On 27 June 2025, the National Assembly issued Resolution No. 222/2025/QH15 (“Resolution 222”) to establish the International Financial Center in Vietnam (“VN IFC”). This milestone has opened a new chapter for both foreign and domestic investment. However, to enter this specialized playing field, investors must satisfy stringent criteria regarding financial capacity, institutional reputation, and business activities that align with the strategic development orientation of the VN IFC.
For investors, the key issue is not merely knowing the minimum capital threshold, but also correctly determining the form of presence, the applicable legal basis, and the roadmap for preparing the application dossier. Getting the investment structure wrong from the outset may lead to delays, additional costs, and difficulties when dealing with the competent authorities.
In this article, BLawyers Vietnam provides a comprehensive summary and detailed analysis of the regulatory classifications for entities, alongside the corresponding minimum statutory capital requirements for each form of presence at the VN IFC.
1. Entities eligible for special recognition as members of the VN IFC
To attract financial institutions and large-scale global conglomerates, Resolution 222 provides for a special category of entities entitled to request recognition as a Member of the VN IFC without undergoing complex capital registration procedures. This group includes:
- Financial institutions, investment funds, or enterprises listed in the Fortune Global 500 published by Fortune magazine at the time of registration, or the direct parent companies of such institutions, funds, or enterprises; and
- Financial institutions ranking among the top ten domestic enterprises in terms of charter capital within their respective sectors.
2. Statutory capital regulations for other forms of presence within the VN IFC
For investors establishing a presence to operate within the VN IFC, Resolution 222 and relevant legal documents stipulate the minimum capital requirements for each specific sector as follows:
2.1. Commodity exchanges and clearing houses sector
Commodity Exchange is an organization that conducts the listing and trading of commodities and commodity derivatives, including spot commodity contracts and commodity derivative contracts via order-matching, auction, negotiation, or other lawful methods. For this form of presence, investors must satisfy a minimum charter capital requirement of VND 1,500 billion.
Clearing House is an organization that performs the function of providing clearing services for commodity trading transactions through the Commodity Exchange within the VN IFC. To establish this presence, it must be structured as a subsidiary of the Commodity Exchange and have a minimum charter capital of VND 500 billion.
2.2. Foreign banks and the domestic commercial banks sector
Credit institutions wishing to establish a presence within the VN IFC must select one of the following two forms with the corresponding minimum capital requirements:
- A domestic single-member limited liability commercial bank, which requires a minimum capital of VND 3,000 billion.
- A foreign bank branch, which requires a minimum capital of USD 15 million (~VND 395,340,000,000).
2.3. Securities sector investors
This group must establish a presence in the form of a limited liability company under an Establishment and Operation License issued by the State Securities Commission. The minimum capital requirements are regulated as follows:
- For domestic securities business organizations, the minimum capital requirement is VND 5,000 billion.
- For foreign securities business organizations, the law requires the equity, based on the latest audited annual financial statements, to be at least equivalent to USD 200 million (~VND 5,271,200,000,000).
2.4. Insurance sector investors
This group must establish a presence in the form of a limited liability company under an Establishment and Operation License issued by the Ministry of Finance. The regulatory framework within the VN IFC references the minimum capital levels in accordance with the Law on Insurance Business of Vietnam.
Accordingly, for both domestic and foreign investors, depending on the specific line of business (life insurance, health insurance, etc.), the projected charter capital contribution must comply with the minimum levels stipulated under the Law on Insurance Business 2022 and guided in detail by Decree No. 46/2023/ND-CP.
How does BLawyers Vietnam support investors participating in the VN IFC?
Establishing and operating a commercial presence within the specialized environment of the VN IFC in Vietnam requires precise legal due diligence and strategic planning right from the very first steps. BLawyers Vietnam provides comprehensive legal solutions to accompany investors throughout the entire process of incorporation and operation at the VN IFC, including:
- Assisting investors in evaluating financial capacity and legal status based on specific conditions. From there, we structure capital flows to achieve optimization and satisfy the statutory capital requirements under Vietnamese law.
- Supporting clients in drafting all incorporation dossiers and formulating financial feasibility plans, as well as directly participating in the explanation phase with competent specialized regulatory authorities to obtain the operational license in accordance with our clients’ objectives.
- Advising on risk management and operational compliance throughout the client’s business lifecycle to ensure strict adherence to regulations after establishing a presence within the VN IFC.
The above is not official advice from BLawyers Vietnam. If you have any questions or suggestions about the above, please contact us at info@blawyersvn.com. BLawyers Vietnam would love to hear from you.
Date: 16 June 2026
Writer: Thanh Huynh
