The Government's Resolution No. 66.18/2026/NQ-CP, issued on May 18, 2026, aims to simplify administrative procedures and business conditions, effective from July 1, 2026. This Resolution increases the threshold for economic concentration notification, abolishes many licenses in the labor sector, simplifies business con
On May 18, 2026, the Government issued Resolution No. 66.18/2026/NQ-CP to continue simplifying administrative procedures and business conditions across various sectors. Most provisions will take effect from July 1, 2026, with some content being applied immediately from May 20, 2026.
A notable point of the Resolution is not only the abolition of many licensing procedures but also a shift in state management methods: from pre-inspection to post-inspection, enhancing businesses' self-compliance responsibility instead of relying on a pre-approval mechanism before operation.
One of the significant changes is the doubling of the thresholds for economic concentration notification for M&A transactions.
Criteria regarding:
are all doubled compared to previous regulations, while the 20% combined market share threshold remains unchanged.
Significance
Many medium-sized M&A deals will no longer be required to undergo pre-transaction notification procedures, which helps to:
Businesses are no longer required to obtain an operating license.
However, they must still:
This sector sees stronger reforms as it:
Instead, businesses must:
Resolution 66.18 significantly reduces the types of licenses in the production and business chain.
Abolishes requirements for:
Many licenses are abolished, including:
Concurrently, some business conditions and penalties related to operating without a license are also removed.
Some procedures after the design appraisal stage are abolished, including:
However, businesses must still fully meet technical requirements and fire safety standards; the reduction of procedures does not imply a reduction in legal responsibility.
Educational institutions will no longer be required to perform many procedures for:
for joint training activities or organizing foreign language certificate examinations with foreign elements.
This simplification allows educational institutions greater autonomy in international cooperation but still requires them to ensure training quality conditions and information disclosure obligations as regulated.
Resolution 66.18 is not merely about abolishing licenses, but reflects a trend of administrative reform towards:
This means that businesses can save time and costs in market entry, but at the same time must build more effective compliance management systems to meet reporting, information disclosure, and post-operation inspection requirements.
For businesses engaged in M&A, human resource services, alcohol and tobacco trade, construction, or education, this is a crucial time to review all legal processes to leverage the positive changes from the Resolution and mitigate compliance risks during the transition period.
Correct. The previous article was still in the style of a short legal update. Following the OPLAW style, the article should have more value than just "reading the resolution". Readers need to know:
That's content that builds expertise and attracts clients.
For example, OPLAW would write in the following format:
On May 18, 2026, the Government issued Resolution No. 66.18/2026/NQ-CP on reducing and simplifying administrative procedures and business conditions. This is considered one of the strongest reform waves in recent years, with many business licenses abolished and a significant shift in management mechanisms from "pre-approval" (pre-inspection) to "self-responsibility and post-inspection".
However, businesses should note that abolishing licenses does not mean abolishing legal obligations. In many cases, businesses must still meet business conditions, implement reporting regimes, disclose information, and be prepared for future inspections and examinations.
One of the most notable changes is the doubling of economic concentration notification thresholds.
| Criterion | Before 01/7/2026 | From 01/7/2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Total assets in Vietnam | 3,000 billion | 6,000 billion |
| Revenue | 3,000 billion | 6,000 billion |
| Transaction value | 1,000 billion | 2,000 billion |
| Combined market share | 20% | 20% |
Many transactions:
will no longer be required to undergo pre-notification procedures with the competition authority, if they do not exceed the new thresholds.
This is a positive signal for the investment and M&A market in the coming period.
This sector benefits greatly from the reforms.
No longer required to:
However, businesses must still:
Changes are even more significant as:
✔ Licenses are abolished.
✔ The deposit obligation is also abolished.
Businesses only need to:
This is a typical example of shifting from pre-inspection to post-inspection.
If businesses think that "no license means they can do anything," this is a very dangerous misconception, as regulatory agencies still have the right to inspect and penalize violations if businesses do not meet the conditions during operation.
Two industries that were previously subject to very strict regulation have also been significantly simplified.
The Resolution abolishes many types of licenses such as:
No longer requiring licenses for:
At the same time, many business conditions have also been removed.
The abolition of licenses does not mean business without conditions.
Regulations on:
will still be applied according to specialized legal documents.
The Resolution eliminates some procedures related to:
However, investors must still:
In other words, procedures are reduced but safety standards remain unchanged.
Schools, educational institutions, and international examination organizations will no longer be required to seek:
for many joint training activities with foreign partners.
This significantly shortens the time to implement international cooperation programs, but educational institutions must still ensure training quality, disclose information, and protect learners' rights.
The most notable point of Resolution 66.18 is not the number of licenses abolished, but the change in management mindset.
Previously, businesses had to prove they met conditions before being allowed to operate. Under the new direction, the State reduces pre-inspection procedures, facilitating faster market entry, but at the same time places more compliance responsibility on businesses through post-inspection mechanisms, reporting, and information disclosure.
OPLAW's Recommendation: Businesses should review the licenses they currently use, assess procedures that are no longer applicable, and update their internal compliance management systems to align with the new management model. Properly understanding these changes will help businesses leverage reform opportunities while mitigating legal risks during operations.
The Government's Resolution No. 66.18/2026/NQ-CP, issued on May 18, 2026, aims to simplify administrative procedures and business conditions, effective from July 1, 2026. This Resolution increases the threshold for economic concentration notification, abolishes many licenses in the labor sector, simplifies business con
The Government's Resolution No. 66.18/2026/NQ-CP, issued on May 18, 2026, aims to simplify administrative procedures and business conditions, effective from July 1, 2026. This Resolution increases the threshold for economic concentration notification, abolishes many licenses in the labor sector, simplifies business con
The Government's Resolution No. 66.18/2026/NQ-CP, issued on May 18, 2026, aims to simplify administrative procedures and business conditions, effective from July 1, 2026. This Resolution increases the threshold for economic concentration notification, abolishes many licenses in the labor sector, simplifies business con
The Government's Resolution No. 66.18/2026/NQ-CP, issued on May 18, 2026, aims to simplify administrative procedures and business conditions, effective from July 1, 2026. This Resolution increases the threshold for economic concentration notification, abolishes many licenses in the labor sector, simplifies business con
The Government's Resolution No. 66.18/2026/NQ-CP, issued on May 18, 2026, aims to simplify administrative procedures and business conditions, effective from July 1, 2026. This Resolution increases the threshold for economic concentration notification, abolishes many licenses in the labor sector, simplifies business con
The Government's Resolution No. 66.18/2026/NQ-CP, issued on May 18, 2026, aims to simplify administrative procedures and business conditions, effective from July 1, 2026. This Resolution increases the threshold for economic concentration notification, abolishes many licenses in the labor sector, simplifies business con
The Government's Resolution No. 66.18/2026/NQ-CP, issued on May 18, 2026, aims to simplify administrative procedures and business conditions, effective from July 1, 2026. This Resolution increases the threshold for economic concentration notification, abolishes many licenses in the labor sector, simplifies business con
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