• Documents proving the investor’s financial capacity;
• Investment project proposal. If the Law on Construction requires a pre-feasibility study report, the investor may submit such report instead of the project proposal.
• Proposal on land use demand. If the investment project does not request the State to allocate land, lease land, or land-use purpose conversion, the investor must be submitted a copy of land-use right documents or other proof of lawful use of the site.
• An explanatory report on technology to be applied in the investment project, in cases where the project is subject to technology appraisal or consultation under the Law on technology transfer.
• Other documents related to the investment project, conditions and capacity requirements of the investor as prescribed by law (if any).

3. Trình tự thủ tục:

c. Procedures:

Step 1: Submitting an application dossier

The investor submits (01) set of the application for the IRC to the Department of Receiving/Returning Results of Administrative Procedures of the Finance Department where the investor implements the project.

Step 2: Receipting the application dossier

The officer receives and checks the dossier’s legality:

• If the application dossier is valid, the officer will issue a Receipt for applicants;
• If the application dossier is invalid or incomplete, the investor will be guided to prepare dossier and resubmit it.

Step 3: Notifying results:

After reviewing and assessing the application dossier, if the project fully satisfies legal conditions, such as business lines, allocation, urban planning and market access, the Finance Department will issue the IRC for the investor, within 15 working days from the day of receipt of a valid dossier.

6.2. Procedures for issuing Enterprise Registration Certificate (ERC):

a. Authority: Business Registration Office under the Finance Department (The BRO)

b. Dossier:

• An application form for enterprise registration;
• Company’s charter;
• If the enterprise is a limited liability company with two or more members, applicants must prepare a List of members and a List of beneficial owners of the enterprise (if any). If the enterprise is a joint stock company, applicants must prepare a List of founding shareholders and shareholders who are foreign investors, and list of beneficial owners of the enterprise (if any);
• Copies of the following documents: personal legal documents of the legal representative; legal documents of the individual/organization that is a member/shareholder of the company and personal legal documents of the authorized representative of the member/shareholder that is an organization and the document appointing the authorized representative.

c. Procedures:

Step 1: Submitting the application dossier

After receiving the IRC, the investor shall submit a set of the application for the ERC to the BRO where the enterprise is headquartered.

Step 2: Receiving dossier

• Within 03 working days from receipt the application dossier, the BRO is responsible for reviewing the validity of this application dossier and issuing the ERC.
• If the application dossier is invalid, the BRO must notify in writing the content that needs to be revised or supplemented to the enterprise founder.
• If the BRO refuses to issue the ERC, they must notify in writing with reasons to the enterprise founder.

Step 3: Notifying results

After assessing the application dossier, the BRO issues the ERC.

6.3. Procedures for issuing the International Tours Operator License:

a. Authority: Viet Nam National Authority of Tourism

b. Dossier:

• An application form for issuance of the International Tour Operation License;
• A certified copy of ERC or IRC;
• A certificate of deposit payment for travel services;
• A certified copy of diplomas and certificates of the person in charge of travel services;
• A certified copy of the decision on appointment or labor contract between the Travel Agency and the person in charge of provision of travel services.

c. Procedures:

Step 1: Submitting the application dossier:

The investor submits a set of application dossier to the Viet Nam National Authority of Tourism.

Step 2: Receiving the application dossier:

Within 10 working days from receipt a valid application dossier, the Viet Nam National Authority of Tourism shall assess this application dossier. In the case of refusal, the Viet Nam National Authority of Tourism shall notify in writing with reasons.

Step 3: Notifying results

After reviewing and accessing the application dossier, the Viet Nam National Authority of Tourism shall issue the International Tour Operation License to the enterprise and notify the provincial-level tourism authority where the enterprise is headquartered.

7. What is the fee for obtaining the International Tour Operation License?

According to Circular No. 64/2025/TT-BTC, from July 1, 2025 to December 31, 2026, the fee for the issuance of the International Tour Operation License shall be as follows:

• The first issuance: 1,500,000 VND per license;
• Renewal issuance (replacement): 1,000,000 VND per license
• Reissuance: 750,000 VND per license.

8. How much does it cost to open a Travel Agency in Ho Chi Minh City?

Currently, each firm sets its own service fee structure tailored to the characteristics of its sector and the specific needs of clients. At Phong & Partners, we provide a comprehensive package of advisory and representation services for foreign investors in opening a Travel Agency in Ho Chi Minh City.
Our fees are calculated flexibly based on actual conditions and the detailed requirements of each client, ensuring transparency, reasonableness and alignment with the investor’s financial plan. With this approach, Phong & Partners not only helps clients save time and costs, but also safeguards your best interests, enabling enterprises to commence operations promptly and capitalize effectively on Ho Chi Minh City’s tourism market.

9. Where to find services for opening a Travel Agency in Ho Chi Minh City?

Compared to domestic investors, the procedures and legal requirements applicable to foreign investors in establishing a Travel Agency in Ho Chi Minh City are generally more complex and require more steps, which creates significant obstacles for many investors during the implementation process. To accompany and assist foreign investors in overcoming these barriers, Phong & Partners is confident in providing professional legal services, supported by a team with extensive knowledge and practical experience in advising and representing clients in the procedures for opening a Travel Agency in Ho Chi Minh City for foreign investors.

Phong & Partners provides services for opening a Travel Agency in Ho Chi Minh City with service packages that include, but are not limited to, the following:

9.1. Legal consulting package:

• Consulting on conditions, selection of form and location of investment; investment incentives, tax policy, labor law, etc.
• Consulting, preparing investment projects, and carrying out investment registration procedures in Ho Chi Minh City.
• Consulting on legal issues throughout the project implementation and operation process.
• Consulting on procedures for opening companies, representative offices, and branches of foreign enterprises in Ho Chi Minh City.
• Consulting on all other issues when opening an enterprise in Ho Chi Minh City.

9.2. Procedure implementation package:

• Preparing all required documents;
• Guiding clients to prepare the necessary dossier;
• Submitting application for the IRC and the ERC to competent authorities;
• Conducting the procedures for obtaining the International Tour Operation License:
• And many other legal procedures.

In order to receive prompt support, please contact Phong & Partners via our hotline: 0905.503.678. Foreign investors may also explore other legal services offered by Phong & Partners at: www.phong-partners.com.

10. FAQs

10.1. Is there a minimum capital requirement for foreign investors?

Currently, Vietnamese law does not stipulate a minimum capital requirement for setting up a Travel Agency in Ho Chi Minh City by foreign investors or foreign-invested enterprises. However, the investment capital must be sufficient to operate the project and be approved by the competent authorities. In addition, investors are also required to satisfy the conditions regarding the statutory deposit amount.

10.2. Is it permissible to employ foreign workers?
After opening a Travel Agency, the enterprise is allowed to recruit foreign workers, but the following conditions must be met:

• Recruiting foreign workers to take on managerial, executive, expert and technical positions that Vietnamese workers cannot meet according to the Travel Agency’s business needs.
• Submitting an explanation of labor demand and obtaining written approval from a competent state agency.

10.3. Is it required to change the International Tour Operation License when changing the information on the Enterprise Registration Certificate?

When changing information (such as: name, head office address, charter capital, legal representative, founding member/shareholder, etc.) on the ERC, the Travel Agency is required to register the changes and update the information on the International Tour Operation License.