Vietnam E-Commerce Notification for Foreign Companies: The Legal Framework You Cannot Ignore in 2026
You have a Vietnamese subsidiary, a warehouse, or a local distributor, and you want to start selling online. Before your first order confirmation email goes out, Vietnamese law requires you to complete an administrative notification with the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT). Foreign-invested enterprises are not exempt. In fact, the law explicitly lists "Doanh nghiệp có vốn đầu tư nước ngoài" (foreign-invested enterprises) as entities subject to the notification regime. The language barrier is real: the entire process runs through a Vietnamese-language portal, the form is prescribed in Vietnamese, and the legal basis is scattered across a decree, a circular, and a consolidating amendment. This guide walks through the exact legal grounds, the required documents, the field-by-field translation of the notification form, the portal steps, and the penalties for non-compliance—all sourced directly from the official MOIT procedure and its underlying legal instruments.
What Is the Legal Basis for E-Commerce Notification in Vietnam?
The notification obligation for e-commerce sales websites originates from Article 52 of Decree No. 52/2013/ND-CP on e-commerce, which requires traders, organizations, and individuals that establish a sales e-commerce website to notify the Ministry of Industry and Trade before selling goods or providing services. This obligation is elaborated in Circular No. 47/2014/TT-BCT on the management of e-commerce websites, and amended by Decree No. 08/2018/ND-CP and Circular No. 21/2018/TT-BCT.
The MOIT's official administrative procedure portal confirms that the implementing authority for this notification is the Provincial People's Committee (Ủy ban nhân dân cấp tỉnh), and the eligible applicant categories explicitly include "Doanh nghiệp có vốn đầu tư nước ngoài" (foreign-invested enterprises) as well as foreign organizations and foreign individuals.
Who Must Notify the Ministry of Industry and Trade?
The notification requirement applies to traders, organizations, or individuals who own a sales e-commerce website (website thương mại điện tử bán hàng). This is defined as a website established by a trader, organization, or individual to serve their own commercial promotion, sale of goods, or provision of services.
For foreign-invested enterprises specifically, the MOIT portal lists the following eligible applicant categories: Vietnamese citizens, overseas Vietnamese, foreigners, civil servants, enterprises, foreign-invested enterprises, organizations (excluding enterprises and cooperatives), foreign organizations, and cooperatives.
If your foreign company operates a cross-border e-commerce platform without a local entity, Vietnamese law requires you to appoint a Vietnamese representative office or designate an authorized legal representative in Vietnam to complete the registration or notification.
Required Documents for E-Commerce Notification: The Complete Checklist
The MOIT procedure confirms that the dossier composition for sales e-commerce website notification is a single set (01 bộ hồ sơ) submitted entirely online. The required components are prescribed by Circular No. 47/2014/TT-BCT and its amendments.
Based on the official procedure guidance and the consolidated legal framework, the notification dossier includes:
- Information declaration form (Tờ khai thông tin thông báo): completed according to the prescribed template. The form requires the registrant's name, tax code, business registration certificate details, website domain, server location, and the name and ID number of the responsible individual.
- Screenshot of the e-commerce website interface (Bản chụp giao diện website thương mại điện tử bán hàng), ensuring it displays all required information. The interface must not contain goods or services that are prohibited from trading; if it does, the dossier will be rejected.
- Certified copy of the specialized license or certificate if the website sells goods or services in the conditional business list (ngành, nghề đầu tư kinh doanh có điều kiện). For example, if you sell food, pharmaceuticals, or financial services, the relevant sector license must be attached.
For foreign-invested enterprises, the business registration certificate (Giấy chứng nhận đăng ký doanh nghiệp) and investment registration certificate (Giấy chứng nhận đầu tư) are the core identifying documents. The MOIT portal states that if legal documents already have electronic data with legal validity on the national information system, the applicant may authorize the authority to access and use that data instead of submitting paper copies.
