The rapid expansion of coffee and dessert café chains in Vietnam is attracting significant interest from Korean and Japanese investors. Why are international F&B corporations continuously expanding? And what should businesses prepare to welcome this inflow of foreign capital? The following analysis will help you understand the trend and the legal risks when entering the market.
The Korean–Japanese Investment Wave in Vietnam’s F&B Market
Vietnam’s F&B market is facing major opportunities as many foreign investors, especially from South Korea and Japan, continue pouring capital into coffee and dessert café chains. However, behind this momentum lies a series of legal requirements that businesses must firmly understand to avoid risks.
What do Korean and Japanese investors see? Are they focusing solely on expanding chains or aiming to acquire local brands? The answer lies in rising consumer demand and the attractiveness of a young market.
Why Vietnam Appeals to Korean and Japanese Investors
Three key factors contribute to this strong appeal:
– A young population with changing consumption habits and increasing spending on beverages and dessert cafés.
– Steady growth of Vietnam’s coffee chain market, suitable for franchising and large-scale expansion.
– An increasingly open investment environment that allows foreign investors to participate deeply in the F&B sector.
Korean and Japanese investors are familiar with modern chain models and optimized operations, making it easy to apply them successfully in Vietnam. This alignment helps accelerate expansion much faster than in other industries.
Common Legal Risks When Opening F&B Chains
Despite its potential, investors still face various legal risks:
– Conditions for doing F&B business with foreign investment must be carefully reviewed under the Law on Investment and WTO Schedule.
– Procedures for obtaining the Investment Registration Certificate (IRC) and Enterprise Registration Certificate (ERC) require accurately prepared dossiers.
– Issues related to lease agreements, brand acquisition, and franchise contracts may lead to disputes if not properly drafted.
– Intellectual property rights and trademark registration are often overlooked, creating serious risks of brand imitation in Vietnam.
These factors have caused multiple coffee chain projects to be delayed or fail, even after substantial investment.
Legal Solutions for Korean and Japanese Investors Entering Vietnam’s Coffee and Dessert Café Market
To participate effectively and sustainably, investors need a clear legal strategy. This is essential to avoid cost risks, prevent disputes, and ensure operations comply with Vietnamese law.
In practice, foreign-invested coffee chains often face difficulties during the initial legal due diligence stage. Therefore, preparing a proper process early on helps save time and optimize costs.
Standard Legal Process for Foreign Investors Opening F&B Chains
A complete process includes:
Evaluating the form of investment: establishing a new company, capital contribution, brand acquisition, or franchising.
Reviewing market access conditions for F&B activities involving foreign investors.
Preparing IRC and ERC dossiers in compliance with regulations.
Drafting lease agreements, partnership contracts, and franchise agreements to minimize disputes.
Registering trademarks, formulas, and brand identity to protect intellectual property.
Completing dossiers for food safety, fire safety, labor, and tax compliance.
Assessing operational risks and standardizing internal documentation.
With this process established from the beginning, Korean and Japanese investors can expand their chains in Vietnam smoothly and legally.
DEDICA Law – Comprehensive Legal Solutions for Korean and Japanese Investors
As a law firm specializing in investment and corporate advisory, DEDICA understands the challenges foreign investors face when entering Vietnam’s F&B market. DEDICA provides:
– Investment legal consulting and full IRC–ERC application services.
– Drafting and reviewing franchise agreements, investment contracts, and lease agreements.
– Trademark protection, design copyright, and formula registration.
– Legal compliance consulting for café and dessert café chains.
– Representation in working with authorities and completing related licensing procedures.
If you are an F&B investor or brand seeking to expand your coffee chain in Vietnam, don’t let legal complexities slow you down. Let DEDICA Law accompany you from the very beginning, building an effective and compliant legal strategy.
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