Does opening a bar or pub require a “security and order license”? The answer depends on the venue’s actual activities: the law has no concept of “bar/pub” — it regulates only karaoke and dance halls. This article explains the conditions, dossier, and procedures for the two related licenses under Decree No. 96/2016/ND-CP (as amended by Decrees No. 56/2023/ND-CP and No. 58/2026/ND-CP) and Decree No. 54/2019/ND-CP (as amended by Decree No. 148/2024/ND-CP), in force as of 14 October 2026.
When do bars and pubs fall under the certificate requirement?
Clause 21 of Article 3 of Decree No. 96/2016/ND-CP lists only “karaoke, dance halls” — there is no separate “bar/pub” entry. Therefore:
- Bars/pubs with karaoke rooms or dance floors → must obtain the Certificate of eligibility for security and order;
- Bars that only serve drinks (including alcohol) with background music, without singing rooms or dance floors → not covered by the certificate requirement.
It is incorrect to state absolutely that “every bar must hold the security and order license” — the actual activities control.
Two separate licenses, in the correct order
When a bar operates karaoke/dance hall services, the owner needs two separate licenses, in this exact order:
- Certificate of eligibility for security and order — issued by the police (for karaoke: commune-level police, under Article 24 of Decree No. 96/2016/ND-CP as amended by Decree No. 58/2026/ND-CP, effective 15 March 2026);
- License for karaoke/dance hall business — issued by the provincial-level state cultural management authority (Article 9 of Decree No. 54/2019/ND-CP).
The security and order certificate is a prerequisite for the karaoke/dance hall business license (Article 10 of Decree No. 54/2019/ND-CP) — the order must not be reversed.
Conditions for dance hall business (Article 5, Decree 54/2019)
- Be a lawfully established enterprise or household business;
- Meet fire prevention and fighting and security and order conditions;
- Usable business area of 80 m² or more (excluding ancillary structures);
- No interior door latches or alarm devices (except fire alarms);
- Be located at least 200 m from schools, hospitals, religious establishments, and historical/cultural relics.
Conditions for karaoke (distinguished from dance halls)
Each karaoke room must have a usable area of 20 m² or more per room — not to be confused with the 80 m² dance hall threshold. On the security and order assurance plan (Article 8 of Decree No. 96/2016/ND-CP): karaoke is not required to have a plan, while dance halls must — do not merge the two.
Karaoke operating hours: from 8:00 to 24:00; no operation from 0:00 to 8:00 (Article 7 of Decree No. 54/2019/ND-CP), including public holidays.
Procedure for the dance hall business license (Article 11, Decree 54/2019)
- File one dossier set (request Form No. 01 + copy of the security and order certificate) in person, by post, or online with the provincial cultural authority;
- If the dossier is incomplete, the receiving authority notifies completion requirements within 1 working day;
- Issuance within 5 working days of receipt of a complete, valid dossier;
- A refusal must be in writing with reasons stated.
Dossier for the security and order certificate (when the bar has karaoke/dance hall)
The same as the general dossier under Article 19 of Decree No. 96/2016/ND-CP: written request (Form No. 03 issued with Decree No. 56/2023/ND-CP); copy of enterprise/household business registration; fire prevention and fighting eligibility documents; background declaration (Form 02) with criminal record certificate, or personnel declaration (Form 02b) with passport/residence card. Processing: no more than 5 working days. File in person, by post, or via the National Public Service Portal / VNeID.
Note: karaoke inside a hotel or bar still needs its own security and order certificate — it cannot “ride on” the lodging establishment’s certificate.
Bars selling alcohol on-site must also comply with alcohol trading rules under Decree No. 105/2017/ND-CP (as amended by Decree No. 17/2020/ND-CP).
Disclaimer: This article is for general reference only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws may change; please consult a lawyer for your specific case.
Transparency label: This article was drafted and quality-reviewed by FLAT’s AI Legal Council (an internal AI review panel) under the “no sloppy legal content” standard; it has not been approved by a human lawyer.
Need help with the security and order certificate and karaoke/dance hall license for your bar? Contact FLAT Law Firm for advice.