1. What is a Karaoke Business License?

First, it is important to understand that karaoke services refer to services providing sound systems, lighting, music, song lyrics and images displayed on screens (or similar forms) for singing activities at establishments that satisfy the conditions for conducting karaoke business activities in accordance with the provisions of Decree No. 54/2019/ND-CP dated June 19, 2019.

A Karaoke Business License (officially referred to as a Certificate of Eligibility for Karaoke Business) is a written instrument issued by a competent state authority to organizations and individuals that fully satisfy the prescribed statutory conditions, authorizing them to lawfully conduct karaoke business activities.

2. Which entities are required to obtain a Karaoke Business License?

Pursuant to Article 3.1 of Decree No. 54/2019/ND-CP, the following entities are required to obtain a Certificate of Eligibility for Karaoke Business:

• Enterprises (including limited liability companies, joint-stock companies, private enterprises, etc)

• Individual business household;

​Accordingly, enterprises and business households should note that the mere registration of the business line “karaoke services” in the Enterprise Registration Certificate is not sufficient to satisfy the conditions for conducting karaoke business activities. Prior to commencing operations, the establishment owner must additionally obtain a Karaoke Business License.

3. What are the conditions for granting a Karaoke Business License?

In order to be granted a license, a karaoke business establishment must simultaneously satisfy the following groups of conditions:

1. Conditions regarding the business entity

• Be an enterprise or an individual business household established in accordance with the law
• The registered business line must include karaoke service activities or equivalent business lines

Business code 9329: Other amusement and recreational activities (Operation of karaoke singing rooms)

2. Conditons regarding the business location

• The karaoke business location must be consistent with the approved local planning and must not be located in areas where karaoke business activities are prohibited or restricted;
• Each karaoke room must have a usable floor area of at least 20 m² (excluding ancillary facilities);
• No internal locking devices are installed inside karaoke rooms;
• Adequate soundproofing is ensured and noise emitted outside the karaoke rooms complies with the National Technical Regulation on Noise;
• Compliance with the prescribed safety distance requirements applicable to schools, hospitals, religious establishments and administrative agencies (to be applied in accordance with the specific regulations of each locality).

3. Compliance with fire prevention and firefighting (FPF) requirements

• Possession of a written acceptance record or certification of compliance with fire prevention and firefighting (FPF) requirements;
• Installation of a complete fire alarm and fire-fighting system in accordance with regulations;
• Provision of emergency exits, clear signage and fire prevention and firefighting (FPF) internal rules

4. Conditions regarding security and public order

• Possession of a Certificate of Eligibility for Security and Public Order issued by the competent police authority;

• No violations of law occur in the course of business operations.

5. Other conditions relating to business operations

• No operation between 00:00 and 08:00;
• Ensuring that images displayed on screens (or similar forms) are consistent with the song lyrics and conform to Vietnamese culture, ethics, and fine customs;
• Compliance with labor laws applicable to employees in accordance with regulations; provision of uniforms and name badges for employees;
• Compliance with legal regulations on alcohol trading;
• Compliance with legal regulations on the prevention and control of the harmful effects of tobacco;
• Compliance with legal regulations on environmental protection; food safety and hygiene; copyright; labor contracts; occupational safety; insurance; prevention and control of social evils; and other relevant legal provisions.

4. What documents are required for the application for a Karaoke Business License?

The application dossier for the issuance of a Certificate of Eligibility for Karaoke Business includes:

• An application for the issuance of a Certificate of Eligibility for Karaoke Business (using Form No. 01 set out in the Appendix promulgated together with Decree No. 54/2019/ND-CP);

• A certified copy or a copy presented together with the original for comparison of the Certificate of Eligibility for Security and Public Order.

5. Which authority is competent to grant a Karaoke Business License?

Pursuant to Article 9 of Decree No. 54/2019/ND-CP, as amended by Article 1.4 of Decree No. 148/2024/ND-CP, the People’s Committee at the provincial level is competent to grant the Certificate of Eligibility for Karaoke Business.

