How to Choose a Great Company Name in Vietnam?
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Before you can officially register your company in Vietnam, one of the first steps is choosing the right name. It’s more than just a label—your company’s name will be displayed everywhere, from signage and stamps to invoices, representing your business both on paper and in the real world.
This decision carries weight. Changing your company’s name later, as your business grows, can complicate your marketing, branding, and even legal matters. So, it’s essential to get it right from the start.
Understanding Vietnam's Company Name Structure
According to Vietnam’s Law on Enterprise (Article 37.1 of Law No. 59/2020/QH14), your company can have three types of names:
- Vietnamese name
- Foreign-language name
- Abbreviated name
Vietnamese Name
The Vietnamese name of your company consists of two parts:
- Type of Enterprise
- Proper Name
For example, if you’re forming a single-member LLC and want to call it “ABC,” your company’s Vietnamese name could be:
- Công ty Trách nhiệm hữu hạn Một Thành Viên ABC
- Công ty TNHH Một Thành Viên ABC
- Công ty TNHH MTV ABC
- Công ty TNHH ABC
For Joint-Stock Companies (similar to Corporations in the U.S.), you would only use “Công ty Cổ phần.”
Your company’s Vietnamese name can only include characters from the Vietnamese alphabet, numerals, and symbols like F, J, Z, W.
Foreign-Language Name
A foreign-language name is a direct translation of your company’s Vietnamese name into a language that uses the Latin alphabet. It’s important to note that non-Latin script names (e.g., Chinese, Japanese, Arabic) cannot be used.
When translating, you can choose whether to translate the proper name of your company. For example, “Công ty Trách nhiệm hữu hạn Ong Vui Vẻ” could be translated as “Happy Bee Limited Liability Company” or “Ong Vui Ve Limited Liability Company,” but not as “Happy B Limited Liability Company.”
Abbreviated Name
The abbreviated name of your company can be a shorter version of either the Vietnamese or foreign-language name.
For instance, “Công ty Trách nhiệm hữu hạn Ong Vui Vẻ” could be abbreviated as “Công ty TNHH Ong Vui Vẻ” or “Happy Bee LLC.”
Key Requirements for Your Company Name
Uniqueness
Your company’s Vietnamese name must be unique across the entire country. However, this rule doesn’t apply to the foreign-language or abbreviated versions of the name.
No Confusion with Other Companies
Your company’s name cannot be confusingly similar to another company’s name. This applies if:
- The Vietnamese name sounds the same as another registered company.
- The abbreviated name is identical to another company’s abbreviated name.
- The foreign-language name is identical to another company’s foreign-language name.
- Your company’s proper name differs from another company’s proper name only by a numeral, letter, or symbol such as “&” or “-.”
Restrictions on Certain Names
You cannot use the name of a government agency, military unit, or political organization as part of your company’s name unless you have their explicit consent.
How to Check If Your Company Name Is Available
Before submitting your Enterprise Registration Certificate (ERC) application, you’ll need to ensure that your chosen name is available:
- Use the Vietnam National Portal on Business Registration: www.dangkykinhdoanh.gov.vn.
- Alternatively, websites like www.masothue.com can help.
- For a more thorough check, consulting with an attorney, such as Fareast Legal, can confirm not only if your name is unique but also if it complies with all registration requirements.
Proper Use of Your Company Name
Once registered, you must ensure your company name is used correctly:
- The name should be displayed prominently at your head office, branches, and business locations.
- It must be printed on all transactional documents, including papers and invoices.
- If you have a foreign-language name, it should always be in a smaller font size than the Vietnamese name wherever it appears.
By following these guidelines, you’ll be well on your way to choosing a strong and compliant name for your business in Vietnam.
Ready to name and register your company in Vietnam?
Contact Fareast Legal today for expert help. Let’s make the process simple—reach out now!
OR CALL
(+84) 87 763 4224
OR MAIL
INFO@FAREAST-LEGAL.COM
Disclaimer: The contents of this article are for informational purposes only and may not apply to all situations. For assistance related to your specific issues, please contact us for support from our team of legal experts.
This article was first published on August 23, 2024, and last updated on August 23, 2024.
Author: Tony Nguyễn
Category: Business Law
