Is it permissible to put names of branches of enterprises in Vietnam in foreign languages?

Is it permissible to put names of branches of enterprises in Vietnam in foreign languages?

Pursuant to Article 20 of the Decree 01/2021/NĐ-CP stipulating registration of names of branches, representative offices and business locations in Vietnam as follows:

1. Names of branches, representative offices and business locations shall comply with Article 40 of the Law on Enterprises.

2. Apart from the Vietnamese name, the enterprise’s branch, representative office or business location may register a name in foreign language and an abbreviated name. The foreign language name is the name translated from the Vietnamese name into one of the Latin-based languages. The abbreviated name may be abbreviation of either Vietnamese name or foreign language name.

3. The phrase “công ty” or “doanh nghiệp” must not be used as part of the proper name of the enterprise’s branch, representative office or business location.

4. When a wholly state-owned enterprise is converted into a financially depe

As regulations above, you are allowed to put name of your branch in foreign language. However, that name must be the name translated from the Vietnamese name into one of the Latin-based languages. Some languages that are not allowed to be put for names of branches are Korean, Chinese, Japan, etc.

Is it necessary to put names of branches at such business locations in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 40 of the Law on Enterprises in 2020 stipulating names of branches, representative offices and business locations as follows:

1. The name of a branch, representative office or business location shall consist of letters in the Vietnamese alphabet, the letters F, J, Z, W, numbers and symbols.

2. The name of a branch, representative office or business location shall consist the enterprise’s name and the phrase “Chi nhánh”, “Văn phòng đại diện” or “Địa điểm kinh doanh” respectively.

3. The name of a branch, representative office or business location shall be displayed at the branch, representative office or business location. The name of an enterprise’s branch or representative office be smaller than the Vietnamese name of the enterprise on the transaction documents, records and printed materials issued by the branch or representative office.

What are adminstrative fines for not putting names of branches at business locations in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 52 of the Decree 122/2021/NĐ-CP stipulating violations against other regulations on organization and management of enterprises in Vietnam as follows:

1. A fine ranging from VND 20,000,000 to VND 30,000,000 shall be imposed for any of the following violations:

a) Appointing a person who does not have the right to enterprise management to hold a managerial position;

b) Appointing an unqualified person as the Director (General Director).

2. A fine ranging from VND 30,000,000 to VND 50,000,000 shall be imposed for any of the following violations:

a) Failure to issue the certificate of capital contribution to a company’s member;

b) Failure to make a member register or register of share-issuing shareholders;

c) Failure to put up the enterprise’s name at its head office, failure to put up the name of branch, representative office or business location at its location;

d) Failure to retain documents at the head office or another location specified in the company’s charter.

3. Remedial measures:

The violator is compelled to:

a) dismiss the unqualified enterprise manager if the violation specified in Point a Clause 1 of this Article is committed;

b) dismiss the unqualified Director (General Director) if the violation specified in Point b Clause 1 of this Article is committed;

c) issue a certificate of capital contribution to the company’s member if the violation specified in Point a Clause 2 of this Article is committed;

d) make a member/shareholder register as prescribed if the violation specified in Point b Clause 2 of this Article is committed;

dd) put up the enterprise’s name at its head office or put up the name of the branch, representative office or business location if the violation specified in Point c Clause 2 of this Article is committed.

Pursuant to Clause 2 Article 4 of the Decree 122/2021/NĐ-CP stipulating as follows:

2. The fines for administrative violations specified in this Decree are imposed upon organizations (except for the fines for violations specified in Point c Clause 2 Article 28; Points a and b Clause 2 Article 38; Article 62 and Article 63 of this Decree, which are imposed upon individuals). For the same violation, the fine incurred by an individual is 1/2 (half) that incurred by an organization.

As regulations above, you shall be fined from VND 15,000,000 to VND 25,000,000 for not putting names of branches at business locations in Vietnam. In addition, you will be forced to