Yes, selling homemade food in Vietnam is permitted under specific conditions, but compliance with local food safety regulations is mandatory. The Ministry of Health (MoH) and provincial Departments of Food Safety (Chi cục An toàn thực phẩm) enforce these rules, with recent 2026 updates tightening hygiene standards for small-scale producers.
Key Regulations for Selling Homemade Food in Vietnam
- Registration and Licensing: Home-based food businesses must register with local authorities and obtain a food safety certificate from the provincial Department of Food Safety, per Decree 15/2018/ND-CP. Failure to comply risks fines up to VND 20 million (≈$850).
- Hygiene and Production Standards: Facilities must adhere to MoH’s hygiene guidelines (Quy chuẩn kỹ thuật quốc gia QCVN 8-3:2012/BYT), including separate storage for raw and cooked ingredients, pest control, and handwashing stations.
- Labeling and Ingredient Transparency: Pre-packaged foods require labels in Vietnamese detailing ingredients, allergens, expiration dates, and producer information. Homemade products sold directly (e.g., via social media) must still disclose key details upon request.
Local governments, such as Hanoi’s Department of Health, conduct periodic inspections. Businesses operating without certification or violating hygiene standards face immediate shutdowns. Exemptions exist for non-commercial sales (e.g., family events), but commercial thresholds are strictly enforced. Foreign investors must comply with additional import/export regulations if sourcing ingredients internationally.