Vietnam IP & Legal Guides
Practical, up-to-date guides on intellectual property and doing business in Vietnam — written for foreign companies and in-house counsel.
Trademark Registration in Vietnam: A Practical Guide for Foreign Companies (2026)
Vietnam is first-to-file — foreign brands are routinely registered by third parties first. A practical guide to who can file, the process, timeline, cost and enforcement.
Patent Registration in Vietnam: What Foreign Applicants Need to Know (2026)
How foreign companies protect inventions in Vietnam: patentability requirements, the PCT national phase, timeline, annuities and the local-agent requirement.
Setting Up a Foreign-Invested Company in Vietnam (2026)
A practical guide for foreign investors incorporating in Vietnam: market-access conditions, the IRC-then-ERC process, capital, timelines and the real-world steps.
Setting Up a Representative Office in Vietnam
A low-cost way for foreign companies to test the Vietnamese market: what a representative office can and cannot do, eligibility, licence term and procedure.
Franchising into Vietnam: Conditions and Registration
How foreign brands franchise into Vietnam: franchisor eligibility, the duty to register with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the contract and trademark protection.
Mergers & Acquisitions in Vietnam: A Guide for Foreign Investors
Foreign investors doing M&A in Vietnam: transaction forms, the M&A approval / capital-contribution procedure, ownership limits and merger-control notification.
Work Permits for Foreigners in Vietnam (2026)
Foreigners working in Vietnam: work-permit conditions, exemptions, term and procedure — updated for Decree 152/2020 and Decree 70/2023.
The Trademark Registration Process and Timeline in Vietnam
Step by step: formality examination, publication, substantive examination and grant — plus realistic timelines for registering a trademark in Vietnam.
Trademark Registration Fees in Vietnam (2026)
How trademark fees work in Vietnam: official fees charged per class of goods/services, what the 2025 fee reduction covers, and the cost drivers to budget for.
Trademark Searches in Vietnam: Why and How to Clear Your Mark
A pre-filing trademark search reduces the risk of refusal and conflict. How searching works in Vietnam, what it covers, and its limits for foreign applicants.
How to Respond to a Trademark Refusal in Vietnam
Received a provisional refusal or office action in Vietnam? The grounds, your options to respond, deadlines and appeal routes for foreign applicants.
The Patent Registration Process in Vietnam: Conditions and Steps
Patentability requirements and the filing-to-grant process in Vietnam, including the request for substantive examination deadline and PCT national phase.
Patent Registration Costs in Vietnam
What drives patent costs in Vietnam: examination and search fees per independent claim, annual maintenance fees, and budgeting over a patent's 20-year life.
Intellectual Property Law in Vietnam: An Overview for Foreign Businesses
A concise overview of Vietnam's IP framework — the rights available, first-to-file, key authorities and enforcement — for foreign companies and counsel.
Protecting Software Copyright in Vietnam
How software is protected as a copyright work in Vietnam, why registration helps as evidence, ownership issues for outsourced code, and enforcement options.
Conditional Business Lines for Foreign Investors in Vietnam
Which sectors are open, conditional or closed to foreign investors in Vietnam, how the market-access negative list works, and how to check your business line.
The Investment Registration Certificate (IRC) in Vietnam
What the IRC is, when a foreign investor needs one, the documents and timeline, and how it fits with the Enterprise Registration Certificate (ERC).
Foreign Ownership Limits in Vietnam
Where foreign investors can own 100% and where caps apply — the sectors with foreign-ownership limits and how WTO and FTA commitments shape them.
Investment Incentives for FDI Enterprises in Vietnam
The tax, land and other incentives available to foreign-invested projects in Vietnam, and the sector and location criteria that unlock them.
Types of Companies in Vietnam: Choosing the Right Structure
Limited liability company, joint-stock company, partnership and private enterprise — the main forms under the Law on Enterprises and how to choose.
Charter Capital in Vietnam: How Much Do You Need?
What charter capital means in Vietnam, whether there is a minimum, statutory-capital sectors, and the deadline to contribute capital after incorporation.
Cosmetic Product Declaration in Vietnam
How foreign companies notify cosmetics before selling in Vietnam: the product notification, the ASEAN harmonised approach, validity and responsible party.
Food Product Declaration in Vietnam
The food-safety declaration regime under Decree 15/2018: self-declaration versus registration, which foods need which route, and what foreign importers must do.
Self-Declaration of Products in Vietnam: What It Means
How product self-declaration works under Decree 15/2018, the company's responsibility, and the difference from prior-approval regimes for foreign businesses.
Suspending or Dissolving a Company in Vietnam
The legal routes to temporarily suspend or permanently dissolve a company in Vietnam, the tax and creditor steps, and what foreign owners should plan for.
