Working with GBS for setting up a representative Office In Vietnam

I sent an email to info@gbs.com.vn  in order to request more information for setting up an office in Vietnam on Jun22.

We are pleased to assist your business in Vietnam.

1. Representative Office (“RO”)

For setting up a (“RO”) in Hanoi, our fee is USD1,200, excluding 10% VAT.  USD800 paid in advance and USD500 at the receipt of RO license.  We shall send you a clear list summarizing all thing to do by both sides upon receiving the advance.

In this RO matter, all works could be carried via email and courier.  Your Chief RO just needs to fly to Hanoi one time to collect RO seal.

Note that you need a physical address in Hanoi for RO’s registered office.

2. Other works;

Yes, we could help you  in this matter.  However, we would like more details about the work to do in order to quote fee properly.  If not, we shall collect fee based on our time spent at a charge rate of USD150 per working hour.

Should you have any other question, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Best regards

Duc Nguyen

Partner

 and within a few hours I receive a response quickly detailing the work they could do help.

We are pleased to assist your business in Vietnam.

1. Representative Office (“RO”)

For setting up a (“RO”) in Hanoi, our fee is USD1,200, excluding 10% VAT.  USD800 paid in advance and USD500 at the receipt of RO license.  We shall send you a clear list summarizing all thing to do by both sides upon receiving the advance.

In this RO matter, all works could be carried via email and courier.  Your Chief RO just needs to fly to Hanoi one time to collect RO seal.

Note that you need a physical address in Hanoi for RO’s registered office.

2. Other works;

Yes, we could help you  in this matter.  However, we would like more details about the work to do in order to quote fee properly.  If not, we shall collect fee based on our time spent at a charge rate of USD150 per working hour.

Should you have any other question, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Best regards

Duc Nguyen

Partner

I had some follow on questions and he introduce the idea that I will need to also get a temporary office space from them,  which is 200$ per month.  I tried asking him whether it might not be necessary or whether it might be a service that is less expensive comparing it to other services I have paid for  early to have a Registered Agent in a different state for less than $100 / year.
He was adamant that it was not the same level of service and he stuck to his numbers and requirement.

It is virtual office service in US. The law of Vietnam does not allow virtual office to set up a RO in Vietnam.  The Government’s view is quite old and simple that foreign company need to visit Hanoi first, then select a real office for your RO in the future.  It must be a lawful and actual office signed with the landlord

He kept calling the service a 'Nominal Address'  which struck me as strange,  I could not tell if that was the actual name of it in Vietnam or if he was attempting to describe that the fee is not much.

In addition to the details he gave me,  he also let me know that the process typically takes 2 to 4 weeks

He was pretty good with followup with me at first sending me an email after some of my questions where answered

Dear Michael,

Have you made any decision on this matter?  Thank you

Best regards

Duc Nguyen

However my lack of response as I dealt with other offices on figuring out there pricing and services ended up with him losing followup interested