Vietnam’s International Financial Centre in HCMC and Da Nang is being built on a fast-evolving legal framework, and investors need to track each implementing decree as it lands to size up the tax and governance benefits on offer.
This article is current as of 4 August 2026. Because several implementing decrees for the International Financial Centre are still being finalised, businesses should cross-check the Government Portal (chinhphu.vn) and the national legal database (vbpl.vn) for the latest updates before making investment decisions.
National Assembly Resolution 222/2025/QH15, passed on 27 June 2025 and effective from 1 September 2025, establishes Vietnam’s International Financial Centre (IFC) as a unified legal entity operating in parallel across two sites — Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang — with special legal and institutional mechanisms distinct from the rest of the economy.
This briefing, prepared by IVLF Advisors’ capital markets advisory team, summarises the key incentive regime, governance structure and dispute resolution mechanisms of the IFC, and clearly flags which elements remain pending detailed implementing guidance.
Decree 323/2025/NĐ-CP: the foundational implementing decree already issued
Decree 323/2025/NĐ-CP, issued and effective 18 December 2025, is the first foundational implementing decree, providing for the establishment of the IFC and certain specific incentive mechanisms. The Centre was formally launched in both Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang in early January 2026. However, according to information from the Government’s thematic session on 4 November 2025, a total of 8 related decrees were being developed under an expedited procedure — meaning several detailed operational mechanisms (licensing procedures, specific foreign-exchange arrangements, and the operating rules of the specialised court and arbitration centre) may still be in progress at the time businesses consult this article.
Confirmed tax incentives
Under Decree 323/2025/NĐ-CP, new investment projects in priority sectors within the IFC qualify for a 10% corporate income tax rate for 30 years, together with a 4-year tax holiday followed by a 50% reduction for the subsequent 9 years. For individuals who are managers, experts or scientists working at the Centre, a personal income tax exemption applies through the end of 2030. Machinery and equipment imported to create fixed assets for investment projects within the Centre are exempt from import duty.
Foreign exchange mechanism and financial licensing: not yet fully confirmed
As of the date this article was last updated, publicly available sources do not fully confirm the specific foreign-exchange liberalisation mechanism applicable within the Centre, nor the specialised licensing procedure for financial institutions and fintech companies operating there. These are points businesses should specifically monitor as the remaining implementing decrees are issued, rather than relying on unofficial expectations.
Dispute resolution: a Specialised Court and an International Arbitration Centre
One of the mechanisms regarded as foundational to the Centre is the establishment of a Specialised Court with jurisdiction over financial and commercial disputes with a foreign element arising within the Centre, together with an International Arbitration Centre. The premises of the Specialised Court in Ho Chi Minh City are reported to be under construction/completion. The detailed operating rules of these two institutions — including the scope of jurisdiction and applicable procedure — are among the points businesses should await specific implementing guidance on before assessing the reliability of the Centre’s dispute resolution mechanism.
Governance structure: a “one-stop” model replacing the traditional multi-regulator regime
The Centre’s governance structure comprises four bodies: a Steering Committee chaired by the Prime Minister; an Executive Agency — a special administrative body under each city’s People’s Committee, directly managing the Centre’s day-to-day operations; a Supervisory Agency; and the dispute resolution institutions described above. This model is designed to replace the need to deal separately with multiple regulators (the State Bank of Vietnam, the State Securities Commission) with a single point of contact for activities within the Centre — however, the precise boundary of authority between the Executive Agency and existing regulators remains one of the points being detailed through the remaining decrees.
Counsel’s view: Much domestic commentary cautions that Vietnam’s IFC should not be expected to become “the next Dubai” in the short term — Dubai’s DIFC took roughly 20 years to mature after its 2004 establishment, while Singapore took over 30 years to build an international financial ecosystem integrated with its existing legal system. Businesses considering investment in the Centre should view it as a long-term reform and capital-attraction channel, and should continuously monitor implementing decrees as they are issued through 2026 and beyond.
Frequently asked questions
Is Vietnam’s International Financial Centre officially operational?
The Centre was formally launched in HCMC and Da Nang in early January 2026, but several detailed implementing decrees are still being finalised.
What corporate income tax incentive applies within the Centre?
10% for 30 years for new investment projects in priority sectors, with a 4-year exemption and a 50% reduction for the following 9 years, under Decree 323/2025/NĐ-CP.
Where are disputes arising within the Centre resolved?
At the Specialised Court or the dedicated International Arbitration Centre established for the Centre; detailed procedural rules are still being finalised.
IVLF Advisors’ capital markets advisory team helps businesses assess investment opportunities and track the latest legal framework for the International Financial Centre. Speak with our team about opportunities at the International Financial Centre for tailored advice.
Vietnam’s International Financial Centre: Related Resources
For deal structuring support tied to Vietnam’s International Financial Centre incentives, see IVLF Advisors’ M&A and capital markets advisory services, and track official implementing guidance via Vietnam’s Government Portal on Legal Policy.
Vietnam International Financial Centre Regulations: What Foreign Institutions Should Track
As the framework for Vietnam International Financial Centre regulations takes shape, institutions evaluating a presence should watch how the HCMC financial hub foreign investor incentives compare with the parallel Da Nang IFC legal framework, since the two zones may ultimately offer different licensing tracks and tax holidays. Early guidance suggests that an offshore banking license Vietnam IFC pathway will require a dedicated regulatory sandbox application separate from standard credit institution licensing.
Institutions should monitor draft implementing decrees closely, as eligibility criteria and capital thresholds are still being finalized ahead of full rollout.
Evaluating entry into Vietnam’s new financial centre framework? Contact IVLF Advisors for regulatory tracking and licensing strategy.
The bottom line on the International Financial Centre: Vietnam is building the International Financial Centre to attract regional capital, and firms that engage with the International Financial Centre framework early will shape how the International Financial Centre rules apply to them.
This article is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal advice for any specific case. Regulations may change – please consult a qualified professional before acting. Should further analysis be required, please contact one of our lawyers below.
