How to Verify if a Vietnam Tour Operator is Legitimate and Licensed
The essential consumer safety guide (2026): International tour operator licences, how to check one in the official VNAT registry, payment red flags, and our own credentials.
Essential 3-Step Verification Checklist
- Check the International Tour Operator License (TCDL-GP LHQT): Ensure the agency holds an official license for foreign inbound tourists. Domestic-only licenses are illegal for foreign travelers.
- Look the licence up in the official registry: Search the licence number or company name at quanlyluhanh.vn (Vietnam National Authority of Tourism). The legal name, address and website listed there should match the company you are dealing with.
- Cross-Check Corporate Name & Physical Address: Verify that payments are addressed to a registered company bank account, matching the official street address in Vietnam or Western partner entity.
1. Understand the Two Tiers of Tourism Licenses in Vietnam
Under Article 31 of Vietnam’s Law on Tourism (Law No. 09/2017/QH14), travel agencies are strictly divided into two categories:
Domestic Travel License
Only permits organizing tours for Vietnamese citizens within Vietnam. Operators holding only this license are strictly prohibited by law from providing travel services to international foreign tourists.
International Tour Operator License (LHQT)
Mandatory for organizing tours for inbound foreign visitors. Issued by the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism. Requires qualified management staff and a bank deposit lodged as a licensing condition.
Verified Operator Spotlight
Vietnam Private Tours: Registered Credentials
Vietnam Head Office 139/5 Nguyen Cu Trinh St, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
International Tour Operator License No. 79-0743/2017/TCDL-GP LHQT Issued by the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism · held by MyWay Limited Liability Company (Công ty TNHH MyWay) · verify at quanlyluhanh.vn
United States Corporate Parent My Way Luxury Travel LLC New York Department of State (DOS ID: 7926729)
US Registered Office 54 State Street, Suite 804, Albany, NY 12207, USA
✓ 5,000+ Private Trips Organized • ✓ 5.0 Star Rating on TripAdvisor (286+ reviews) • ✓ Direct Local DMC Operations
Frequently Asked Questions About Tour Operator Legitimacy
How can I check if a Vietnam tour company is legally licensed? ▼
Request the company’s official International Tour Operator License number (format: XX-XXX/YYYY/TCDL-GP LHQT). Under Vietnam’s Tourism Law, only companies holding an International Tour Operator License issued by the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) may organize tours for foreign inbound travelers. Then search that number (or the company name) in VNAT’s public registry at quanlyluhanh.vn: it shows the licensed company’s legal name, address, website and issue date. If the number is not there, or belongs to a different company or website, do not pay. A domestic travel licence (…/GP LHNĐ) or a plain business registration is not sufficient.
Do Vietnam tour operators have to lodge a bank deposit? ▼
Yes. Under the Law on Tourism 2017, a company must place a deposit (ký quỹ) with a bank before it can be licensed for travel services, and the authorities can draw on it to deal with risks to travelers. The required amount is set by government decree and has been changed more than once, so ask the operator for their licence and check it in the registry rather than relying on a quoted figure. The deposit is a licensing condition, not travel insurance — it does not replace your own policy or the payment protection of your card.
What are the biggest red flags of an unlicensed Vietnam tour operator? ▼
Common red flags include: (1) Inability or refusal to supply an International Tour Operator License number, (2) Requesting payments sent to an individual person’s private bank account rather than an official corporate account, (3) Lack of a verifiable physical office address in Vietnam, (4) Operating exclusively through a personal WhatsApp or free Gmail account with no registered business identity, and (5) Quoting prices drastically below market norms.
What are Vietnam Private Tours’ verified corporate credentials? ▼
Vietnam Private Tours is the Vietnam private-tour brand of My Way Luxury Travel LLC, registered with the New York Department of State (DOS ID: 7926729; registered office 54 State Street, Suite 804, Albany, NY 12207). Trips are operated in Vietnam under International Tour Operator License No. 79-0743/2017/TCDL-GP LHQT, which the VNAT registry at quanlyluhanh.vn lists under MyWay Limited Liability Company (Công ty TNHH MyWay), Nguyen Cu Trinh Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City — search “79-0743” to see it yourself.
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