Foreign NGOs engaged in humanitarian and development activities in Viet Nam shall make registration with the competent Vietnamese state agency.  

Under the Government’s Decree 12/2012/ND-CP, dated March 1, 2012, a foreign NGO may be considered for obtaining an operation registration certificate, a project office registration certificate or a representative office registration certificate.

Article 6 stipulates procedures for granting an operation registration certificate. Accordingly, a foreign NGO wishing to operate in Viet Nam must:

1. Have the legal person status under the law of the country where it is established.

2. Have a clear operation charter and guidelines.

3. Have a plan on humanitarian and development activities in Vietnam through programs, projects or non-project aid in line with socio-economic development policies of the Vietnamese State.

A foreign NGO applying for an operation registration certificate shall submit a dossier (a dossier in a foreign language must be enclosed with a lawfully certified Vietnamese translation) directly, by post or through a foreign-based Vietnamese representative mission to the Committee for Foreign Non-Governmental Organization Affairs. A dossier comprises:

1. The foreign non-governmental organization's application signed by a competent person, to the Committee for Foreign Non-Governmental Organization Affairs, containing the following details:

- Full and abbreviated names of the organization, address of its head office.

- Operation guidelines and objectives.

- Summary of the organization's history and development.

- Funding sources and capacity.

- Programs, projects and/or operation plan in VietNam.

- Commitment to strictly observing Vietnamese law and respecting traditional customs and practices of Vietnam.

2. A copy of the foreign non-governmental organization's charter which is legalized, unless otherwise provided by a treaty which Viet Nam has signed or acceded to.

3. The original or a certified copy of the legal status certificate issued by a competent authority of the country where the organization is established or headquartered, which is legalized, unless otherwise provided by a treaty which Viet Nam has signed or acceded to.

Within 45 working days after receiving a complete and valid dossier, the Committee for Foreign Non-Governmental Organization Affairs shall notify in writing the result to the concerned foreign non­governmental organization.

If being approved to obtain an operation registration certificate, a foreign NGO shall send the application to receive the operation registration certificate directly at the office of the Committee for Foreign Non-Governmental Organization Affairs.

An operation registration certificate is valid for three years from the date granted./.