To run tours for Vietnamese travelers within the country, an enterprise must obtain a domestic travel business license. Unlike international travel licensing, this procedure is handled at the provincial level and requires a much lower deposit — just VND 100 million (applicable from 01/01/2024). This guide covers the conditions, dossier, procedure, and practical notes.
1. Conditions for domestic travel business (Clause 1, Article 31, Tourism Law 09/2017/QH14)
An enterprise may provide domestic travel services when it meets three conditions:
- (a) Lawfully established under enterprise law;
- (b) A deposit for domestic travel business placed at a bank;
- (c) The person in charge of the travel business: graduated intermediate level or higher in a travel-related major; graduates of other majors must hold a certificate in domestic tourism operation.
Compared with international travel, the qualification bar for the person in charge is one step lower (intermediate instead of college) — matching the typical scale of domestic travel firms.
2. Deposit: VND 100,000,000 — applicable from 01/01/2024
Under Clause 1, Article 14 of Decree 168/2017/ND-CP, the deposit for domestic travel business is VND 100 million, applicable from 01/01/2024. It is placed in Vietnamese dong at a commercial bank, cooperative bank, or foreign bank branch in Vietnam and maintained throughout operations.
Note: the reduced VND 20 million level under Decree 94/2021/ND-CP was temporary and expired on 31 December 2023 — current applications use the VND 100 million level.
Notable exception (Clause 3, Article 30, Tourism Law): an enterprise already holding an international travel business license (having deposited VND 250/500 million) may also provide domestic travel services without any additional deposit.
3. Licensing dossier (Article 32, Tourism Law)
- Application form for a domestic travel business license;
- Copy of the Enterprise Registration Certificate;
- Certificate of deposit for domestic travel business;
- Diplomas/certificates of the person in charge of the travel business, with the appointment decision or labor contract.
4. Licensing authority — and a naming note after the 2025 restructuring
The license is granted by the provincial Department of Tourism or Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism where the enterprise is headquartered. Practical note: following the 2025 two-tier government restructuring, department names and structures may have changed by locality — verify the currently competent authority in your province/city before filing.
5. Can a foreign-invested enterprise do domestic travel?
No — not independently. Under Clause 4, Article 30 of the Tourism Law, foreign-invested enterprises may only provide international travel services for international tourists to Vietnam (inbound). Foreign investors targeting the domestic market need an appropriate legal structure respecting this limitation.
6. Common risks and recommendations
- Wrong deposit amount: mistakenly applying the expired VND 20 million level instead of VND 100 million;
- Unqualified person in charge: a non-travel major degree without the domestic tourism operation certificate;
- Operating before licensing: signing tour contracts or taking deposits without a license violates business conditions;
- Failing to maintain the deposit: improper withdrawal or release during operations.
7. Frequently asked questions
How long does a domestic travel license take?
Article 32(2) of the Law on Tourism requires the licensing authority to appraise and issue the license within 10 days of receiving a complete and valid dossier. A complete, correctly formatted dossier from the start avoids returns and delays.
With an international travel license, is a separate domestic license needed?
No additional deposit is required (Clause 3, Article 30), but the enterprise must still complete procedures to have domestic travel recorded within its licensed scope.
Can a foreign-invested company obtain a domestic travel license?
No — independent domestic travel business is off-limits to foreign-invested enterprises under Clause 4, Article 30 of the Tourism Law.
Legal sources
- Tourism Law 09/2017/QH14 — in force (effective 01/01/2018);
- Decree 168/2017/ND-CP — in force; VND 100 million deposit applicable from 01/01/2024.
See also: Legal Guidebook for Electronics Manufacturing Investors in Vietnam.
Need help with travel licensing? Contact FLAT Law Firm.
For reference only; not legal advice for your specific case. This article has been quality-checked (QA) by the AI Legal Council and has not been reviewed by a human lawyer.