Penalties for Trademark Infringement in Vietnam
The administrative fines, remedial measures and other consequences for trademark infringement in Vietnam, and how rights holders trigger enforcement.
Trademark Opposition in Vietnam: Challenging a Pending Application
How to oppose a conflicting trademark application in Vietnam after publication, the grounds and timing, and the alternative of a cancellation action.
Tackling Counterfeit Goods on E-Commerce in Vietnam
How brand owners address counterfeits sold on Vietnamese e-commerce platforms — platform takedowns, administrative action, customs and evidence.
Enforcing Industrial Design Rights in Vietnam
How to act against copying of a protected product design in Vietnam — assessment of infringement, administrative and civil routes, and the role of the certificate.
Commercial Arbitration in Vietnam: A Guide for Foreign Parties
Why foreign parties often choose arbitration for Vietnam-related disputes, the Law on Commercial Arbitration, VIAC, enforceability and drafting the clause.
Key Clauses in Commercial Contracts in Vietnam
The clauses that most affect risk in Vietnam-related commercial contracts — governing law, dispute resolution, payment, penalties, force majeure and termination.
Commercial Dispute Litigation in Vietnam
How commercial disputes are litigated in Vietnamese courts — jurisdiction, the process, limitation periods and what foreign parties should expect.
Assigning a Trademark in Vietnam
How to transfer ownership of a trademark in Vietnam — the assignment contract, mandatory recordal with the IP Office, and conditions on the transfer.
Renewing a Trademark in Vietnam
When and how to renew a Vietnamese trademark, the 10-year term, the renewal window and grace period, and the risk of losing rights by missing it.
The Nice Classification for Trademarks in Vietnam
How the Nice Classification of goods and services works for trademark filings in Vietnam, why correct classification matters, and common mistakes to avoid.
What Documents Are Needed to Register a Trademark in Vietnam
An overview of the documents that make up a trademark application dossier filed with the Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam.
Trademark vs Brand in Vietnam: The Legal Distinction
The terms trademark and brand are often used interchangeably, but only one has a defined legal meaning under Vietnamese law.
Types of Trademarks Recognised in Vietnam
Vietnamese law recognises several categories of trademarks, from word and figurative marks to collective and certification marks.
Cost of International Trademark Registration via the Madrid System
An overview of the cost components involved when a Vietnamese applicant files an international trademark through the Madrid System.
Registering a Vietnamese Brand Abroad: US, China, EU and ASEAN
How Vietnamese businesses can protect their trademarks in key export markets such as the United States, China, the EU and ASEAN.
What Is a Trademark Under Vietnamese Law
A plain-language explanation of what a trademark is, what it protects, and how it functions under Vietnamese intellectual property law.
The Trademark Registration Certificate in Vietnam
What the trademark registration certificate is, what information it contains, and what rights it confers on the owner.
Conditions for Trademark Protection and Non-Registrable Signs in Vietnam
The requirements a sign must meet to be registered as a trademark in Vietnam, and the categories of signs that cannot be protected.
Special Marks in Vietnam: Well-Known, Collective, Certification and Sound Marks
An explanation of the special categories of trademarks recognised under Vietnamese law and how they differ from ordinary marks.
Can Individuals and Household Businesses Register a Trademark in Vietnam
Whether individuals and household businesses are eligible to own trademarks in Vietnam and what the process involves for them.
What Is the Madrid System for International Trademarks
An introduction to the Madrid System and how it allows businesses in Vietnam to seek trademark protection in multiple countries.
Power of Attorney for Trademark Filing in Vietnam
What a power of attorney is in the context of trademark filing in Vietnam, when it is required and what it should contain.
The Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam: Role and How to File
An overview of the Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam, its functions and how trademark applications are submitted to it.
What the TM, (R) and (C) Symbols Mean
An explanation of the TM, registered and copyright symbols, what each indicates and how they relate to Vietnamese law.
Guide to International Trademark Registration via the Madrid System
A step-by-step overview of the process for filing an international trademark through the Madrid System from Vietnam.
The Vienna Classification of Figurative Elements of Marks
What the Vienna Classification is, how it organises the figurative elements of trademarks, and how it is used in Vietnam.
Copyright Registration for Songs and Musical Works in Vietnam
How composers, lyricists and producers can protect songs and musical works in Vietnam, and why voluntary copyright registration is useful evidence of ownership.
Types of Works Eligible for Copyright in Vietnam
An overview of the categories of creative works that qualify for copyright protection under Vietnamese law and can be recorded through voluntary registration.
Copyright and Related Rights in Vietnam: The Distinction
How Vietnamese law separates the copyright of authors from the related rights of performers, producers and broadcasters, and why the difference matters in practice.
