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PORTUGAL VIETNAM HISTORY PORTUGAL AND VIETNAM: 500 YEARS OF FRIENDSHIP The Portuguese were the first Europeans to arrive and settle in Hoi An in central Vietnam in 1516. Material inheritance is low, or at least little recognized. PORTUGAL VIETNAM: THE DISCOVERIES Southeast Asia ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ The First Europeans Relations between Portugal and Vietnam date from the 17th century. At that time there was not yet a country called Vietnam (Việt Nam), but rather the kingdoms of “Tonquin”, “Cochinchina” and “Champá”, as the Portuguese called them. ​ The notion of Southeast Asia is expressed politically today in a regional association of nation-states that, recognized as ASEAN , originally established in 1967, extends from Myanmar to the Philippines, bringing together Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Brunei, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. ​ At the economic level, the ASEAN region is currently experiencing a 5.1% GDP growth and a 2.7% inflation with a demographic of 649.1 million. ASEAN’s aggregate economic size surpasses US$2.9 trillion in 2018. ​ For more info access here to the ASEAN region market profile written by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council in November 2019. ​ According to Silva (2015), in 1433 the Kingdom of Annam was governed by two royal courts: the Northern Court - Đàng Ngoài (Tonkin or Tongking) of Kéchô (today Hanoi) and the Southern Court - Đàng Trong (Sikin or Siking) in the city of Taiking. Both the northern and southern people liked to identify as a single nation the ' Dai Viêt' ' Sino-Vietnamese expression meaning ‘illustrious people’ and presented themselves as such in the Chinese court. ​ In 1520 and throughout the 16th century, the Mạc dynasty was established in Hanoi while to the south were the Trinh and Nguyễn belonging to Thanh Hóa. ​ It is in this political-administrative context, according to Silva (2015), that the Europeans enter the 'Dai Viêt'. Still this author, mentions that the name Cochinchina emerges as a designation given by the Portuguese merchants of the time, being a land that, due to its maritime location and vicinity to the Chinese empire, it was both temporally and spatially distant from long sea voyages, attracting many merchants, mainly the Portuguese, Japanese and Chinese. ​ The first reference to present-day Vietnamese lands made by a European is due to Portuguese Tomé Pires and dates back to 1515. This does not mean that Tomé Pires actually landed in that part of the world, as Ribeiro (2016) states. He was aware of its existence and made reference to it in his ‘Suma Oriental ’ work. As a curiosity, this work contains the first European description of the habit of eating with chopsticks: 'they eat with two sticks, take the porcelain with the left hand, and with the right hand and mouth and sticks they serve themselves . ​ Interestingly, according to Martins (2017), both Francisco Rodrigues’ “Roteiro” (Roadmap) and Tomé Pires' “Suma Oriental” confirm the relative lack of interest of Portuguese traders in Indochina due to the lack of a clear trading advantage compared to other regions such as Malacca and Macao. Or as Silva (2015) emphasizes, in Southeast Asia, Portugal was not interested in occupying territories, as it did not have enough people or means to do so. Rather, Portugal was interested in conquering only geographical positions that would allow the nation to control the major maritime trade routes in the region. Above all, the taking of the city of Malacca was of enormous importance from this point of view, as it controlled the only navigable channel that linked the South China Sea to the Indian Ocean, which was the Malacca Strait. ​ However, the Portuguese were the first Europeans to set foot on Vietnamese soil. Fernão Peres de Andrade, as alluded to by Martins (2017), was the first to visit the region in 1516. Duarte Coelho was one of the Portuguese who most often traveled along the coast, having been commissioned by Jorge de Albuquerque, Captain of Malacca, to explore Cochinchina's 'cove', where it will have placed one or two patterns and an inscription with its name on the island of Cham (Cu Lao Cham ) dating from 1518, according to information from Fernão Mendes Pinto. The latter describes the coast in detail, including navigation difficulties, wind