Industrial Design
Registration in Vietnam
Protect your product's unique exterior design from being copied. LTV Law handles the entire procedure — from novelty assessment, technical photo-set consultation, application drafting, to follow-up through to grant of the Industrial Design Patent.
Quick Facts
- Protection term5 years, renewable multiple times (5 years each)
- Filed atIntellectual Property Office of Vietnam
- International registrationHague System (WIPO)
- Legal basisArticles 63–70, Law on Intellectual Property 2005, amended 2022
- Examination time18–24 months per regulations
What is an industrial design? Why register it?
Under Article 63 of the Law on Intellectual Property 2005 (amended 2022), an industrial design is the exterior appearance of a product expressed by lines, shapes, colors, or a combination of these elements. A design protects the product's aesthetic appearance, not its technical operating principle.
What does a design NOT protect?
Under Article 64 of the Law on Intellectual Property, a design is not protectable if: (1) its features are dictated solely by technical function; (2) its features are not visible during normal use of the product. Technical features requiring protection fall under patents, while commercial identification signs require trademark protection.
Conditions for industrial design protection
Novelty
Not publicly disclosed in Vietnam or abroad before the filing date. Disclosure within 6 months before filing is permitted (grace period).
Creativity
Not readily apparent to an ordinary designer in the relevant field — i.e., it reflects a certain degree of aesthetic creativity.
Industrial applicability
Can be used as a template for mass production by industrial or handicraft methods — distinguishing it from a purely artistic work.
Design protection term
Photo set/drawing requirements
The photo set/drawings are the most important document in a design application — they must clearly show all design features requiring protection. The Intellectual Property Office requires 7 standard views:
- 1Perspective (3D view)— Mandatory — shows the overall product
- 2Front view— Direct frontal angle
- 3Back view— Rear angle
- 4Left side view— From the left side
- 5Right side view— From the right side
- 6Top/plan view— Viewed from above
- 7Bottom view— If it has features requiring protection
Technical requirements: uniform white/gray background · no shadows obscuring detail · minimum resolution 300dpi · all photos at the same scale
International registration — the Hague System
WIPO operates the Hague System, which allows design protection in 80+ member countries with a single application. Vietnam joined in 2010. This is the optimal choice when protection is needed in multiple markets — saving time and cost compared with filing separately in each country. LTV Law supports the entire Hague registration procedure.
Industrial design registration process in Vietnam
8 steps under Decree 65/2023/ND-CP. Total time: 18–24 months.
Documents needed for design registration
- Set of photographs/drawings of the design (7 standard views, white background, 300dpi)
- Written description of the design (listing the design features to be protected)
- Industrial design registration declaration (per the form of the Intellectual Property Office)
- Power of attorney for LTV Law (if represented)
- Business registration certificate or ID card/passport of the applicant
- Priority documents (copy of the foreign application, if priority right is claimed)
Note on the photo set: This is the key document that determines the scope of protection. The Intellectual Property Office does not accept photos with a colored background, shadows obscuring detail, or low-quality images. LTV Law provides technical photography advice and reviews the photo set before filing.
Official fees for industrial design registration
Per Circular 263/2016/TT-BTC, currently reduced by 50% under Circular 64/2025/TT-BTC (until 31/12/2026).
| Fee type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Filing fee | 150,000 VND |
| Application publication fee | 120,000 VND |
| Substantive examination fee (1 embodiment, ≤2 photos) | 700,000 VND |
| Examination fee per additional embodiment | 200,000 VND/embodiment |
| Design patent grant fee | 120,000 VND |
| Renewal fee per term | 200,000 VND |
| Total basic official fees | ~1,290,000 VND |
A 50% reduction in official fees is currently in effect under Circular 64/2025/TT-BTC (until 31/12/2026). The total official fee currently payable is approximately 645,000 VND for the basic case (1 embodiment, ≤2 photos). LTV Law's service fee is quoted separately — contact us for a detailed quote.
LTV Law's design registration services
We offer 2 all-inclusive service packages. Contact us for a detailed quote and advice on the package that suits your needs.
Basic Package
- Preliminary protectability consultation
- Guidance on preparing the photo set/drawings
- Drafting of the registration application
- Filing at the Intellectual Property Office
- Periodic progress tracking
- Handover of the Design Patent
- In-depth search & risk assessment
- Support responding to refusal notices
Professional Package
- In-depth search for similar designs (VN + Hague DB)
- Risk assessment and advice on optimizing scope of protection
- Technical advice on photography meeting IP Office standards
- Drafting of accurate design description and declaration
- Filing and periodic progress tracking
- Handling of provisional refusal notices (if any)
- Handover of the Design Patent
- Advice on renewing the Design Patent
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