Under Resolution No. 66.18/2026/NQ-CP, from 1 July 2026 Vietnam no longer issues, amends, supplements or re-issues licences for alcohol retail, wholesale, distribution or production. Businesses no longer need an alcohol retail licence but must still comply with rules on food safety, labelling, origin of goods and prevention of alcohol-related harm. 7S Law advises businesses on trading lawfully during the transition.

1. Who this service is for

a) Shops and retail chains: selling alcohol that need to review compliance obligations after the licence was abolished.

b) Importers and distributors: that need import documents, product declarations, labels and distribution agreements.

c) Restaurants, hotels and bars: selling alcohol for on-site consumption that must comply with sales and advertising rules.

d) Holders of old licences: that need to understand the status of their licences during the transition.

2. Scope of work

a) Compliance review: comparing business activities with current rules on alcohol, food safety, goods labelling and origin of goods.

b) Import and declaration advice: product declaration for alcohol, sub-labels and proof of origin for inspections.

c) Drafting agreements: distribution, agency and sale agreements with suppliers and customers.

d) Sales and advertising advice: prohibited acts, advertising limits, sales to persons under 18 and online sales.

e) Support during inspections: preparing documents, working with market surveillance authorities and providing explanations.

The following are quoted separately when required: product testing, translation and legalisation of foreign documents and representation in contract disputes.

See also: Food product declaration, Business licences, Legal advice.

3. Process

Step 1. Intake: 7S Law receives information on the business model, sources of goods, sales channels and existing documents

Step 2. Review and report: 7S Law compares activities with the rules and reports obligations and risks

Step 3. Completing documents: 7S Law drafts agreements, declaration dossiers, sub-labels and documents to keep on site

Step 4. Related procedures: 7S Law handles procedures that still apply, such as product declaration and enterprise registration

Step 5. Ongoing support: 7S Law updates clients on new regulations and supports them during inspections

4. Timeline and deliverables

A compliance review and report is usually completed within 3 to 5 working days of receiving complete information. Product declaration and import procedures depend on the receiving authority.

Note: actual timelines may change if the authority requests supplements or amendments, if documents are provided late or incomplete, or if procedures or laws change.

Deliverables: the compliance review report, a list of obligations, the drafted agreements and dossiers and the results of related procedures.

5. Service fees

Fees are quoted separately according to the scope of each matter, based on the following factors:

Note: Service fees exclude 8% VAT, government fees, translation, certification, consular legalisation and travel expenses. The exact fee is confirmed in a fee proposal before work begins.

For a tailored fee proposal, please call +84 877 523 888 or email lienhe@7slaw.vn.

6. Information we need from you

Enterprise or household business registration certificate; alcohol licences previously issued (if any); product list, suppliers and proof of origin; product labels; description of sales channels and advertising.

7. Legal basis

The legal framework for alcohol trading is changing. 7S Law applies the following instruments and updates clients when new guidance is issued:

a) Resolution No. 66.18/2026/NQ-CP dated 18 May 2026 of the Government on decentralisation, reduction and simplification of administrative procedures, applicable from 1 July 2026

b) Law No. 24/2026/QH16 dated 24 August 2026 amending the Law on Investment, effective from 1 March 2027

c) Law on Prevention and Control of Harmful Effects of Alcohol and Beer No. 44/2019/QH14 dated 14 June 2019, effective from 1 January 2020

d) Decree No. 105/2017/ND-CP dated 14 September 2017 on alcohol trading, as amended by Decree No. 17/2020/ND-CP

e) Law on Food Safety No. 55/2010/QH12 dated 17 June 2010, effective from 1 July 2011

8. About 7S Law

7S Law has offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, works in Vietnamese and English, and serves Vietnamese companies, foreign-invested enterprises and individuals.

9. Frequently asked questions

a) Is an alcohol retail licence still required from 1 July 2026?

No. Under Resolution No. 66.18/2026/NQ-CP, from 1 July 2026 Vietnam no longer issues, amends, supplements or re-issues alcohol retail licences or other alcohol trading licences. Businesses must still comply with the rules in force on food safety, labelling, origin of goods and prevention of alcohol-related harm.

b) Is alcohol trading still a conditional business line?

Law No. 24/2026/QH16 amending the Law on Investment removes alcohol trading from the list of conditional investment and business lines, effective from 1 March 2027.

c) What happens to alcohol retail licences already issued?

Businesses do not need to amend or renew licences under the old regime. 7S Law recommends keeping the licence and proof of origin for inspections.

d) Which acts are still prohibited?

The Law on Prevention and Control of Harmful Effects of Alcohol and Beer still prohibits selling alcohol to persons under 18, advertising alcohol of 15 degrees or more and other acts. 7S Law reviews each business's sales channels.

10. Contact 7S Law

CÔNG TY CỔ PHẦN TƯ VẤN VÀ DỊCH VỤ LUẬT 7S (7S Law Consulting and Services JSC)
Address: No. 60, Lane 18 Mac Thai To Street, Yen Hoa Ward, Hanoi, Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh City office: 18th Floor, TNR Tower, 180 Nguyen Cong Tru Street, Ben Thanh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City
Hotline: +84 877 523 888 | Email: lienhe@7slaw.vn
Send us your request via the contact page.