system, currents, landscapes, commerce, and the salt business. Nevertheless, and as Silva (2015) points out, there was some investment by the Portuguese in the study of the sea routes and cartography of the region - which allowed the development of interest in the coasts of the 'Dai Viêt' and the access of the first missionaries. ​ ​ The use of Portuguese as Lingua Franca (common language) Priest Francisco de Pina The linguist transcription According to Silva (2015), the South China Sea in the middle of which Vietnam is located, became, in the 16th century, a "Portuguese" sea. The business that was carried out in the main ports located in this sea was made in Portuguese. Even many years after the Dutch had conquered the main positions that the Portuguese held in this sea, especially Malacca, as early as the 17th century, the Portuguese language continued to be the commercial lingua franca spoken in that region of the globe. Now, after Fernão Peres de Andrade, and as Ribeiro (2016) points out, several other Portuguese arrived in what is present-day Vietnam: some performing official missions at the behest of the viceroys of India, others (the vast majority) like merchants. others (mainly Dominican and Jesuit priests) to do the evangelization and still others, for having shipwrecked on its coast. ​ The most famous Portuguese castaway to step foot in Vietnamese soil was Luís Vaz de Camões , whose ship sank in front of the low delta of the Mekong river as he drove from Macau to Goa, and reached land by swimming with one hand while holding with the other hand the work he was writing, 'Os Lusíadas'. ​ The main trace of the Portuguese presence in Vietnam is not material, but cultural: the writing of the Vietnamese language in Latin characters, as stated by Martins (2017). ​ This author also mentions Francisco de Pina , as a native of Guarda, with studies carried out at the Jesuit College of Coimbra in 1605, having left Lisbon three years later on board of the Nossa Senhora do Vencimento (Our Lady of Expiration) ship bound for Japan. He was ordained a priest, in 1616, already in the East, in Malacca, by Bishop Gonçalo da Silva. At Macau College, he taught Art and Theology. He lived for many years in Cachão, present-day Vietnam, where he studied, gave training, and evangelized. ​ According to Silva (2015), Francisco de Pina was concerned with the language learning and formation of those whom he would evangelize because he knew it was necessary to have the fundamental tools to facilitate the encounter between Cochinchinese culture and Christian ideology. Francisco de Pina worked scrupulously for the invention and development of the Latinization of the Vietnamese language, called quốc ngữ or national language. Despite what can be said and, in Silva's opinion (2015), the birth of the quôc ngữ language is first and foremost the result of a historical encounter between the Vietnamese and Portuguese languages, as Pina was aware that it provided, a meeting between two cultural worlds and two different ways of thinking, with a common ground. ​ ​ Pina, as explained by Ribeiro (2016), used the graphic annotation system that was already established for the Portuguese language, as a phonetic and graphic reference for Vietnamese language transcription, since it was previously written in ideograms similar to those used in the Chinese or Japanese writing. Thus, he romanized the language by changing to Latin characters, such as those used in the writing of Portuguese. This system and methodology were later followed by Father Gaspar do Amaral (1592-1645) and António Barbosa (1590-1647), who will have worked on a dictionary, until today unknown. Alexander de Rhodes who is chronologically the last of the three, had access to the works of his predecessors, publishing them. ​ As per Silva (2015) this linguistic transcription, was for Francisco de Pina, only a useful and effective instrument for the new religion introduced in Cochinchina, because Christianity had to accept not only the confrontation and dialogue with an already existing cultural system, but should learn to manage all the situations that it would create and build. ​ The publication of this dictionary marks the birth of quốc ngữ . Ribeiro (2016) argues, wrongly, that Alexandre de Rhodes was considered the "father" of quốc ngữ , obtaining his credits and corresponding recognition, having Francisco de Pina and the other priests fallen into oblivion. This oblivion was