Copyable Checklist: E-Commerce Notification Dossier Assembly
E-COMMERCE SALES WEBSITE NOTIFICATION CHECKLIST
Vietnam — MOIT Online Portal (online.gov.vn / dichvucong.moit.gov.vn) APPLICANT INFORMATION
[ ] Company name (Vietnamese): [Tên công ty]
[ ] Enterprise registration certificate number: [Số ĐKDN]
[ ] Tax code: [Mã số thuế]
[ ] Investment registration certificate number (if applicable): [Số GCNĐT]
[ ] Registered address: [Địa chỉ trụ sở]
[ ] Contact person name and ID/passport number: [Họ tên và số CMND/Hộ chiếu] WEBSITE/APPLICATION INFORMATION
[ ] Website domain name: [Tên miền]
[ ] Application name (if applicable): [Tên ứng dụng]
[ ] Server location (domestic or foreign): [Địa điểm lưu trữ]
[ ] Website interface screenshot (full product display): [Bản chụp giao diện]
[ ] Category of goods/services sold: [Loại hàng hóa/dịch vụ] CONDITIONAL BUSINESS LICENSE (if applicable)
[ ] Sector license copy (food safety, pharmaceutical, financial, etc.)
[ ] If electronic data available on national system: authorization to access SUBMISSION
[ ] Account registered on online.gov.vn or dichvucong.moit.gov.vn
[ ] All information entered in Vietnamese
[ ] Dossier submitted online (01 complete set)
[ ] Confirmation of submission receivedOfficial Form Field-by-Field Translation & Breakdown
The notification form (Tờ khai thông tin thông báo) is prescribed by Circular No. 47/2014/TT-BCT. The MOIT portal requires the following core information fields. Foreign applicants must complete these in Vietnamese; the English translation below is provided for reference only.
| Vietnamese Field Label | English Translation | What to Enter |
|---|---|---|
| Tên đăng ký của thương nhân, tổ chức hoặc tên của cá nhân sở hữu | Registered name of the trader, organization, or individual owner | Your Vietnamese company's full registered name exactly as it appears on the Enterprise Registration Certificate. |
| Số, ngày cấp và nơi cấp giấy chứng nhận đăng ký kinh doanh | Number, date of issuance, and issuing authority of the business registration certificate | Copy exactly from your Enterprise Registration Certificate (Giấy chứng nhận đăng ký doanh nghiệp). |
| Tên, chức danh, số chứng minh nhân dân/hộ chiếu của người đại diện | Name, title, and ID/passport number of the representative | The legal representative of the company or an authorized person with a power of attorney. |
| Tên miền website thương mại điện tử bán hàng | Domain name of the sales e-commerce website | The exact domain, including any subdomain if applicable (e.g., shop.yourcompany.vn). |
| Địa chỉ lưu trữ hoặc địa chỉ tải ứng dụng | Server storage address or application download address | Where the website is hosted or where the application can be downloaded (App Store, Google Play, etc.). |
| Loại hàng hóa, dịch vụ kinh doanh | Type of goods or services traded | A clear description of the product categories sold on the website. If in a conditional sector, attach the license. |
How to Submit the Notification: Step-by-Step Portal Procedure
The entire notification process is conducted online through the MOIT's e-commerce management portal. The official processing time is 03 working days from the receipt of a complete and valid dossier.
Step 1: Register an Account on the MOIT Portal
Access dichvucong.moit.gov.vn or online.gov.vn. Register and use an account issued by the Provincial People's Committee or a unit authorized by the Committee. If you already have an account, log in directly.
Step 2: Complete the Online Notification Form
Log in, select the function "Thông báo website thương mại điện tử bán hàng" (Notify sales e-commerce website), and enter the required information according to the prescribed template. All fields must be completed in Vietnamese.
Step 3: Upload Supporting Documents
Attach the website interface screenshot and, if applicable, the certified copy of the conditional business license. Ensure the screenshot clearly shows the full product/service display and is free of prohibited goods.
Step 4: Submit and Await Review
Submit the dossier. The system will place your website in the "Website chờ duyệt" (Pending Review) status. MOIT specialists will review the dossier within 03 working days. If the dossier is complete and valid, the website status automatically changes to "Website đã thông báo" (Website Notified) and is published at online.gov.vn/sct.
