Hi everyone,
brief background of my circumstances for context:
1/ I am an aussie national, went to Vietnam for a holiday, met a girl.
2/ Two years later married the girl in Buddhist ceremony in her house.
3/ One year later she joined me in Australia, we now have a child
4/ Many years later we have now bought a small house in NHA TRANG, obviously under my wife's name alone. This is our holiday house.
5/ We are considering buying land and developing a small Bed and Breakfast with a café/restaurant.
(my wife has kept her Vietnamese nationality (passport))
6/ After 12 years coming and going I sometimes think I know most of the rules and regs, but then. depressingly, I find new laws and different versions of current rules.
Questions -
A - Married to a Vietnamese national, does that qualify me to become a Vietnamese citizen? Whilst remaining an Australian citizen....that is - a dual citizen/dual passport holder?
B - Is it true that we need to buy land, build the property and then, shortly before commencing business, that is the time that we can register a business? That sounds counter-intuitive, but please advise.
C - Is it true that to have our business registered successfully, a "team" of government officials will come around and check we have everything in order, eg running a café do we have knowledge of food hygiene, if we have built a hotel do we have fire escape measures in place.?
D - We understand and accept that we will be extorted from time to time by the local police. My question is, is the extortion worse if they become aware that the business is part owned by a foreigner?
*PS I understand that the HANOI officials are going to come to NHA TRANG in a years time and "clean up" the place, including corrupt practices, traffic etc, like they have done in DANANG.
E- Worst case scenario, if my wife and I divorced, am I entitled to 50% of anything we/she has bought? What would the process be? Find a lawyer and go to court? Could I travel to Vietnam with a letter of divorce and demand she sells the house? Terrible questions, but worth thinking about, I have heard all the horror stories.
F - Can our business be registered under my wifes AND MY names? I have heard it is FAR easier to register under my wifes name only, and then months later she can simply transfer to another entity, eg her and I, or even her, I and another foreigner for example.
***That's all for now, sorry to bombard the BLOG****
Any advice will be appreciated!!
Regards
E -