Lexsol Law Firm

In the food service business, serving alcohol directly at the table to customers is a common demand at restaurants. Previously, traders selling alcohol for on-site consumption had to register with the local management agency before operating. However, from July 1, 2026, the Government's Resolution No. 66.18/2026/NQ-CP has temporarily suspended the application of business conditions and licensing procedures in the field of alcohol business. So, in the current legal context, do restaurants selling alcohol for on-site consumption still have to apply for a license or registration, and what obligations do they need to comply with? The article below will clarify current regulations, help businesses comply with the law and limit legal risks in the process of operation.

Many businesses established before July 1, 2025 are receiving official letters from the Department of Finance requesting to declare beneficial owners, with a warning of fines from 70 to 100 million VND. The article explains in easy-to-understand language: who is the beneficial owner according to Decree 168/2025/ND-CP (amended by Decree 296/2026/ND-CP), how to trace through many levels of the company, when to declare, how long to keep it, and new fines according to Decree 288/2026/ND-CP. Attached is a step-by-step checklist and common mistakes businesses make when making a list of beneficiary owners.

On the same day as the Law amending the Law on Investment, on August 24, 2026, the 16th National Assembly also passed Law No. 22/2026/QH16 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Vietnamese Workers Working Abroad under Contracts, officially taking effect from March 1, 2027. The Law brings about 10 groups of notable new points, both removing some administrative procedures for service enterprises in good compliance, and significantly tightening responsibilities and sanctions for violating enterprises. Most notably, service enterprises no longer have to apply for approval before preparing labor resources, but only need to notify the commune-level People's Committee at least 3 days in advance, but in return, they must publicize and update operational information on the national website and database within 5 days from the date of the change. The law also stipulates that training fees can only be collected after employees are selected and contracted, prohibits authorization of selection through intermediaries, expands the scope of prohibition on sending workers to massage and go to areas at risk of conflict or is recommended to be restricted. Enterprises whose licenses are revoked due to serious violations will not be re-licensed for 5 years. The article summarizes the most important changes that service enterprises sending workers to work abroad need to understand.

Decree 283/2026/ND-CP officially took effect has significantly tightened administrative sanctions in the field of labor. In fact, because they want to be flexible or optimize costs, many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups often apply "tacit agreements" with employees. From verbal agreements instead of signing contracts, deducting salaries when being late, to ignoring social insurance payments... all have potential risks of administrative sanctions for businesses. Join Lexsol to answer in detail the 12 most common labor violation situations with legal basis, helping businesses manage human resources safely and in accordance with the law.

Effective July 23, 2026, Decree 296/2026/NĐ-CP amends Decree 168/2025/NĐ-CP on business registration, revising the criteria for identifying a company's beneficial owner to focus on ownership of 25% or more of charter capital, control rights, and management rights. Notably, just two days earlier, Decree 288/2026/NĐ-CP introduced specific penalties for failing to declare beneficial owner information, with fines of up to VND 100 million for organizations. This article summarizes what enterprises need to note and act on now to avoid the risk of penalties.

As of July 1, 2026, Law No. 118/2025/QH15 amending 10 laws on security and order officially took effect, introducing two entirely new visa categories: UĐ1 for high-quality digital technology talent and UĐ2 for accompanying family members, while extending temporary residence card validity to up to 10 years. In parallel, Circular 70/2026/TT-BCA revised a wide range of application forms and enabled electronic filing, while the Immigration Department announced that from October 1, 2026 it will stop accepting paper documents for temporary exit suspension and entry denial procedures. This article summarizes the most important changes that FDI enterprises and foreign workers in Vietnam need to understand.

Decree 283/2026/ND-CP officially takes effect from September 10, 2026, replacing Decree 12/2022/ND-CP, re-stipulating all penalties for administrative violations in the field of labor, social insurance and Vietnamese workers working abroad under contracts. The Decree adds many new violations, and at the same time maintains the principle of fining organizations twice as much as individuals. The most notable for FDI enterprises is the fine of up to 75 million VND when employing foreign workers without work permits. The article summarizes the fines for businesses that need to be reviewed immediately.

The Ministry of Finance has released the second draft of the Law amending and supplementing Investment Law No. 143/2025/QH15, expected to be submitted to the National Assembly in October 2026 and to take effect on January 1, 2027. The most notable feature is a mechanism allowing the Government to relax market access conditions sector by sector and period by period for foreign investors, together with a shift of investment incentives from upfront tax breaks to post-investment support tied to technology transfer. This article analyzes the most significant proposed changes and what foreign-invested enterprises should prepare for.