The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism or the Department of Culture and Sports is responsible for receiving and administering application dossiers and Certificates of Eligibility for Karaoke Business falling within the licensing authority of the People’s Committee at the provincial level.

6. What are the procedures for applying for a Karaoke Business License?

The procedure for applying for a Karaoke Business License shall be carried out in the following steps:

Step 1: Submission of the application dossier

The enterprise or business household shall submit one (01) set of application documents directly, by post, or via electronic means to the dossier-receiving authority.

Step 2: Examination of the application dossier

In the event that the application dossier does not comply with the regulations, within one (01) working day from the date of receipt of the dossier, the dossier-receiving authority shall issue a written notice requesting the applicant to complete the dossier.

Step 3: Appraisal of the application dossier and on-site inspection

In cases where the application dossier is complete in accordance with regulations, within three (03) working days from the date of receipt of the dossier, the authority competent to grant the Certificate of Eligibility for Karaoke Business shall examine the dossier and establish a team to conduct an on-site inspection at the business location.

Within four (04) working days from the date of its establishment, the appraisal team shall conduct the appraisal and issue the appraisal results.

Step 4: Receipt of the results

Within three (03) working days from the date the appraisal results are issued, the authority competent to grant the Certificate of Eligibility for Karaoke Business shall issue the Certificate of Eligibility for Karaoke Business in accordance with Form No. 02 set out in the Appendix to Decree No. 54/2019/ND-CP, or decide not to issue the Certificate. In the event that the Certificate is not issued, a written reply stating the reasons shall be provided.

7. What are the fees for applying for a Karaoke Business License?

Pursuant to Circular No. 110/2025/TT-BTC, which prescribes the rates, collection, and remittance regime for appraisal fees for the issuance of karaoke and discotheque business licenses and takes effect from January 5, 2026, the appraisal fee for granting a Certificate of Eligibility for Karaoke Business is VND 1,000,000 per room; however, the total fee shall not exceed VND 6,000,000 per license per appraisal.

8. FAQs

1. How is karaoke business operation sanctioned if it fails to meet the prescribed conditions?

Pursuant to Decree No. 38/2021/ND-CP on administrative penalties in the fields of culture and advertising:

“Article 15. Violations of regulations on karaoke service business and discotheque service business

1. A warning or a fine ranging from VND 200,000 to VND 500,000 shall be imposed for the act of failing to wear uniforms or name badges provided by the employer.

2. A fine ranging from VND 500,000 to VND 1,000,000 shall be imposed for the act of failing to provide uniforms or name badges to employees.

3. A fine ranging from VND 1,000,000 to VND 5,000,000 shall be imposed for the act of failing to surrender the Certificate of Eligibility for Karaoke Business or Discotheque Business upon a revocation decision issued by a competent state authority.

4. A fine ranging from VND 5,000,000 to VND 10,000,000 shall be imposed for the act of making dishonest declarations in the application dossier for the issuance of a Certificate of Eligibility for Karaoke Business or Discotheque Business.

5. A fine ranging from VND 10,000,000 to VND 15,000,000 shall be imposed for any of the following acts:

a) Providing discotheque services to persons under 18 years of age;

b) Conducting karaoke business activities outside the time period from 08:00 to 24:00 each day;

c) Altering, erasing, or otherwise modifying the contents of the Certificate of Eligibility for Karaoke Business or Discotheque Business.

