International franchises have taken off in the past decade in Vietnam, with signs of some of the world’s most well-known consumer brands lining the streets and shopping centers of major cities. While franchising has become a common form of business in Vietnam, the country’s laws in this area are in a relatively early stage, which can lead to uncertainties for many businesses wishing to operate a franchise system in Vietnam.

In Thailand, many of the world’s most successful franchise models have established themselves to cater to the sophisticated Thai consumer.

On October 25, 2019, Thailand’s Narcotics Control Committee issued a notification to clarify the definition of hemp, in order to rectify inconsistent definitions given in previous regulations on hemp. The notification took effect on October 26, 2019.

As the exclusive Thailand member firm of Multilaw, a leading global network of independent law firms, Tilleke & Gibbins contributed the Thailand chapter to the organization’s Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Project.

As the exclusive Vietnam member firm of Multilaw, a leading global network of independent law firms, Tilleke & Gibbins contributed the Vietnam chapter to the organization’s Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Project. Vinh Quoc Nguyen and Loc Xuan Le of Tilleke & Gibbins in Vietnam were responsible for writing the chapter, which consists of two main sections.

Vietnam is well known as one of Asia’s fastest-growing economies, and a cornerstone of this growth is foreign direct investment (FDI). The Nikkei Asian Review noted that in 2018, FDI reached USD 19.1 billion—a sixth straight annual record.

Successive Thai governments have consistently emphasized the importance of improving Thailand’s standing as a foreign direct investment (FDI) destination, recognizing its significant impact on economic growth and stability, along with a host of other beneficial factors. This awareness, coupled with Thailand’s well-developed and modern legal framework, has persuaded many investors to identify Thailand as a business hub in Southeast Asia.

In recent years, remarkable reforms have been made to Myanmar’s legal, social, and economic commitments. The government has specifically focused on the liberalization of the market and the promotion of foreign direct investment—highlighted, for instance, by the Myanmar Investment Law (2016), and the Myanmar Companies Law (2017). The World Bank is projecting 6.5 percent growth in GDP in 2018–19, reflecting broad-based economic growth in the country.