Australian Business Groups were originally established in 1995 in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City as independent initiatives of the then Australian Ambassador and Consul General. Until 1998, the two groups developed separately. With the passage in Vietnam of legislation on foreign business groups, the two groups developed separately although consulted with one another to present a common approach when dealing with both the Vietnamese and Australian governments.

• With the passage of legislation on foreign business groups - Decree No. 08/1998/ND-CP, dated 22 January 1998 Promulgating the Regulations on the Establishment of Foreign Business Associations in Vietnam, the two groups formally combined to create the Australian Business Group of Vietnam (ABGV).

• The Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee issued ABGV's license on 19th September 1998, No 01/GP-HHDN/HCM. This was one of the first business group licenses issued. Following registration of the initial charter, it was amended in January 1999 to provide for the Chapter structure, which was approved and registered in mid 1999.

• On 23rd October 2003, ABGV received an Extension of License for the Establishment of a Foreign Business Association in Vietnam, No. 18/GP-HHDN/HCM, valid for a period of three years.

• On the second of October 2006, it received another Extension of License No. 42/GP-HHDN/HCM, valid until the 19th September 2009.

The first elections of Chapter Committees under the new structure were held in June 1999. The first National Executive was appointed in July 1999, with John Dick of Freehills, Ho Chi Minh City elected President and Jon Ackerman of ANzoil, Hanoi, elected Vice President. The second President of ABGV, elected for the 2000/2001 year was Andrew Hilton from the Hanoi Chapter and Nigel Russell of Phillips Fox elected Vice President.

In 1998 John Gourlay of BHP Steel Products, was elected as a life member for his services in the establishment of ABGV, Ho Chi Minh City and in 1999, Peter Allan of Telstra, was elected as a life member for services in establishment of ABGV Hanoi.

Whilst maintaining events on a chapter basis, as a national group, ABGV is extremely active in participating in both the World Bank sponsored Private Sector Forum and Vietnamese Government meeting initiatives.