Also under the Decre, the representative office, as a subordinate unit of the foreign trade promotion organization, is not permitted to set up a representative office under it.A representative office can function as a contact agency and promote the activities of a foreign company, including assisting the foreign enterprise in exploring the domestic market, performing market research and providing economic, trade and market information to foreign companies and organisations. However, a representative office cannot directly conduct profit-making operations in Viet Nam.