profoundly unfair since a French priest would not have developed a work of romanization based on the Portuguese language, but rather on the French language or, perhaps, on the Latin language, and indeed there is undeniable agreement that quốc ngữ is based on the Portuguese language. ​ Thus, and according to Silva (2015), it cannot be denied that the fact that the Chinese characters used for centuries in Vietnam were transcribed in Latin alphabet, has played a major role in the development of modern Vietnamese identity and the current economic and political position that today covers this country in the world. ​ The relationship between Vietnam and Portugal (called Bồ Đào Nha in Vietnamese) has always been peaceful. ​This text has been adapted based on the following bibliographical sources: ​_Martins, Guilherme d’Oliveira. 2017. Uma Civilização Antiga. Boletim do Centro Nacional de Cultura no âmbito do Ciclo de Viagens: “Os Portugueses ao encontro da sua história”. August 26th to September 9th. ​_Ribeiro, Fernando. 2016. 500 anos de relacionamento entre Portugal e o Vietname. Blogue: A Materia do Tempo. ​ _Silva, Regina Célia de Carvalho Pereira da. 2015. Francesco Buzomi e Francisco de Pina no VietNam do Sul: Fragmentos de um paradigma religioso-cultural imperial. Università degli Studi di Napoli l’Orientale, Itália. ​ ​

We Are Coming SOON Chamber of Commerce and Industry Portugal-Vietnam The Chamber of Commerce and Industry Portugal-Vietnam (CCIPV) was established under the no. 3 of article 12th of Decree-Law no. 244/92 of 29 October, and amended by Decree-Law no. 81/2000 of 10 May, and by Decree-Law No. 154/2017 of December 28 of the Portuguese Government. CCIPV Representative office in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, was established under Decree-Law no. 28/2018/ND-CP of 1 March, with the license No.0018/XTTM-VPDD. ​ CCIPV is a non-profit private independent organization that proposes to promote its Associates interests regarding the commercial ties between businesses and individuals of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Portuguese Republic, being financed solely through its Associates quotas and the services provided. ​ ​ Get On The List Sign up to receive the first word when we go live. First Name Last Name Email Subscribe Thanks for submitting! . Who Are We

Get Started Let’s give your business what it needs to grow. Contact CAN WE HELP? We wish to receive your questions, concerns, or proposals. If you are responsible for your company's exports, or for foreign investments, or would like to propose a partnership, please contact us. ​ ​ Let's Chat Use the form to request information on various topics. ​ CCIPV has two offices located in Portugal and Vietnam. These are in the major cities, with teams fluent in Portuguese, English, and Vietnamese. ​ Use the form to request information on various topics. ​ ​ First Name Last Name Email Message Thank you for submitting! Send CCIPV USEFUL INFORMATION CCIPV has two offices located in Portugal and Vietnam. These are in the major cities, with teams fluent in Portuguese, English, and Vietnamese. Chamber of Commerce and Industry Portugal - Vietnam Private non-profit association. ​ NIPC 514524553 CAE/P 94995 CAE/S 82300, 85591, 82990 BANK ACCOUNT NUMBER 3-5657419.000.001 BANK ACCOUNT HOLDER CCIPV - Câmara de Comércio e Indústria Portugal-Vietname IBAN PT50 0010 0000 56574190 0015 5 BIC/SWIFT BBPIPTPL ​ EMAIL info@ccipv.com ​ SOCIAL MEDIA ​ ​ ​ VIETNAM | HO CHI MINH CITY 5F, Deutsches Haus, 33 Le Duan St., Dist. 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam +84 (0) 28 3827 2705 ​ PORTUGAL | LISBON Avenida da Liberdade, 110, 1º 1269 - 046 Lisboa. Portugal +351 213 404 669 ​ ​

BILATERAL RELATIONS A REMARKABLE PROGRESS Brief and summary information regarding Portugal's bilateral relations, including dates of the establishment of diplomatic relations and first diplomatic mission. DIPLOMACY Diplomatic relations between the two countries began on May 22, 1956, through the recognition of the Republic of South Vietnam by Portugal, and were established on July 1, 1975, already as the current Republic Socialist of Vietnam. ​ The first diplomatic mission was made on February 23, 1981, by the Ambassador resident in Bangkok, Kingdom of Thailand, José Renato Pinto Soares, through credentials as non-resident in Hanoi, capital of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. ​ The jurisdiction of the consular area of ​​the Portuguese Embassy in Bangkok comprises, in addition to Thailand and Vietnam, Malaysia, Burma, Laos, and Cambodia. ​ ​ PORTUGUESE EMBASSY TO THE KINGDOM OF THAILAND Portuguese Embassy to The Kingdom of Thailand Contacts 26, Bush Lane, Bangkok 10500 Thailand Embassy | 0066 (0) 22342123 Embassy |0066 (0) 22340372 Chancery |bangkok@mne.pt Consular Section | sconsular.bangkok@mne.pt ​ Opening hours Monday to Friday: 08:30 - 12:30 and 13:30 -16:30 ​ Consular public counter opening hours Monday to Friday: 08:30 - 12:30 ​ The above information is the responsibility of the Portuguese Embassy. ​ ​

