OnPoint Consulting by Hau Pham

GERMAN COMPANIES ARE TAKING CONCRETE STEPS INTO VIETNAM.

17 April 2026

Germany is not yet one of the largest foreign investor groups in Vietnam. But German businesses are clearly present — and they are making repeated investment decisions.
In Q1 2026 alone (Source: Vietnam FDI Q1 2026 Report):

• 12 new German projects were recorded in Vietnam,
• 10 capital contribution / share-purchase transactions were recorded,
• registered German investment reached around USD 30.2 million, up from around USD 11.3 million in Q1 2025.
As of 31 March 2026, Germany had 523 valid projects in Vietnam, with cumulative registered investment of around USD 3.01 billion.

Vietnam brings together several factors that are hard to ignore: cost competitiveness, industrial capability, growth, and strong trade connectivity.
From a German perspective, the EU-Vietnam trade framework adds another important layer. In practical terms, the EU will progressively remove import duties on goods from Vietnam by 2027.

For companies looking at Asia, the question is often no longer whether Vietnam matters. The real question is how to enter the market in a structured and commercially sensible way.
That is exactly the kind of work I focus on. If your business is looking at Vietnam, I would be glad to exchange views.

Message me, if you like to see the full Q1 2026 report and the data covering investment from 154 countries into Vietnam (in English).

VIETNAM’S INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTER (IFC): INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO WATCH

25 March 2026

Content is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, accounting, or investment advice. It does not take into account any individual circumstances. Readers should obtain advice from qualified professional advisers before making any business, legal, or tax decisions.

Vietnam has established an International Financial Center under a “one center, two destinations” model with hubs in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, supported by Resolution 222/2025/QH15 and follow-on decrees, including a dedicated decree on IFC tax policy.

Where the opportunities are concentrating
• Capital markets, banking, and fund/asset management (HCMC hub): fundraising, investment banking, payment services, issuance/trading of financial products, and cross-border capital connectivity—areas explicitly positioned as the HCMC hub’s core.
• Fintech + digital finance (Da Nang hub): Vietnam is positioning Da Nang as an innovation-led hub with regulatory sandboxes in digital assets, digital payment services, and specialized trading platforms.
• Market infrastructure builds (institutional “picks-and-shovels”): infrastructure for custody, depository, clearing & settlement, plus digital infrastructure and cross-border payment connectivity—areas flagged as priority investment fields.
• Derivatives and tokenization-linked market deepening: international derivatives (equity/index derivatives) and R&D for asset tokenization and stablecoins are listed within the IFC’s prioritized business scope—high potential if/when implementing rules enable scaling.
• Trade finance and infrastructure funding channels: global institutions have highlighted opportunities in trade finance, corporate treasury services, and support for government bond issuance to fund infrastructure.
• Green finance and energy transition capital: investors are explicitly pointing to Vietnam’s potential in energy transition/renewables, alongside calls for stronger transparency and policy disclosure to improve market liquidity.
• Investor protection and dispute resolution upgrade: a specialized VIFC Court and VIFC Arbitration Center are designed to make high-value cross-border investing more enforceable.

Why investors should pay attention
• Regulatory “special regime”: VIFC rules may prevail over other Vietnamese laws on the same issues (except the Constitution), enabling faster policy adaptation for new financial products.
VIFC tax policy offers significant incentives, including a 10% Corporate Income Tax (CIT) for 30 years for priority industries (4 years exempt, 9 years at 50% reduction) and 15% CIT for 15 years for other industries. Personal Income Tax (PIT) is exempt for key talent until 2030.
• Dispute resolution upgrade: a dedicated VIFC Court plus a VIFC Arbitration Center.
• Cross-border flexibility: the framework contemplates greater ease for IFC members to transact with offshore investors and access offshore funding, subject to implementing rules.

Other key policies
• Visa/Residency: 10-year visas and temporary residence cards are available for eligible investors/experts/managers and their families.
• Accounting: IFC members may use International Accounting Standards (IAS) or other international GAAP rather than Vietnamese Accounting Standards (VAS).
• Foreign Exchange: Relaxed regulations for capital transfers and transactions in foreign currencies for transactions among IFC members and/or offshore counterparties.

Our observations
VIFC is architecturally closest to DIFC (Dubai International Financial Centre)/ADGM (Abu Dhabi Global Market) (financial free-zone model with dedicated legal/regulatory infrastructure), and also comparable to QFC (Qatar Financial Centre)/AIFC (Astana International Financial Centre) as “special regimes” designed to reduce cross-border friction via dedicated rules and dispute resolution.

VIETNAM WAS ADDED TO THE EU LIST OF NON-COOPERATIVE JURISDICTIONS FOR TAX PURPOSES

24 February 2026

Content is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, accounting, or investment advice. It does not take into account any individual circumstances. Readers should obtain advice from qualified professional advisers before making any business, legal, or tax decisions.

Update based on EU Council’s press release regarding EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes

On 17 February 2026, the Council adopted the EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes. Vietnam is one of the 10 countries on the list. To be considered cooperative for tax purposes, jurisdictions are screened on a number of criteria, established by the Council. The listing criteria relate to: tax transparency, fair taxation and measures against base erosion and profit shifting (‘anti-BEPS measures’).