Step 5: Handle Rejection (If Applicable)
If the dossier is found invalid—for example, the interface screenshot shows prohibited goods—the specialist selects "Từ chối hồ sơ" (Reject Dossier) with a reason. The entire rejection information is sent to the enterprise's email and stored in the system under "Lịch sử thay đổi" (Change History). You must correct the issue and resubmit.
Processing Time, Fees, and Post-Notification Obligations
The MOIT's official procedure specifies the following:
- Processing time: 03 working days from receipt of a complete and valid dossier. The online submission mode records "0 Giờ" (0 hours) for the online filing action itself, with the substantive review occurring within the 3-day window.
- Fees and charges: The procedure portal states "Không quy định" (Not prescribed) for online submission. No government fee is specified for the notification procedure itself.
- Post-notification changes: If any notified information changes, or if the website ceases operation, you must notify the MOIT within 07 working days of the change or cessation.
- Annual reporting: E-commerce operators must submit an annual report on e-commerce activities before January 15 of the following year, via the online reporting system at baocao.online.gov.vn.
Common Mistakes and Rejection Warnings
- Submitting a screenshot that shows prohibited goods or services. The website interface must be free of any goods or services on the prohibited list. If the screenshot captures such items, the dossier is rejected immediately.
- Confusing notification with registration. A sales website (selling your own goods) requires notification (blue tick). A trading platform (allowing others to sell) requires registration (red tick). Submitting the wrong procedure type results in rejection.
- Failing to attach conditional business licenses. If you sell food, pharmaceuticals, financial services, or other conditional goods, the relevant sector license must be attached. Without it, the dossier is incomplete.
- Using an uncertified or incomplete business registration copy. The business registration certificate must be a certified copy (bản sao có chứng thực) or the authority must be authorized to access electronic data.
- Missing the 07-day change notification window. If your domain, registered address, or representative changes after notification, you must notify the MOIT within 07 working days. Failure to do so is a separate administrative violation.
- Operating before the notification is confirmed. The law requires notification before selling goods or providing services. Do not launch the ordering function until the "Website đã thông báo" status is confirmed.
- Assuming the notification covers cross-border platforms. Foreign platforms without a local entity must appoint a Vietnamese representative office or an authorized legal representative to complete the registration or notification. A foreign entity cannot submit the notification directly without a local presence or representative.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a foreign-invested enterprise need to notify the MOIT before launching an online shop in Vietnam?
Yes. The MOIT's official administrative procedure explicitly lists "Doanh nghiệp có vốn đầu tư nước ngoài" (foreign-invested enterprises) as eligible applicants for the sales e-commerce website notification procedure. The notification must be completed before selling goods or providing services, and the processing time is 03 working days from submission of a complete dossier.
What is the difference between notification and registration for e-commerce in Vietnam?
Notification (thông báo) applies to sales e-commerce websites where the owner sells their own goods or services. It is confirmed by a "blue tick" symbol. Registration (đăng ký) applies to e-commerce service websites such as trading platforms, online auction sites, and online promotion sites, where the operator provides an environment for other traders to conduct commercial activities. Registration is confirmed by a "red tick" symbol.
How much does the e-commerce notification cost, and how long does it take?
The MOIT procedure portal states that fees and charges are "Không quy định" (Not prescribed) for the online submission. The processing time is 03 working days from the receipt of a complete and valid dossier. If the dossier is valid, the website status automatically changes to "Website đã thông báo" and is published at online.gov.vn/sct.
What happens if I operate an online shop in Vietnam without notifying the MOIT?
Operating a sales e-commerce website without completing the notification procedure is subject to an administrative fine of VND 30,000,000 for organizations and enterprises, and VND 15,000,000 for individuals. Provincial market surveillance authorities have publicly reported multiple enforcement actions at these penalty levels.
Can a foreign company without a Vietnamese entity register an e-commerce website in Vietnam?
A foreign e-commerce platform without a local entity may be required to register, appoint a local representative, or establish a local entity. Foreign platforms without a local entity must appoint a Vietnamese representative office or designate an authorized legal representative in Vietnam to complete the registration or notification. The foreign entity cannot submit the notification directly without a local presence or authorized representative.