Audit Services in Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Duong: Process and Fees

Foreign-owned and Vietnamese businesses operating in Ho Chi Minh City and the industrial zones of Binh Duong often need an audit firm to audit their annual financial statements. The reports may support a bank, a parent company in Australia, New Zealand or Singapore, or a foreign investor. This guide explains how an audit in Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Duong is carried out, what documents to prepare, typical timing and reference fees, and how Vietnam compares with Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. It is general information, not advice on your specific situation.

What an Independent Audit Involves in Vietnam

An independent audit is performed by a licensed auditor working for an independent audit firm. The auditor examines the financial statements and expresses an opinion on whether they present fairly, in all material respects, under Vietnamese auditing standards. The opinion is set out in the audit report, which is the document banks, shareholders and overseas parents usually ask for.

Whether a company must be audited depends on its size, legal form and sector, and the current rules should be checked for each case. Even where an audit is not compulsory, companies commonly commission one when they:

• apply for a bank loan or a renewed credit facility that requires audited statements;
• must report to an overseas parent, which often needs consolidated figures on international standards;
• plan a capital increase, a transfer of capital contribution or an acquisition;
• need to confirm their financial position to a partner, contractor or investor.

Who Typically Needs an Audit in Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Duong

Manufacturing companies in Binh Duong usually carry large fixed assets, production lines and inventories of raw materials and work in progress. Their audit focuses on stock counts, depreciation and overheads. Trading and construction companies in Ho Chi Minh City tend to have many contracts and significant receivables and payables with subcontractors, so the reconciliation of balances is central. Foreign-invested companies with overseas parents add a reporting layer, which is covered in the sections below.

For more background on foreign-invested companies, read our Vietnamese guide to audit for FDI companies: process, documents and reference fees.

The Audit Process, Step by Step

A typical audit of annual financial statements follows these stages:

1. Initial enquiry, client assessment and signing of the audit engagement letter.
2. Planning: understanding the business, the accounting system and the risks of material misstatement.
3. Testing of controls and substantive testing of balances, transactions and supporting documents.
4. Confirmation of receivables and payables and attendance at stock counts where needed, plus review of events after the reporting date.
5. Discussion of findings with management.
6. Issue of the audit report, including the auditor's opinion and, where relevant, a management letter.

It is also worth being clear about what an audit is not. An audit gives reasonable assurance, the highest level of assurance an auditor provides. A review of financial statements gives limited assurance, mainly through enquiry and analytical procedures. Choosing the right engagement type matters when a bank, a parent company or a tax adviser asks for a specific level of comfort, so confirm the requirement before the engagement starts.

How We Work with Clients in Vietnam

1. Send preliminary information about the business by phone, Zalo or email so we can assess the scope.
2. Receive a proposed scope, indicative timetable and fee.
3. Sign the engagement and agree on the working schedule and document list.
4. Our auditors work on site at your head office or factory in Ho Chi Minh City, or in the Binh Duong area.
5. Results are discussed with management, and the audit report is issued.

Documents to Prepare

The list below helps shorten fieldwork. The final list is agreed at engagement:

• Financial statements and notes for the year under audit;
• Business registration certificate, charter and minutes of the members' or shareholders' meetings;
• General ledger, detailed ledgers and the trial balance;
• Major contracts, loan agreements and land or factory lease agreements, where applicable;
• Reconciliation statements for receivables and payables, payroll records and fixed asset depreciation schedules;
• Tax filings for the year and any notices from the tax authority;
• Records of capital contributions, transfers and the shareholder or member register.

Timing

Timing depends on the size of the group, the number of subsidiaries and branches, the completeness of the accounting records and when fieldwork can start. Companies that close their books promptly, reconcile balances in advance and have documents ready generally shorten the on-site period. Year-end work is busy for the whole market, so we recommend booking early.

For factory-based clients, stock counts are usually performed at or near the reporting date. Agreeing the count date and the production schedule with your team in advance reduces disruption on the factory floor and gives the auditor reliable quantities to test.

Vietnam vs Australia, New Zealand and Singapore

The table below is a general comparison for clients who have operations in more than one jurisdiction. It is not legal advice, and local advisers should confirm the position for each entity.

For a Vietnamese subsidiary reporting to an Australian or New Zealand parent, the main practical issue is the difference between VAS and the parent's framework (AASB or NZ IFRS). Converting statements, reconciling the two sets of figures and preparing consolidation packs takes planning, so it is worth agreeing the format before year-end. Singapore parents face the same issue under SFRS(I).

For the official sources used for the comparison, see the list at the end of this article.

Audit Fees: Reference Figures

Fees depend on company size, transaction volume, the type of capital and the complexity of the records. Full pricing depends on documents and scope, so please request a quote.

Biểu phí chỉ mang tính tham khảo, tượng trưng. Phí thực tế tùy hồ sơ, vị trí và số lượng tài sản. Vui lòng liên hệ để được báo phí tốt nhất.
Reference fees only. Actual fees depend on documents, location and the number of assets. Please contact us for the best quote.

Real estate companies are not priced on the Vietnamese column; please contact us for a separate quote.

For a sense of scale in other currencies, VND 10 million is roughly AUD 550, NZD 685 or SGD 495, and VND 15 million is roughly AUD 830, NZD 1,030 or SGD 740. These are approximate, based on rates around 1 November 2026, and rounded.

How DAVA supports foreign companies and expats in Vietnam

DAVA is part of Công ty TNHH Hãng Định Giá và Kiểm Toán Châu Á (AAVC). We have more than 15 years of experience in valuing real estate, businesses and machinery and equipment, and our licensed valuers have worked for courts, state agencies, banks and companies. That background helps when an audit involves property, capital contributed in kind or land-related balances.

Our team can work with you in English; documents can be prepared bilingually.

Sources

• ASIC, Company auditors
• ACRA, Audit exemptions: small company concept
• FMA, Auditors and accredited bodies compliance requirements
• New Zealand Auditor Regulation Act 2011 (legislation.govt.nz)
• Currency.wiki, AUD to VND rate
• Wise, NZD to VND mid-market rate
• XE, SGD to VND mid-market rate

Exchange rates are mid-market figures that vary by provider. The ACRA small company thresholds are under review, so confirm them on ACRA's site before relying on them.