Top of Page History Economy Location Climate Population How to do business VIET NAM THE ASCENDING DRAGON Learn the most significant aspects about the most charming country in the Southeast Asia Location Geographical Location Vietnam is located on the eastern margin of the Indochinese peninsula. It borders the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin, and the Pacific Ocean, along with China, Laos, and Cambodia. The elongated roughly S-shaped country has a north-to-south distance of 1,650 km (1,030 mi) and is about 50 km (31 mi) wide at the narrowest point with a coastline of 3,444 km (2,140 mi), excluding islands. The country is divided into the highlands and the Red River Delta in the north; the Central mountains, the coastal lowlands; and the Mekong Delta in the south. ​ ​ Climate Climate Vietnam's climate, being located in the tropics, the climate is monsoonal with four distinct seasons (Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter) in the north while in the south (areas south of the Hải Vân Pass), the climate is tropical monsoon with two seasons (rainy and dry). The diverse topography, a wide range of latitudes (Vietnam spans over 15° of latitude), and influences from the South Asian Sea lead to climatic conditions varying significantly between regions. During summer, On average, eleven storms and tropical low pressures develop in the South Asian Sea of which half are tropical cyclones that originate from the western Pacific. These storms and cyclones then move westwards towards Vietnam. On average, Vietnam is affected by six to eight typhoons or tropical cyclones per year. ​ ​ Population POPULATION Vietnam's current population is 96,915,639 on January 16, 2020, according to the latest figures from the United Nations. Vietnam's population currently accounts for 1.25% of the world's population and it is ranked t14th the population rankings of countries and territories in the world. 35.92% of the population lives in urban areas (34,658,961 in 2018). The average age in Vietnam is 32.5 years old. ETHNIC GROUPS The Vietnamese government recognizes 54 ethnic groups, of which the Viet (Kinh) is the largest; according to official Vietnamese figures (2009 census), ethnic Vietnamese account for 85.7% of the nation's population and the non-Vietnamese ethnic groups account for the remaining percent. Religions: Religion in Vietnam is quite diverse, including Buddhism, Christianity, Cao Dai, and some other religions. At the same time, ancestor worship is a popular form of religious activity practiced by the majority of the population. LANGUAGE Vietnamese is the official language of the country. ​ ​ Population History Brief History Vietnam's recorded history dates back to the mid-to-late 3rd century BC when Nam Viet was established. Vietnam's peculiar geography made it a difficult country to attack, which is why Vietnam under the Hùng kings was for so long an independent and self-contained state. Once Vietnam did succumb to foreign rule, however, it proved unable to escape from it, and for 1,000 years, Vietnam was successively governed by a series of Chinese dynasties. During these 1,000 years, there were many uprisings against Chinese domination. Ngo Quyen, King of Vietnam, 938–944 restored sovereign power in the country, the next millennium was advanced by the accomplishments of successive dynasties. The French Empire reduced Vietnam to a French dependency for nearly a century (1858 - 1945), followed by the occupation of the Japanese Empire. Political upheaval and Communist insurrection put an end to the monarchy after World War II, and the country has proclaimed a republic. The Geneva Accords in 1954 partitioned the country temporarily in two with a promise of democratic elections in 1956 to reunite the country. North and South Vietnam, therefore, remained