Maybe they received a formal OK from MARD as one of the key letters, and a letter from the department of investment and planning (DIP) and they are now applying for the ERC (Approval possible between 3-5 days)
I do agree with you Redskin about the things we should be arguing ablut!!
Registration and formation
To establish a single-member limited liability company (single-member LLC), a multiple-member limited liability company (MLLC) or a non-publicly listed shareholding company (SC) for the purposes of an initial foreign investment into Vietnam, foreign investors must go through at least two stages:
Firstly, they must apply for an Investment Registration Certificate (IRC). The IRC will recognise the contents relating to the investment project such as investor(s), project location, objectives and scale of the project, investment capital, investment incentives and restrictions.
Secondly, they must apply for an Enterprise Registration Certificate (ERC). The ERC will provide the corporate details such as company name, registered office address, charter capital, owner's details and legal representative(s) of the company.
The provincial Department of Planning and Investment or the board of management of the relevant industrial zone or park with jurisdiction over the location of the investment project has the power to approve the IRCs and ERCs. However, larger scale projects and certain types of projects require a "decision on investment planning" approval (DIP) from higher level government bodies prior to submission of the IRC and ERC to the local investment authorities (see Question 3). In addition, approval of the foreign investment from a number of other government bodies may be required depending on the nature and scale of the foreign investment.