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Market Entry into Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand
We support your expansion into Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand: from market analysis and choosing how to be present to registration, licenses, taxes and hiring staff.
Southeast Asia is not a single market, so Southeast Asia market entry starts with picking the right country. Vietnam is chosen for manufacturing, IT and moving supply chains. Indonesia is the region's largest digital economy, with a big market for e-commerce, consumer goods and fintech. Thailand is strong in the automotive industry and logistics, and it has a separate economic zone for investors in the east of the country. Each country has its own rules for foreign capital, its own licenses and its own hiring requirements.
We do not start with registration but with the question of what kind of presence you need. Sometimes it is a full company; sometimes a representative office or hiring through an EOR is enough, a service that formally employs your staff while you have no legal entity in the country. From there we run the project in stages: market analysis, registration, licenses, taxes, HR and payroll.
Who it is for
- Manufacturers moving or expanding production in Asia
- Online businesses and e-commerce entering Indonesia or Vietnam
- IT companies setting up development teams in the region
- Companies that need to hire staff in a country without their own legal entity
- Trading and logistics companies working with Thailand
Requirements
- A clear business model and a clear goal for entering a specific market
- A choice of presence: company, joint venture, representative office or EOR
- Compliance with foreign ownership limits for the chosen activity
- Sector licenses and permits if the activity is regulated
- Compliance with local labor and tax law
What we do
- Analyze the market, competitors and the right jurisdiction
- Choose the form of presence and check foreign capital restrictions
- Register a company, joint venture or representative office
- Obtain sector licenses and permits
- Set up tax registration and local compliance
- Arrange hiring, payroll and EOR
Key documents
- Description of the business and your plans in the country
- Parent company incorporation documents with legalization and translation
- Passports of the founders and future managers
- Details of ultimate beneficial owners
- Documents for sector licenses, depending on the activity
How it works
- Market analysisdemand, competitors, country and city of presence
- Form of presencecompany, representative office or EOR; foreign capital restrictions
- Registrationsetting up the legal entity and receiving the registration documents
- Licenses and taxessector permits and tax registration
- Teamhiring, employment contracts, payroll or EOR
Timeline
Timing depends on the country, the form of presence and licenses; hiring through an EOR can start faster than registering a company.
Timelines are approximate: government agencies, consulates and banks set them.
What to watch out for
- Foreign ownership is limited in some sectors, so the structure must be checked before registration
- Registration and licensing in these countries usually take longer than in Singapore or Hong Kong
- Mistakes in employment contracts and payroll lead to fines
- Rules change often, so we check the requirements as of the project start date
FAQ
How much does it cost?
Our service fee is on request. Government fees, translations, insurance and other mandatory costs are paid separately; we send the full estimate before you sign.
Which Southeast Asian country should I choose?
It depends on your goal. Vietnam suits manufacturing and IT teams, Indonesia suits work with a large consumer market and online sales, and Thailand suits the automotive industry and logistics. We compare the countries against your business model.
Can a foreigner fully own a company in these countries?
In many sectors, yes, but in some activities foreign ownership is limited or needs special permission. The rules differ by country and change often, so we check your activity before registration and choose the structure accordingly.
What is an EOR and when do I need one?
An EOR (employer of record) is a service that formally employs your staff and pays their salaries under local rules. It is a convenient way to start working in a country without your own legal entity, or to test the market before registering a company.
How long does Southeast Asia market entry take?
It depends on the country, the form of presence and the licenses. Hiring through an EOR can start faster, while registering a company with sector licenses takes longer. We give a timeline after the analysis.
Can I start with one country and expand later?
Yes, that is the most common approach. Many companies set up a regional hub in Singapore and then open operating entities in Vietnam, Indonesia or Thailand as the business grows and the market proves itself.
Do you guarantee the result?
No. Decisions are made by government agencies, consulates and banks. We are responsible for preparing and checking documents, filing and support, and we tell you about the risks upfront.
Related programs
Let’s discuss your case
We will check whether the program fits your citizenship, income and family, and send an estimate with the full list of costs.
