On March 31, 2026, the Government issued Decree 96/2026/ND-CP providing details and guidelines for implementation of certain provisions of the Law on Investment (Decree 96), effective from the date of issuance, replacing Decree 31/2021/ND-CP. This Decree introduces and refines numerous provisions, offering greater procedural flexibility for investment activities while also clarifying market access conditions and targeted investment incentive policies. The following highlights the key changes under Decree 96 that investors should be aware of when implementing investment activities in Viet Nam:

(i) Decree 96 permits the establishment of an economic organization before obtaining an Investment Registration Certificate;
(ii) Decree 96 expands the entities eligible for special investment incentives in strategic technology and semiconductor sectors;
(iii) Decree 96 adjusts the list of conditional market access sectors for foreign investors.