Vietnam Market Entry Checklist for SMEs – 2025 Edition

Vietnam Market Entry Checklist: What Every Europe SME Needs to Succeed in 2025:

Is your business ready for Vietnam? This actionable checklist outlines everything SMEs need to prepare for a successful market launch in 2025—from legal setup to sales channels.

✅ 1. Define Your Market Entry Goals

• What’s your objective (sales, sourcing, manufacturing, JV)?
• Are you targeting B2B or B2C customers?

✅ 2. Research Your Industry in Vietnam

• Market size & trends
• Competitors
• Legal/regulatory barriers

✅ 3. Choose an Entry Mode

• Representative office
• Joint venture
• Wholly foreign-owned enterprise (WFOE)
• Local distributor/agent

✅ 4. Assess Legal and Regulatory Requirements

• Business registration
• Foreign ownership restrictions
• Licensing
• Tax obligations

✅ 5. Plan Your Go-To-Market Strategy

• Sales and distribution setup
• Local pricing
• Marketing (digital/local events)

✅ 6. Localize Your Offering

• Product fit for Vietnamese buyers
• Language & packaging adaptations
• After-sales service setup

✅ 7. Build the Right Local Team

• Key hires: Country manager, sales, admin
• HR compliance
• Local employment contracts

✅ 8. Secure Local Partnerships

• Legal advisors
• Industry associations
• Logistics/freight partners
• Consultants like GTI Partner

✅ 9. Prepare Financially

• Initial investment budget
• Working capital needs
• Expected ROI timeframe

✅ 10. Set KPIs & Track Performance

• Market share
• Sales targets
• Customer acquisition cost (CAC)

⚠️ Tip: Before diving in, make sure you avoid these 5 critical mistakes SMEs make when entering Vietnam.

This checklist is your starting point. GTI Partner specializes in guiding SMEs through every phase—from market validation to post-launch support. Contact us to get personalized insights for your expansion.