Credit Checks on Vietnamese Companies: 6 Free Channels

When dealing with a business partner in Vietnam, or when you need to assess the recoverability of a receivable, the need for a credit check comes up frequently. Engaging a specialist credit investigation firm involves cost - but companies can gather a great deal of information themselves, free of charge, through the six channels below.

Why Run a Credit Check on a Partner Before Transacting

For companies entering the Vietnamese market, understanding a counterparty's actual standing before signing is the most basic form of risk prevention. The information gathered informs not only the decision of whether to transact at all, but also the commercial terms that follow: the level of advance payment, the payment period, or whether security should be required. Such a review is equally important when assessing the recoverability of a receivable that has already arisen.

1. National Business Registration Portal

Search dangkykinhdoanh.gov.vn to check the members and shareholders contributing capital, the legal representative, the registered charter capital, the head office address, and similar details. This is the starting point for confirming that the counterparty legally exists and that the person signing has proper authority.

2. Tax Registration Portal

Search tracuunnt.gdt.gov.vn to check whether the company is actually operating at its registered address and whether it has breached its tax obligations. This channel helps identify companies that have ceased operations or are no longer present at their registered office.

3. Social Media

Gather information from the perspective of employees, through groups and communities for workers and staff. Reports of delayed salary payments or personnel turnover often surface here earlier than through official sources.

4. General Internet Searches

Check the company's track record, any litigation or disputes, and any public criticism or complaints. It is advisable to search using both the Vietnamese company name and the English trading name so that nothing is missed.

5. Contacting Competent Authorities Directly

You can approach the tax authority, the stock exchange, and similar bodies directly to verify information. For listed companies, periodic disclosure reports are a reliable source of financial data.

6. Banks, Notary Offices, and the Secured Transactions Registry

Check the databases of banks and notary offices, or the secured transactions registration portal, to verify financial matters such as loans and collateral. This channel is particularly important where the counterparty's assets have already been pledged to secure other obligations.

Points to Note When Conducting Your Own Credit Check

All six channels above are free to use, but each reveals only part of the picture. The results become considerably more reliable when sources are cross-checked against one another - for example, verifying business registration details against the company's tax status and its secured asset position.