Against the backdrop of booming global trade and the clear trend of shifting production to Southeast Asia, Vietnam has emerged as an ideal destination for foreign direct investment (FDI), especially in the production of packaging and cardboard boxes. This sector holds massive potential with increasing demand from markets such as e-commerce, agricultural products, textiles, and exports. The article below will help investors clearly understand the opportunities and legal procedures when implementing FDI investment in packaging production in Vietnam.

Why does cardboard packaging production attract FDI?

Cardboard packaging production is not merely a supporting industry, but a crucial link in the global supply chain. Foreign investors choose to invest in this sector in Vietnam for several reasons:

Domestic and export market advantages
Vietnam currently has hundreds of industrial zones in operation, driving enormous demand for packaging used in packing, preserving, and transporting goods. In addition, key export industries such as agriculture, seafood, textiles, electronics, etc., all require high-quality packaging. This creates a large, sustainable market for packaging manufacturers, particularly FDI enterprises with modern technology and professional management experience.

Government incentives
Vietnam’s current Investment Law does not restrict the packaging or cardboard box manufacturing sector for foreign investors. On the contrary, this sector is even entitled to incentives if associated with environmentally friendly technology, energy-saving solutions, or located in economically disadvantaged areas. The procedures for registering foreign investment in the production sector in Vietnam have been greatly simplified, making it easier for investors to launch their operations.

Labor and infrastructure advantages
Abundant labor pool, competitive costs, and developed seaports and industrial zones help FDI enterprises significantly reduce operational and logistics costs. This factor is especially critical for large-scale packaging production companies.

FDI investment procedures in packaging and cardboard box manufacturing
To establish a foreign-invested enterprise manufacturing packaging in Vietnam, investors need to follow the legal procedures prescribed by the current Investment Law and Enterprise Law. The main steps are as follows:

Obtain an Investment Registration Certificate (IRC)
This is the first and mandatory step for all foreign investors. The dossier includes the investment project proposal, legal documentation of the investor, proposed location, and capital scale. The licensing authority is the provincial Department of Planning and Investment where the project headquarters is planned. DEDICA regularly supports clients in drafting comprehensive dossiers and explaining legal matters to shorten approval time.

Establish the enterprise and obtain an Enterprise Registration Certificate (ERC)
After obtaining the IRC, the investor proceeds with the company establishment under the Enterprise Law. Common formats are single-member LLCs or multi-member LLCs. DEDICA advises on choosing the most suitable legal form according to the investor’s scale and business strategy.

Obtain construction and environmental permits (if applicable)
For projects constructing factory buildings, investors must handle procedures related to planning, construction permits, fire prevention, and environmental protection. These procedures can be challenging without local regulatory knowledge. With a team of lawyers and technical advisors familiar with practice, DEDICA will accompany the enterprise to expedite each step legally and swiftly.

Open an investment capital account and make capital contributions on time
FDI enterprises must open a foreign currency investment account at a commercial bank in Vietnam to execute capital contributions and remit profits abroad. This procedure is mandatory and must be completed within the timeframe specified in the IRC to avoid penalties or required investment certificate adjustments.

Post-investment legal strategy and compliance consulting
Beyond initial setup procedures, FDI investors also require long-term strategy consulting on corporate governance, tax compliance, labor, environmental protection, intellectual property, etc. If these issues are not addressed from the start, they can create significant operational risks. DEDICA provides full‑service legal support for FDI enterprises, ensuring investors always follow legal direction, mitigate risks, and save costs in the long run.

Important notes when investing in packaging production in Vietnam
Some practical insights distilled from DEDICA’s implemented projects in the packaging manufacturing sector:

Choose investment locations in industrial zones with existing wastewater treatment systems to facilitate environmental permitting.
Register appropriate industry codes matching industrial support standards to avoid export procedure complications.
Carefully estimate production capacity and warehousing to align with the registered project scale in the IRC.
Establish internal legal compliance processes from the start to ensure sustainable business operations and better risk control.

With experience accompanying many successful FDI projects in Vietnam, especially in manufacturing and industrial support, DEDICA understands every legal step from preparation and implementation to long‑term operation. We not only help you “do the right procedure” but also advise strategy suitable for Vietnam’s business culture, support land lease negotiations, machinery procurement, HR system development—everything to help your project succeed from day one.

Need advice on FDI procedures for the packaging and cardboard box industry? Let DEDICA help you turn your idea into reality in a structured and efficient manner.
Contact DEDICA Law Firm for expert legal advice!
📞 Hotline: (+84) 39 969 0012 (WhatsApp, WeChat, Zalo supported)
🏢 Head office: 144 Võ Văn Tần St., Võ Thị Sáu Ward, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City
🕒 Business hours: Mon – Fri (8:30 – 18:00)
Contact us now to receive your first free consultation from our team of professional lawyers!