ASEAN market-entry playbooks
Direct presence across five markets — and 17 years of FDI advisory behind every entity we set up.
Each playbook covers what to incorporate, how long it takes, who you need on the ground, and the regulatory traps that catch first-time entrants. Pick a market to start.
Five markets, one operator
Direct presence in each — not partnerships, not referrals. Every playbook is staffed by Viettonkin people on the ground.
Vietnam
ASEAN's fastest-growing major economy: 101.3 million people, USD 514 billion GDP (2025), and 8.02% real growth in 2025, the second-highest annual rate…
Indonesia
ASEAN's largest economy: 284 million consumers, USD 1.40 trillion GDP (2024), and a top-10 economy by purchasing power parity. With the PT…
Thailand
ASEAN's manufacturing powerhouse and the regional anchor for automotive, electronics, and increasingly data-centre investment. 66 million people, USD 545 billion GDP (2024),…
Singapore
ASEAN's regional headquarters and holding-company hub. 6.11 million people, USD 521 billion GDP (2024), 2025 growth of 5.7% (a 14-year high), and…
One team across the region beats five separate vendors
One contract, one PM, one bill
No coordinating across five law firms in five timezones. We own the entire multi-country flow — your engagement is one SOW with one accountable lead.
Real offices, not paper partnerships
Six Viettonkin offices on the ground in HCMC, Hanoi, Jakarta, Bangkok, Singapore. Your work is done by employees, not subcontractors invoicing through us.
Pattern-recognition compounds
We've handled 1,000+ FDI engagements since 2009. The traps in Vietnam are different from Indonesia — but we've seen all of them, often enough that we cost them in upfront.
Our office network
Six offices across ASEAN. Find the team nearest your home market — or talk to our Ho Chi Minh headquarters about regional expansion.
Headquarters
Ho Chi Minh City
VietnamNo. 29 Road D6, Saigon Pearl, 92 Nguyen Huu Canh Street, Ward 22, Binh…
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Regional
Singapore
Singapore10 Anson Road, 22-01-10 International Plaza, Singapore
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Regional
Hanoi
VietnamLevel 5, No. 111 Trung Phung Street, Tho Quan Ward, Dong Da District, Hanoi
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Regional
Jakarta
IndonesiaSona Topas Tower, 21st Floor, Jl. Jend. Sudirman No.kav 26, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta…
Visit officeWhat we are watching, by country
Recent regulatory changes and on-the-ground signals from each market.
Vietnam FDI Outlook 2025: Unlocking Real Estate Ownership Opportunities for Foreign Investors
Vietnam stands as a dynamic frontier for foreign direct investment (FDI), and at the heart of this allure lies its burgeoning real…
A Complete Guide to Business Licenses in Indonesia for New Companies
In Indonesia, business licenses play a crucial role in pursuing legal compliance and performing smooth business operations. More than being the legal…
Public Holidays in ASEAN countries (Part 2 – Thailand)
Thailand is the second-largest economy in Southeast Asia (SEA), behind Indonesia. Asides, this country was made of an intriguing, diverse, and traditional culture…
Public Holidays in ASEAN countries (Part 3 – Singapore)
Singapore is a melting pot of diverse cultures with a socio-cultural fabric of Chinese, Malaysian, Indian, among others. This distinct yet harmonious…
Common questions about ASEAN expansion
Five answers we give every week. Need a specific take on your situation? Ask our team directly .
Which ASEAN market should I enter first?
It depends on your product, target customer, and regulatory tolerance. Vietnam suits manufacturing + tech; Indonesia for consumer scale; Singapore for regional HQ + financial services; Thailand for logistics + assembly; Hong Kong as the gateway for Greater China. Our market-readiness diagnostic gives a go/no-go in two weeks.
Do I need a local entity to operate?
For sustained presence, yes — most ASEAN regulators require a registered entity to invoice, hire, or lease. The exception is short-term market testing via Employer of Record (EOR), which lets you hire 1-3 staff without a local legal entity for up to 12 months.
How long does company registration take?
Vietnam: 4-6 weeks for an FDI-approved LLC. Indonesia: 6-8 weeks (PT PMA). Singapore: 1-2 weeks (Pte Ltd). Thailand: 4-6 weeks (BOI takes longer). Hong Kong: 1 week. We handle the entire incorporation flow including bank account opening, director nominee where allowed, and post-incorporation tax registrations.
Can you handle multi-country expansion in parallel?
Yes — that is our core practice. Most clients enter 2-3 markets within 18 months. We sequence incorporation, transfer-pricing structure, and inter-company agreements so the second country leverages the first instead of duplicating spend.
What is the typical engagement timeline?
Phase 1 (diagnostic + recommendation): 2-3 weeks. Phase 2 (entity setup + permits): 6-12 weeks depending on country. Phase 3 (operations support): retained monthly. Most clients move from first call to operating entity in under 4 months.
Ready to expand in Southeast Asia?
Talk to an ASEAN expert who has guided 2,000+ companies into the region.