International Tour Operator License in Vietnam: The Bank Deposit Requirement
An international travel service business in Vietnam must place and maintain a bank deposit for as long as it operates — a distinctive requirement most other licenses on this site don't have.
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A License Built Around a Deposit, Not Just Paperwork
Under Article 31 of the Law on Tourism 2017, running an international travel service business in Vietnam is conditional on placing a bank deposit before the business can actually operate — not just meeting a documentation checklist.
Conditions
Per Clause 2, Article 31 of the Law on Tourism 2017, an international travel service business must meet all of the following.
- Be an enterprise established under the Law on Enterprises.
- Hold a deposit for the international travel service business at a bank.
- The person in charge of the travel service business must hold a college degree or higher in a travel-related major — or, if their degree is in another field, hold a professional certificate in international tourism operations.
The Deposit
The deposit level and method are set by Decree 168/2017/ND-CP as amended by Decree 94/2021/ND-CP — RedTab confirms the current figure for your case, since it depends on the scope of operation.
- The deposit is placed in Vietnamese Dong at a commercial bank, cooperative bank, or a foreign bank branch established and operating in Vietnam.
- It earns interest per the agreement between the enterprise and the deposit-receiving bank.
- It must be maintained for as long as the enterprise operates travel services — not a one-time payment, and not tied to a separate certificate expiry date.
Deposit Process
The deposit itself follows its own procedure under Article 15 of Decree 168/2017/ND-CP, separate from the license application.
- The enterprise sends a deposit request to the bank; the two parties enter into a deposit contract.
- The bank receives the funds and blocks the deposited amount per the contract, then issues a Certificate of Deposit for the travel service business.
- If funds are withdrawn from the deposit account, the enterprise has 30 days to top it back up to the required level — non-compliance triggers a written notice from the bank to the licensing agency for remedial action.
Legal basis: Law on Tourism 2017, Decree 168/2017/ND-CP, Decree 94/2021/ND-CP. Content last verified 2026-07-29.
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