If you want to open a beauty salon in Vietnam as a foreigner, the first step is not signing a lease or buying equipment. It is defining exactly which services the studio will provide. A non-medical beauty or wellness concept may be feasible through a foreign-invested company, but massage, cosmetic retail, medical devices, injections, lasers and other invasive procedures can change the licensing path significantly.
This guide explains the main questions foreign investors should review before launching a beauty salon, facial studio, body-care centre or wellness business in Vietnam.
Can a Foreigner Own a Beauty or Wellness Business in Vietnam?
Potentially, yes. Foreign investors can establish businesses in Vietnam, but the permitted ownership structure and approval process depend on the investor’s nationality, applicable treaties, the registered business lines and the precise services offered.
There is no safe one-size-fits-all answer. A studio limited to non-medical skincare and beauty services is very different from a clinic offering injectable treatments or procedures using regulated medical equipment. Authorities review the actual service scope, not only the brand name shown on the storefront.
Step 1: Define the Exact Service Scope
Before preparing an investment application, list every service, product and device the studio intends to use. Typical activities may include:
- basic facials and non-invasive skincare;
- nail, hair, makeup and beauty services;
- relaxation-oriented body care;
- wellness coaching or non-medical lifestyle services;
- massage or bodywork;
- retail sales of cosmetics;
- import or distribution of cosmetic products;
- laser, injection, skin-penetrating or other medical-aesthetic procedures.
Small wording differences matter. For example, lymphatic-style bodywork described as relaxation or general wellness is not the same as advertising diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation or a medical outcome. Marketing claims, staff qualifications and equipment should all match the approved business scope.
Non-Medical Beauty Services vs Medical Aesthetic Services
A conventional beauty salon generally stays within non-invasive services that do not diagnose or treat disease and do not break the skin. In contrast, medical aesthetics may involve injections, surgery, prescription-based treatment, invasive procedures, regulated lasers or medical devices.
Medical-aesthetic services fall within Vietnam’s healthcare framework. They normally require an appropriately licensed medical facility, approved technical scope, qualified practitioners and compliance with the conditions established under Decree 96/2023/ND-CP and related healthcare rules. A standard beauty-company registration does not authorize a business to operate as a medical clinic.
Investors should therefore classify each proposed treatment before purchasing machines, hiring specialists or publishing a service menu.
Foreign Ownership and Market-Access Review
Foreign ownership cannot be confirmed from the words “beauty salon” alone. The competent authority may consider Vietnam’s international commitments, the investor’s nationality, the CPC or VSIC classification, whether services are supplied directly to consumers and whether goods trading is included.
A market-access review should answer four questions:
- Is the activity open to foreign investment under an applicable treaty or Vietnamese law?
- Is full foreign ownership available, or is a Vietnamese partner or additional approval required?
- Are there conditions relating to experience, facilities, staff or operating licences?
- Does the planned product sales or import activity require separate trading rights?
Vietnam’s WTO profile and schedules are useful starting points, but the final analysis should also reflect current domestic regulations and the proposed project documents.
Company Registration and Investment Procedures
A foreign investor will normally need to complete the applicable investment and enterprise registration procedures before the company can operate. Depending on the structure, this commonly includes an Investment Registration Certificate and an Enterprise Registration Certificate, followed by tax, bank, capital-contribution and post-licensing tasks.
The application usually explains the project objective, service scope, location, investment capital, implementation schedule and investor capacity. Consistency is essential: the lease, floor plan, registered lines, equipment list and business plan should describe the same real project.
For an overview, see TICA TrustLegal’s guide to Vietnam business registration and our company formation services in Vietnam.
Is There a Minimum Capital Requirement?
For an ordinary non-medical beauty or wellness studio, the law does not generally prescribe a single fixed minimum capital amount simply because it is a salon. However, the proposed capital must be credible for the project.
Authorities may compare the declared investment with rent, renovation, equipment, staffing, deposits, marketing and working capital. An unrealistically low figure can weaken the application. Regulated medical activities or other conditional sectors may have different financial or facility requirements.
Premises and Operating Conditions
A suitable address should be checked before a long-term lease is signed. The premises must be legally usable for the proposed commercial purpose, and the landlord should be able to provide supporting ownership and leasing documents.
Operational checks may include:
- planning and permitted use of the premises;
- fire prevention and fighting requirements;
- sanitation, water supply, waste handling and ventilation;
- privacy and safe separation of treatment areas;
- equipment origin, maintenance and user instructions;
- signage, advertising and consumer information;
- labour, payroll, tax and accounting compliance.
Do not assume that a landlord’s acceptance means the location is licensable. A preliminary legal and technical review should be completed first.
When Are Additional Licences Required?
Massage and bodywork
Massage services can be subject to security and public-order conditions, including a Certificate of Eligibility for Security and Order under Decree 96/2016/ND-CP and its current implementing framework. The responsible person, premises and operating records may need to satisfy specific conditions.
Medical aesthetics
Injections, surgical procedures, skin-penetrating treatments, regulated medical lasers and services advertised as medical treatment should not be offered under an ordinary salon licence. The facility and practitioners must hold the approvals required for the specific medical scope.
Cosmetic retail and import
Selling cosmetics may add retail or distribution activities to the project. Importing products can also require checks on trading rights, business licensing, customs, labelling and cosmetic product notification. A service company should not automatically assume it can import and resell any product.
Staffing and Work Permits
Vietnamese employees should have suitable training for their assigned work and be engaged under compliant labour arrangements. If a foreign founder or specialist will work in Vietnam, work-permit or exemption requirements should be reviewed separately from investment status.
Being an investor, owner or legal representative does not automatically resolve every immigration and labour issue. The person’s role, capital contribution, duration of work and qualifications can affect the analysis.
Practical Setup Checklist
- Prepare a detailed menu of services, products and equipment.
- Separate non-medical services from any activity that may be medical.
- Conduct a foreign-investment and market-access review.
- Select the company structure and realistic investment capital.
- Check the proposed premises before signing a binding long-term lease.
- Prepare the investment and enterprise registration applications.
- Complete capital, tax, accounting and banking procedures.
- Obtain any sector-specific licence for massage, medical services or trading.
- Hire qualified staff and address work-permit requirements.
- Review advertising claims, price lists, consent forms and operating procedures before launch.
How TICA TrustLegal Can Assist
TICA TrustLegal helps foreign investors classify their service model, review ownership options, establish the company, assess premises, coordinate licensing and build a practical compliance roadmap for operation in Vietnam.
Planning to open a beauty salon or wellness studio in Vietnam? Contact us before committing to a lease or equipment purchase.
- Hotline/WhatsApp: +84 354 658 272
- Email: tica.trustlegal@gmail.com
- Website: www.ticatrustlegal.com
Disclaimer: This article provides general information only and is not legal advice. Licensing outcomes depend on the investor, location, service scope, equipment and current regulations. Obtain a case-specific review before implementation.