6. A fine ranging from VND 15,000,000 to VND 20,000,000 shall be imposed for any of the following acts:

a) Conducting karaoke business or discotheque business without meeting the prescribed floor area requirements;

b) Installing internal locking devices inside karaoke rooms or discotheque rooms;

c) Installing alarm devices, except for fire and explosion alarm systems, at karaoke business or discotheque business premises;

d) Failing to ensure that images displayed on screens (or similar forms) in karaoke rooms are consistent with the song lyrics or conform to Vietnamese culture, ethics, and fine customs;

đ) Failing to amend the Certificate of Eligibility for Karaoke Business or Discotheque Business in the event of a change in the number of rooms or a change of owner;

e) Conducting discotheque business activities during the time period from 02:00 to 08:00 each day;

g) Conducting discotheque business activities at a location located less than 200 meters from schools, hospitals, religious or belief establishments, or historical–cultural relics.

7. A fine ranging from VND 20,000,000 to VND 25,000,000 shall be imposed for any of the following acts:

a) Conducting karaoke business activities without the required license as prescribed by law;

b) Using the Certificate of Eligibility for Karaoke Business of another organization or individual for business operations;

c) Allowing another organization or individual to use one’s Certificate of Eligibility for Karaoke Business for business operations.

8. A fine ranging from VND 25,000,000 to VND 30,000,000 shall be imposed for any of the following acts:

a) Conducting discotheque business activities without the required license as prescribed by law;

b) Using the Certificate of Eligibility for Discotheque Business of another organization or individual for business operations;

c) Allowing another organization or individual to use one’s Certificate of Eligibility for Discotheque Business for business operations.

9. Additional sanctions:

a) Suspension of the right to use the Certificate of Eligibility for Karaoke Business or Discotheque Business for a period ranging from 18 months to 24 months for the acts specified in Clause 7(c) and Clause 8(c) of this Article;

10. Remedial measures:

a) Compulsory revocation of the Certificate of Eligibility for Karaoke Business or Discotheque Business for the act specified in Clause 4 of this Article, in cases where such certificate has been issued;

b) Compulsory disgorgement of illicit profits obtained from the commission of the acts specified in Clause 5(b); Clause 6(e) and Clauses 7 and 8 of this Article;

c) Compulsory submission of the license that has been altered, erased, or supplemented in a manner that changes its contents to the competent authority that issued the license, for the act specified in Clause 5(c) of this Article.”

The above fines are applicable to individuals; in cases where the same violations are committed by organizations, the fines imposed shall be twice those applicable to individuals.

2. Is it necessary to reapply for a Karaoke Business License when changing the business location?

Yes. A Karaoke Business License is issued for a specific business location. Accordingly, upon changing the karaoke business location, the establishment owner is required to carry out the procedures for the issuance of a new Certificate of Eligibility for Karaoke Business in accordance with the law.

(Article 12.1 of Decree No. 54/2019/ND-CP)

3. Is it necessary to amend the Karaoke Business License when there is a change in the number of rooms?

Yes. When there is a change in the number of rooms, the establishment owner is required to carry out the procedures to amend the Certificate of Eligibility for Karaoke Business in accordance with the law.

(Article 12.2 of Decree No. 54/2019/ND-CP)

4. In which cases is the Certificate of Eligibility for Karaoke Business revoked?

The authority competent to grant the Certificate of Eligibility for Karaoke Business shall issue a decision on revocation of the Certificate of Eligibility for Karaoke Business where the enterprise or business household falls under one of the following cases:

a) Forging or falsifying the application dossier for the issuance of the Certificate of Eligibility for Karaoke Business;

b) Violating business conditions resulting in damage to life, health, or property;

c) Being granted the Certificate of Eligibility for Karaoke Business but failing to conduct business operations for twelve (12) consecutive months;

d) Failure to suspend business operations as required by the licensing authority;

đ) Upon the expiry of the suspension period required by the authority competent to grant the Certificate of Eligibility for Karaoke Business, failing to remedy the violations or remedying them inadequately;

e) Within a period of two (02) years from the date of expiration of the suspension period required by the authority competent to grant the Certificate of Eligibility for Karaoke Business, re-committing the violations specified in the notice requesting the suspension of business operations.

(Article 16 of Decree No. 54/2019/ND-CP)