Vietnam Restaurant Market Overview
₫650 trillion (~US$26B)
Market Size
9.5%
Annual Growth
540,000+
Restaurants
45,000+
New/Year
₫1.2 billion/year
Avg Revenue
2.5 million
Employed
Startup Costs in Vietnam
Estimated investment ranges based on restaurant size and concept (in VND)
₫200,000,000 - ₫1,000,000,000
Street food stall, pho shop or small cafe
₫1,000,000,000 - ₫4,000,000,000
Casual dining restaurant (30-80 seats)
₫4,000,000,000 - ₫15,000,000,000
Fine dining or hotel restaurant (80+ seats)
Required Licenses & Permits
Essential permits you'll need to legally operate a restaurant in Vietnam
Enterprise Registration Certificate (ERC)
Business registration with DPI (LLC or sole proprietorship)
Authority: Department of Planning & Investment (DPI)
Food Safety Certificate (Giấy chứng nhận VSATTP)
Mandatory for all F&B establishments
Authority: Department of Health / Department of Industry & Trade
Fire Safety Approval (PCCC)
Fire prevention & firefighting certificate from police
Authority: Ministry of Public Security (PCCC)
Liquor Retail Licence
Required to sell alcohol on-premise
Authority: Department of Industry & Trade
Environmental Protection Plan
Wastewater & waste management approval
Authority: Department of Natural Resources & Environment
Investment Registration Certificate (IRC)
Required for foreign-invested F&B businesses (FDI)
Authority: DPI / Ministry of Planning & Investment
Typical Operating Costs
Tax Information
Sales Tax / VAT
VAT: 8-10% (reduced 8% rate may apply)
Corporate Tax
20% Corporate Income Tax (CIT)
Employment Tax
Social/Health/Unemployment Insurance: ~21.5% employer contribution
Key Regulations to Know
Important compliance requirements for restaurant operators in Vietnam
Market Opportunities
- Highest F&B growth in SEA (9.5%/yr)
- 100M population, median age 33
- Vibrant cafe culture (Highlands, Phuc Long, The Coffee House)
- Booming food delivery (ShopeeFood, GrabFood, BeFood, GoFood)
- Rising middle class & dining-out frequency
- Free Trade Agreements (EVFTA, CPTPP) ease F&B imports
- Tourism rebound (18M+ international arrivals/yr)
Key Challenges
- Strict drink-drive enforcement (Decree 100) hurts evening dining
- Foreign investment licensing complexity (IRC)
- Cash-heavy & QR payment landscape (MoMo, ZaloPay)
- Rapid rent increases in HCMC D1
- Local taste preference for value over premium
🍽️Popular Cuisines in Vietnam
Top Locations to Consider
Official Resources
Government and industry resources to help you get started in Vietnam