Viet Nam was included in the EU list after the OECD Global Forum’s review revealed that the country did not meet the necessary standards for the exchange of tax information on request.

Since it was first established in 2017, the list has been updated regularly and revised as a result of dynamic monitoring of the measures implemented by jurisdictions to comply with their commitments. The list is to be updated twice a year. The latest revision took place in February 2026. The next revision is due in October 2026.

The Council announced that their aim with this list is to encourage positive change in their tax legislation and practices through cooperation. Once a jurisdiction meets all its commitments, its name is removed from the list.

In principle, the EU cannot and does not impose taxes on citizens or companies. For the EU list to be effective, it is important that EU member states put in place efficient defensive measures in non-tax and tax areas. Defensive measures help to protect EU member states’ tax revenues and fight against tax fraud, evasion and abuse. EU member states have broad discretion over the type and scope of defensive measures they apply in the tax area. These largely depend on their national tax systems. Nevertheless, there is a certain degree of coordination within the EU.

Observations (Germany-focused, indicative only):
For German groups with operations in Vietnam, the EU listing may lead to increased tax and compliance scrutiny and—depending on German implementation and effective dates under Germany’s defensive tax framework (e.g., the Tax Haven Defence rules)—potential measures such as stricter CFC / Hinzurechnungsbesteuerung for certain low-taxed subsidiary income, expanded withholding tax obligations for specific payment types, limitations affecting participation exemptions on dividends/capital gains, and restrictions on deductibility of certain expenses. The applicability, scope, and timing depend on the specific facts, payment streams, and the relevant German rules in force at the time.

VIETNAM ACCEDES TO THE HAGUE APOSTILLE CONVENTION (1961) – POTENTIAL ADMINISTRATIVE EFFICIENCY IN CROSS-BORDER TRANSACTIONS

15 February 2026

Vietnam has acceded to the Hague Apostille Convention, a development expected to enhance cross-border administrative efficiency for businesses and individuals. Germany is currently a member to the Hague Apostille Convention (1961).

Once in force, the Convention will replace the consular legalization step for qualifying public documents exchanged between Vietnam and other Convention member states. Instead of multi-layer authentication involving embassies or consulates, a single Apostille certificate issued by a designated competent authority will be sufficient.

Practical implications:

(i) Reduced procedural steps in cross-border documentation,

(ii) Shorter processing timelines, and

(iii) Lower authentication-related administrative costs.

This is particularly relevant for corporate documents, powers of attorney, commercial registrations, and certain personal status documents used in international investment, M&A, and regulatory filings.

Timing and implementation:

The Convention will take effect between Vietnam and other member states that do not object to Vietnam’s accession as of 11 September 2026. Vietnam has designated the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as the competent authority to issue Apostille certificates, including: the Consular Department (headquartered in Hanoi) and the Ho Chi Minh City Department of External Relations (Cục Lãnh sự (trụ sở tại Hà Nội) và Sở Ngoại vụ thành phố Hồ Chí Minh). However, detailed domestic implementation is still expected. Practical application will depend on these implementing measures.

Further updates will follow once Vietnam issues more concrete regulatory guidance clarifying scope, procedures, and operational details.

^{GERMANY COFFEE MARKET FOR VIETNAMESE PRODUCERS}

1 Feb 2026

1. Market Size & Importance

Germany is the largest coffee market in Europe and one of the top global hubs for coffee trade and processing.

According to Deutscher Kaffeeverband (German Coffee Association), Germany imports ~1.2–1.3 million tonnes of coffee per year (mostly green coffee).

Average amount consumed per person: ~163 liters/year, among the highest globally.

Global context:

Largest coffee consumer by volume: USA, Germany ranks top 5 worldwide and #1 in Europe (source: Deutscher Kaffeeverband, ICO).

2. Where Germany Imports Coffee from

According to Deutscher Kaffeeverband (using Destatis/Eurostat trade data):

Ranking based on Country Share of Importation:
1 – Brazil ~40% Arabica-dominated, price anchor
2 – Vietnam ~15–16% Robusta leader
3–5 Honduras, Colombia, Uganda ~4–6% each Arabica / specialty / Robusta

➡️ Vietnam is already Germany’s #2 supplier, but mainly positioned as volume Robusta

3. Form of Coffee Imported into Germany

According to Deutscher Kaffeeverband (using Destatis/Eurostat trade data), 95% of imports are green (raw) coffee beans.

After green coffee arrives (mostly via Hamburg, Europe’s largest coffee port), the German supply chain will handle storage & trading (commodity traders, houses), roasting (industrial + specialty roasters), further processing like: ground coffee, Capsules / pads and instant coffee, then re-export across Europe.

➡️ A large share of coffee imported into Germany is processed and then exported again.

For Vietnamese exporters:

Germany is not just a buyer, but a gateway to Europe.
Vietnam already plays a critical role—but future growth depends on moving from volume-only Robusta to reliability, certification, and partnership-driven supply.

Consider: Direct trade models and Long-term supply contracts (risk-sharing)

Target business: German roasters (private label, B2B) and Importers serving EU-wide distribution

Key sources: Deutscher Kaffeeverband (German Coffee Association), Destatis (German Federal Statistical Office), International Coffee Organization (ICO)