divided until The Vietnam War ended with the Fall of Saigon in 1975. ​ After reunification in 1975, the newly reunified Vietnam faced many difficulties. In 1986, the Communist Party of Vietnam changed its economic policy and began a series of reforms to the private sector and to the economy through. Ever since the reforms in the mid-1980s, Vietnam has enjoyed substantial economic growth. ​ ​ Economy Economy Through a short review, stay abreast of recent economic developments Vietnam's population is expected to expand to 120 million before moderating around 2050. Today, 70% of the population is under 35 years of age, with a life expectancy of 76 years, the highest among countries in the region at similar income levels. VIETNAM’S DEVELOPMENT OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS HAS BEEN REMARKABLE Economic and political reforms under “Đổi Mới”, launched in 1986, have spurred rapid economic growth, transforming what was then one of the world’s poorest nations into a lower-middle-income country. Between 2002 and 2018, more than 45 million people were lifted out of poverty. Poverty rates declined sharply from over 70% to below 6% (US$3.2/day PPP), and GDP per capita increased by 2.5 times, standing over US$2,500 in 2018. Vietnam now is one of the most dynamic emerging countries in the East Asia region. In the medium-term, Vietnam’s economic outlook is positive Despite signs of cyclical moderation in growth. Real GDP growth is projected to remain robust at around 6.5% in 2020 and 2021. Annual headline inflation has been stable for the seven consecutive years – at single digits, trending towards 4% and below in recent years. The external balance remains under control and should continue to be financed by strong FDI inflows which reached almost US$18 billion in 2018 – accounting for almost 24% of total investment in the economy. Source: World Bank ​ ​ How to do business How to do Business in Vietnam Elementary Information to start your activity in Viet Nam ESTABLISH A COMPANY IN VIETNAM GENERAL FRAMEWORK ​ Legal entities: The two most common legal entity types to set up in Vietnam are a limited liability company (LLC) and a joint-stock company (JSC). An LLC can have 1 to 50 members who are also known as founders or owners and do not have any shareholders. The alternative to an LLC is to set up a joint-stock company (JSC), also known as a shareholding company which has 3 to an unlimited number of shareholders. ​ Here are some requirements for setting up a company in Vietnam: ​ ALLOWED FOREIGN OWNERSHIP Vietnam allows 100% foreign ownership in most sectors. For example, trading, IT, manufacturing, education sectors welcome foreign investment. Some business lines such as advertising and tourism, however, require a Vietnamese joint venture partner. The World Trade Organization (WTO) agreements regulate the allowed foreign ownership in different business lines. However, if there are no WTO agreements or local laws regulating foreign ownership in that business line, you will need Ministry-level approval to set up your company. ​ MINIMUM CAPITAL REQUIREMENT In general, there is no minimum capital requirement in Vietnam and the most common amount of minimum capital in Vietnam is USD 10,000. However, there are also some business lines in Vietnam that have a minimum capital requirement such as real estate companies, banks, insurance, audit service, etc. ​ REGISTERED ADDRESS AND PERSONNEL Service-based businesses can use a virtual office for registration purposes. Manufacturing companies or companies which require a retail or business space for conducting their activities, on the other hand, need a physical business location in Vietnam. All companies in Vietnam require at least one resident director. The appointed director needs a residential address in Vietnam. If the director is also a founder, he or she will not require a work permit. If the director is not a founder and is a foreign national, he or she will need a work permit in Vietnam. PROCESS OF COMPANY REGISTRATION ​ 1. Investment license. 2. Business registration certificate. 3. Tax registration. 