Vietnam issues decree on free trade zone establishment criteria

The Vietnamese government has issued Decree No. 378/2026/ND-CP, signed by Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Van Thang, to provide detailed regulations and implementation measures for the Law on Urban Development. A key component of this decree is the establishment of specific criteria and conditions for the creation of free trade zones.

To qualify, a free trade zone must meet several requirements, including a minimum scale of 1,000 hectares. It must possess a strategic geographical location conducive to international trade, logistics, production, and services, featuring direct connections to international seaports, airports, or financial centers. Additionally, the zone must support multimodal transport using at least two methods, such as road, rail, waterway, maritime, or air.

Other mandatory criteria include socio-economic efficiency, integrated infrastructure, and a feasible management plan utilizing digital data systems. The decree also emphasizes the necessity of robust plans for national defense, cybersecurity, data protection, and the prevention of smuggling, money laundering, and high-tech crimes.