Before you register your company in Vietnam, ensure your name meets the Ministry of Planning and Investment’s (MPI) requirements. Use our Vietnam Company Name Search tool to confirm availability.

Disclaimer: This tool offers a preliminary check for company name availability in Vietnam. However, final confirmation and approval depend on the Department of Planning and Investment (DPI).

Mandatory Naming Guidelines as Required by Vietnamese Enterprise Law

Distinctiveness

The company name must be distinctive and not identical or confusingly similar to an existing registered name in Vietnam. Conducting a Vietnam company name search helps confirm that your chosen name is available before registration.

Structure

The Vietnamese company name must include two parts:

  1. A proper name, which may use Vietnamese letters and the characters F, J, Z, W, along with numerals and symbols.
  2. The type of enterprise (e.g., Công ty TNHH, Công ty Cổ phần, Doanh nghiệp Tư nhân)

Display and Usage

Your company name must appear on all official signage, transaction documents, and publications. It must be clearly visible at your registered office, branches, and representative offices.

Foreign and Abbreviated Names

You may register a foreign-language name (often in English) and an abbreviated name in addition to the Vietnamese version. The foreign name must be written using Latin letters and displayed in a smaller font size than the Vietnamese name.

Prohibited Words

Company names must not:

  • Imitate or mislead the public about the company’s identity or function.
  • Contain offensive, discriminatory, or culturally inappropriate language.
  • Use names of state agencies, armed forces, or political organizations without permission.

Vietnam’s DPI requires each company name to include the correct legal suffix. This clarifies your business structure and establishes its legal standing.

Limited Liability Company (LLC)

Use “Công ty Trách nhiệm hữu hạn” or the abbreviation “Công ty TNHH” to indicate a limited liability company, clarifying ownership and legal responsibilities.

Joint Stock Company (JSC)

Include “Công ty Cổ phần” or the abbreviation “Công ty CP” to show it is a joint-stock company, providing clarity on shareholder liability.

Partnership

The suffix “Công ty Hợp danh” or the abbreviation “Cong ty HD” is used to identify the business as a partnership, highlighting shared responsibility among partners.

Private Enterprise (Sole Proprietorship)

Must include “Doanh nghiệp Tư nhân” or the abbreviation “DNTN” to mark the company as a sole proprietorship.

Branch or Representative Office

Names must add “Chi nhánh” (Branch) or “Văn phòng Đại diện” (Representative Office) to show it is part of a parent company and not a separate legal entity.

Company Data Available Through Our Company Search Tool

Check vital details of Vietnamese businesses from registrations to management through our official Companies House search tool.

1. Company Profile

The company profile provides essential information about a Vietnamese company’s identity and operations, including:

  • Business Activities: Overview of the company’s operations.
  • Company Name: The registered official name (and any previous names, if applicable).
  • Registration Number: Unique identifier assigned upon registration with the DPI.
  • Date of Incorporation: When the company was legally established.
  • Company Type: Specifies if it is an LLC, joint-stock company, sole proprietorship, etc.
  • Status: Active, inactive, or dissolved.
  • Registered Address: The official business address.

2. Ownership and Management

You can also view details on the company’s ownership and leadership:

  • Directors and Officers: Names, appointment dates, and roles within the company.
  • Shareholders: Individuals or corporate entities and their respective holdings.

3. Additional Information

The search tool may also provide other relevant data for due diligence:

  • Auditors: Details of the company’s auditors.
  • Registered Assets and Liabilities: Information on charges or mortgages against the company.
  • Financial Summary: Key items such as capital, reserves, retained earnings, revenue, and profit/loss.
Can two companies use the same proper name if they’re in different legal forms?

Typically, no, as the registration office assesses identity or confusing similarity of the proper name itself. Changing the enterprise type (TNHH or CP) usually won’t avoid a conflict if the proper name is identical or confusingly similar.

Should I file several name options?

Yes, best practice is to prepare 2-3 backup names. Some registration forms encourage multiple options so the DPI can issue approval quickly if the top choice is taken. Different DPI offices may have different preferred practices, so be sure to check with your local jurisdiction office.

Can the name reservation be done online?

Yes, Vietnam’s National Business Registration Portal supports online name searches and filings; many DPIs accept or require online submissions. Using a service provider like Emerhub can simplify the e-filing and tracking process.

Is registering a company name the same as trademarking?

No, a company name or registered enterprise name is an administrative registration that enables incorporation. A trademark registration grants exclusive rights for commercial use in specific classes. For brand exclusivity, file a trademark application alongside the name reservation.

Can I change my company name after registration?

Yes, you can do so by filing a formal change of enterprise registration to amend your Enterprise Registration Certificate with the DPI, submit supporting corporate resolutions, update tax authority records, bank accounts, invoices, signage, and sectoral licenses. It is a standard and multi-step administrative process.

What is the practical difference between the Vietnamese name, the foreign name, and the abbreviated name?

You only need to register the Vietnamese name; the rest are optional, but most businesses register them anyway. Note that company name registration is not a substitute for trademark protection.

  • The Vietnamese name is the legally required primary name used for official documents.
  • A foreign name is optional, and is useful for international branding, but must be subordinate in display.
  • Abbreviated name is optional, but is commonly used on invoices or branding.

Vietnam Company Registration Insights and DPI Guidelines