Foreign investors (institutions and individuals) have to apply for securities trading codes at Vietnam Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation (VSDC) before investing in Vietnam securities market.
Each foreign investor, depositary, foreign invested economic organization shall be granted with one securities trading code, except the following cases:
a) A foreign securities company shall be granted with two securities trading codes: one for proprietary trading account and one for brokerage account.
b) A foreign investment fund, the Multiple Investment Managers Fund – MIMF can apply for multiple trading codes in which each investment portfolio managed by a foreign fund manager is allocated with one securities trading code; investment portfolio managed by foreign investment fund, foreign organization themselves is granted with one securities trading code
c) An organization of foreign government or investment and finance institution of an international organization of which Vietnam is a member is granted with multiple securities trading codes in which each investment portfolio at a custodian is granted with on securities trading code.
d) A securities investment fund manager is allocated with one securities trading code to manage investment portfolio for foreign investors, foreign invested economic organizations. Securities investment fund manager being foreign invested economic organization is allocated with an additional secrities trading code for its investment activities.
e) Branch of a foreign fund manager in Vietnam is allocated with two securities trading codes, one for the branch and one for managing investment portfolios of foreign investors.
Foreign investors allocated with securities trading codes have to inform VSDC of changes related to securities trading code information in the following cases:
a) Change of depository members
b) Change of name, country or territory where the institution registers operation, head offfice, business license;
c) Change of name, nationality, contact address, passGoport number or other valid identity papers (for individual investors)

Processes and procedures of securities trading code registration, change of trading code information and cancellation of trading codes are stipulated in Decree no.155/2020/ND-CP dated 31st December 2020 by the Government  specifying a number of articles of Law on Securities and Guideline on allocating securities trading codes for foreign investors at VSDC issued with  Decision no. 20/QĐ-HĐTV dated 10/08/2023