Contracting / consultancy work

Usually representative offices do not supply labour locally. They are involved in business development, the output from which is undertaken at the head office - or another place of incorporation. To work locally, direct with clients, would require a full local company set-up and associated immigration (work permit). Income tax liabilities are also involved, which are linked to the work permit.

From what I'm reading - you are thinking of something like a freelance consultancy. Then I don't see why you need to have a rep office here - unless you want to claim the expenses that you have incurred in Vietnam as business expense in Australia. It will cost a couple thousand to get the rep office started up. If the client is supposed to sign with the Australian parent anyway, and you are just basically selling your own services, then a name card and a presentation should be enough. There is a 5% witholding tax when they pay overseas by the way.

So yes, I think the structure you have in mind will work. Most Vietnamese companies can't afford to hire foreign consultants, only the very large ones, like EVN, TH Milk, etc. Big foreign companies would be better for you I think (P&G, Samsung, etc)

Are you experienced in working in Asia? Kickbacks, late payments (more than 3 months), poor legal system, relationship building, etc etc. All necessary for you to understand if you want to thrive here.

interesting motivation.
There are many obstacles to cross. I have the same idea however it appears you might not have work in Vietnam before. 
You need to think of your professional insurance if you are sued by the client .... does not matter who ... it is  mighty costly.
the next issue is getting (customers) client who will hire you or buy your product. Most Vietnamese co are as poor as church mouse.
if you could overcome these issue I would be happy to hear from you.
philip

Thanks for the replies..

i should point put, i have lived and worked in various parts of Asia before - and i have bene to vn a few times before.  So it isnt as though i have come straight off the plane.  Plus, the contracts my company have previously worked on are mostly big scale ones-  i.e., recently I have designed a curriculum and provided teaching services for 120 students at a Chinese military academy and taught them ICAO Aviation English.  Likewise, we did the same for MIAT in Mongolia.  Plus,  we have developed online teaching/training programs for other agencies as well and also manage the implementation and introduction of online learning systems for some schools in Taiwan.

But now I am physically required to be in Vn for personal reasons and I would like to see if I can provide such services to Vn corporations/clients under the banner of our existing company structure.

So the contracts we look at and have worked in are mostly large scale - I'm not talking about the local cram school down the street type of stuff.  But on developing, managing, implementing and co-ordinating bigger scale systems for specialised training programs for hundreds of students.


Thanks

g