HCMC – Starting July 1, the number of conditional business sectors in Vietnam will be reduced from 198 to 142, in the Government’s latest effort to remove administrative barriers and mark a major shift from pre-approval controls to post-approval oversight aimed at easing regulatory burdens on businesses.
The move is set out in Resolution No. 66.17/2026/NQ-CP recently issued by the Government to amend Appendix IV of Investment Law No. 143/2025/QH15, which currently lists 198 conditional business and investment sectors.
To avoid disrupting market operations, organizations and individuals affected by the reduction in business conditions will be allowed to continue using previously issued licenses and certificates until their expiration dates, ensuring uninterrupted production and business activities.
The streamlined list of 142 retained sectors largely covers areas deemed to have a direct impact on national defense, public order, or major financial institutions, including securities trading, insurance, gold trading, petroleum, real estate, air transport, telecommunications, healthcare, and education. Business sectors removed from the list, or those subject to unclear or overlapping conditions, will be abolished or replaced with more transparent regulatory mechanisms.
To ensure synchronized implementation from July 1, the Government has instructed ministries and ministerial-level agencies to urgently develop regulatory procedures based on post-audit oversight while issuing technical standards, regulations, or professional standards for sectors affected by the reduction.
These documents will be prepared under expedited procedures. The Ministry of Science and Technology will coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies to issue technical regulations that take effect simultaneously with the resolution.
In addition, the Ministry of Finance has been tasked with reviewing and proposing amendments and supplements to Appendix IV of the Investment Law to ensure consistency across the legal framework.
Resolution No. 66.17/2026/NQ-CP will take effect from July 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027. During this period, in the event of discrepancies between the resolution and other legal documents, authorities will prioritize applying the provisions of the resolution.
