The Investment Law stipulates
I. State policies on investment and business
1. Investors have the right to conduct investment and business activities in sectors and professions that are not prohibited by this Law.
2. Investors have the autonomy to decide on investment and business activities in accordance with this Law and other relevant laws; they have access to and use credit sources, support funds, land and other resources in accordance with the law.
3. The State recognizes and protects the ownership rights of investors regarding property, investment capital, income, and other legitimate rights and interests.
4. The State treats all investors equally; it has policies to encourage and facilitate investors in carrying out investment and business activities, and in the sustainable development of economic sectors.
5. The State respects and implements international treaties related to investment and business to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a party.
II. Industries and professions prohibited from investment and business activities.
1. The following investment and business activities are prohibited:
a) Trading in narcotic substances as prescribed in Appendix 1 of this Law;
b) Trading in chemicals and minerals specified in Appendix 2 of this Law;
c) Trading in specimens of wild plants and animals as prescribed in Appendix 1 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Plants and Animals; specimens of endangered and rare wild animals and plants of Group I originating from nature as prescribed in Appendix 3 of this Law;
d) Engaging in prostitution;
d) Buying and selling people, human tissues, and human organs;
e) Business activities related to human cloning.
2. The production and use of products specified in points a, b, and c of Clause 1 of this Article in analysis, testing, scientific research, medicine, pharmaceutical production, criminal investigation, national defense, and security shall be carried out in accordance with the regulations of the Government.
III. Sectors and business activities subject to conditional investment
1. Conditional investment and business sectors are those in which investment and business activities must meet certain conditions for reasons of national defense, national security, social order and safety, social morality, and public health.
2. The list of conditional investment and business sectors and professions is stipulated in Appendix 4 of this Law.
3. The investment and business conditions for the industries and professions specified in Clause 2 of this Article shall be stipulated in laws, ordinances, decrees, and international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a party. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, People's Councils, People's Committees at all levels, and other agencies, organizations, and individuals are not permitted to issue regulations on investment and business conditions.
4. Investment and business conditions must be regulated in accordance with the objectives stipulated in Clause 1 of this Article and must ensure openness, transparency, objectivity, and cost savings for investors in terms of compliance time and expenses.
5. Conditional investment and business sectors and the investment and business conditions for those sectors must be published on the National Business Registration Portal.
6. The government shall provide detailed regulations on the publication and control of investment and business conditions.
Based on socio-economic conditions and state management requirements in each period, the Government shall review the sectors and professions prohibited from investment and business, the List of sectors and professions subject to conditional investment and business, and submit to the National Assembly for amendment and supplementation of Articles 6 and 7 of this Law through the simplified procedure.
