FDI Investment in River Cruises and Floating Restaurants in Vietnam
In recent years, Vietnam has emerged as an attractive destination for investment in high-end experiential tourism, especially river cruises and floating restaurants. With its dense river systems, long coastline, and open foreign investment policies, Vietnam offers great opportunities for FDI investors wanting to tap into the potential of river tourism — a model gaining popularity globally.
The FDI Investment Potential in River Cruises and Floating Restaurants in Vietnam
Vietnam possesses over 3,000 km of coastline and thousands of rivers and waterways spread across the country. Famous river routes such as the Saigon River, Han River, Perfume River, Tien River, and Hau River are becoming centers for river tourism development. Many localities, especially Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hue, Ha Long, have planned or are developing tourist piers, cruise docks, and riverside dining zones to attract investment.
According to the Vietnam Tourism Development Strategy through 2030, the Government encourages foreign investment in high-end tourism infrastructure, including culinary tourism. This opens significant opportunities for international investors seeking to participate in this relatively new but highly promising sector.
Market Trends for River Tourism
The growth of the middle class and the return of international tourists to Vietnam are driving strong demand for luxury experiential services like river dinner cruises, sightseeing cruises, or enjoying Vietnamese cuisine on water. According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, both domestic and international tourist numbers increased by more than 20 % compared to the same period in 2023, demonstrating the upward momentum of the domestic luxury tourism sector.
Legal Basis for FDI Operations in River Cruises and Floating Restaurants
FDI operations in this field are governed by the Investment Law 2020, the Enterprise Law 2020, and the Consolidated Inland Waterway Transport Law (16/VBHN-VPQH 2019). These regulations permit foreign investors to invest and do business in Vietnam, provided they comply with the specific conditions applicable to each industry.
Operating Conditions for River Cruises and Floating Restaurants
Under the Inland Waterway Transport Law and Decree 24/2015/NĐ-CP, river cruises operating in Vietnam must:
Have a Certificate of Registration as an inland waterway vessel;
Be inspected for technical safety and environmental protection;
Obtain a license for tourist passenger transport by water if they carry passengers;
Comply with regulations on fire prevention, traffic safety, and water environmental protection.
For floating restaurants or cruise vessels offering food services, investors also need a Certificate of Food Safety (under the Food Safety Law 2010) and a license to operate tourism service business.
Location and Investment Planning
River cruise and floating restaurant operations are allowed only in areas zoned for tourism or local waterway transport.
For example, Ho Chi Minh City is developing tourist piers in Bạch Đằng, Thủ Thiêm, and Khánh Hội, while Da Nang is planning cruise routes on the Han-Cửa Đại river corridor. Site selection must consider traffic and environmental planning and must have the approval of the Department of Transport and the Department of Tourism before project implementation.
DEDICA — Your Legal Companion in River Tourism FDI
With experience in advising foreign investment, DEDICA Law Firm has helped many international investors successfully implement projects in Vietnam.
If you are an international investor looking for opportunities in luxury experiential tourism in Vietnam, let DEDICA Law Firm accompany you on the journey to build a legal, safe, and effective project.
Contact DEDICA Law Firm for in-depth legal consultation!
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