4. Capital contribution; and 5. Follow-up activities (ex. product registration) ​ ​ TAX SYSTEM ​ The tax system in Vietnam consists of the following main taxes: ​ CORPORATE INCOME TAX (CIT) ​ Enterprises producing and trading goods and services and earning income shall be liable to pay CIT. The standard CIT rate shall be 25%. Preferential CIT rates of 10% and 20% are available for enterprises investing in geographical areas with socio-economic difficulties, economic zones, hi-tech parks, or encouraging investment sectors for a certain period of time. When the period for the enjoyment of preferential rates expires, the CIT rate generally reverts back to the standard rate. The duration for application of tax rate incentives is counted from the first year an enterprise has turnover. The tax exemption or reduction duration is counted from the first year an enterprise has taxable income; in case an enterprise has no taxable income for the first three years from the first year it has turnover, the tax exemption or reduction duration is counted from the fourth year. ​ IMPORT – EXPORT DUTIES ​ Export duties Export is encouraged and thus, almost all goods and services being exported are exempt from tax. Export duties are only charged on a few items, basically natural resources such as minerals, forest products, and scrap metal. Rates range from 0% - 45%. The price for the computation of export duties is the Free-On-Board (FOB) price of the invoice. ​ Import duties ​ Generally, all goods crossing Vietnamese borders are subject to import duties. There are some goods that are not subject to import duties such as goods transited and transported by mode of border gate transshipment through Vietnam’s border gates or border; humanitarian aid goods, non-refundable aid goods; goods imported from abroad into non-tariff zones and only used therein; goods brought from one non-tariff zone to another. Consumer goods, especially luxury goods, are subject to high import duties, while machinery, equipment, materials, and supplies needed for production, especially those items which are not produced domestically, enjoy lower rates of import duties, or even a 0% tax rate. Duty rates for imported goods shall include (i) standard rate, (ii) preferential rate, and (iii) special preferential rate depending on the origin of the goods. VALUE-ADDED TAX (VAT) ​ VAT applies to goods and services circulated and consumed in Vietnam. VAT is collected through production, trading, and provision of services. ​ Applicable VAT rates are 0%, 5%, and 10%, respectively. The VAT system of Vietnam is also characterized by two types of VAT payers: deduction method VAT payers and direct method VAT payers. Most companies and business organizations are deduction method VAT payers. SPECIAL SALES TAX (EXCISE TAX) OR (SCT) ​ Special sales tax is levied on the following products and services: Cigarettes, cigars; Spirits; Beers; Automobiles of less than 24 seats; Assorted types of petrol, naphtha, reformat components, and other components to be mixed in petrol; Air conditioners with a capacity of 90,000 BTU or less; Playing cards; Votive paper and some special services, including dancing halls, massage lounges, karaoke parlors, casinos, jackpots betting entertainment, golf, and lotteries. Special sales tax rates range from 10% to 75%. Goods and services subject to the special sales tax are also subject to the VAT with a rate of 10%. Special sales tax on imports is calculated on the basis of the price of taxable import plus import duties plus VAT. ​ PERSONAL INCOME TAX (PIT) ​ Residential individuals residing in Vietnam for an aggregate of 183 days or more within a consecutive 12-month period from the first date of arrival, or in subsequent calendar years; or having a permanent accommodation in Vietnam, including having an accommodation registered for permanent residence or having a leasing house to stay in Vietnam in accordance with a fixed-time contract and having an income rising inside and outside Vietnam territory and non-residential individuals have an income rising inside Vietnam territory are subject to PIT. Personal Income tax rates levied on income from businesses, salaries, wages are applied according to the progressive tax rate schedule. ​ Expatriates or foreign individuals working in Vietnam are allowed to transfer their income abroad after income tax and other payroll withholdings. LABOUR LAW Vietnam’s labor legislation and its implementation in practice are well developed. It covers almost all aspects of labor relations in the workplace from the right to work to the right to organize workers, from labor contracts to collective bargaining agreements, from minimum working ages to minimum wages, etc. For more information access here . ​ ​