What Is Copyright in Vietnam: Moral and Economic Rights
A plain-language guide to copyright under Vietnamese law, explaining the moral rights and economic rights that make up an author's protection.
The Copyright Office of Vietnam: Function and Filing
What the Copyright Office of Vietnam does, the certificates it issues, and how authors and owners file voluntary copyright registrations.
Copyright Registration for a Logo in Vietnam
How businesses can protect a logo through copyright registration in Vietnam, and how copyright protection differs from trademark protection for a brand.
Copyright Registration Fees in Vietnam
An overview of the cost structure for copyright registration in Vietnam, including official charges and the factors that influence total cost.
Handling Copyright Infringement in Vietnam
The main options for responding to copyright infringement in Vietnam, from warning letters and administrative action to civil and criminal routes.
Trademark or Copyright for a Logo in Vietnam: Which to Choose
A practical comparison of trademark and copyright protection for a logo or brand in Vietnam to help businesses decide which route, or both, fits their needs.
Copyright Registration by Work Type in Vietnam
How copyright registration differs for books, images, videos and scripts in Vietnam, and the documents typically needed for each type of work.
The Locarno Classification for Industrial Designs in Vietnam
How the Locarno Classification is used to categorise industrial designs in Vietnam and why correct classification matters when filing an application.
Key Changes in Vietnam's Amended Intellectual Property Law 2022
An overview of the main areas addressed by the 2022 amendments to Vietnam's Law on Intellectual Property and what they mean for rights holders.
What Is an Industrial Design and Why Protect It in Vietnam
An introduction to industrial designs in Vietnam, explaining what a design right protects and the commercial reasons to secure protection for product appearance.
Circular 64/2025: Reduced IP Charges in Vietnam Until End of 2026
An overview of Circular 64/2025, which reduces certain intellectual property charges by 50% in Vietnam through the end of 2026, and what it means for applicants.
What Is a Patent in Vietnam? Protection Conditions and Term
An overview of what qualifies as a patentable invention in Vietnam, the legal conditions for protection, and how long patent rights last.
Patent vs Utility Solution in Vietnam: How They Differ
Vietnam protects technical solutions in two tiers — inventions and utility solutions. This article explains the differences in requirements, term, and strategy.
What Is an Industrial Design in Vietnam? Conditions and Term
An introduction to industrial design protection in Vietnam — what it covers, the conditions for registration, and the duration of rights.
Industrial Design Registration Costs and Fees in Vietnam
An overview of the cost components involved in registering an industrial design in Vietnam, from official fees to professional and renewal costs.
Patent Searching Before Filing in Vietnam: Why and How
A practical guide to searching prior art before filing a patent application in Vietnam, and how a search reduces risk and cost.
The International Patent Classification (IPC) and Its Use in Vietnam
An explanation of the International Patent Classification system, how it is structured, and why it matters for patent searching and filing in Vietnam.
Penalty for Breach and Damages in Commercial Contracts in Vietnam
How Vietnamese law treats contractual penalties and compensation for damages in commercial contracts, including the statutory penalty cap.
Contract Review Checklist Before Signing in Vietnam
A practical checklist of the key points to review in a commercial contract before signing under Vietnamese law.
Void Contracts in Vietnam: Grounds and Consequences
When a contract can be declared void under Vietnamese law, the grounds involved, and what happens to the parties afterward.
Limitation Period for Commercial Disputes in Vietnam
How the limitation period works for commercial disputes in Vietnam, when it starts, and why acting in time is critical.
Shareholder and Internal Corporate Disputes in Vietnam
An overview of common shareholder and internal company disputes in Vietnam and the mechanisms available to resolve them.
The Civil Statement of Claim in Vietnam: Required Contents
What a civil statement of claim must contain to initiate a lawsuit in Vietnam under the Civil Procedure Code.
Civil Court Fees in Vietnam: First-Instance and Appellate
How civil court fees are structured in Vietnam under Resolution 326, including first-instance and appellate fees and who bears them.
Procedure to Establish a Foreign-Invested Company in Vietnam
A practical walkthrough of the steps and documents required to set up a foreign-invested company in Vietnam under the Law on Investment 2020.
GS1 Barcode Registration and Annual Maintenance Fees in Vietnam
An overview of the costs involved in obtaining a GS1 company prefix in Vietnam, including the one-time registration fee and the recurring annual maintenance fee that keeps a barcode valid.
Customs Barcodes: Printing the Declaration Barcode Sheet in Vietnam
How the customs declaration barcode works in Vietnam and how businesses print the barcode sheet used to clear goods at the customs gate.
Barcode Country Prefixes: How to Read the Origin Code
A guide to the GS1 country prefix system, what the leading digits of an EAN-13 barcode mean, and why the prefix indicates where the code was registered rather than where the product was made.
The 893 Barcode Prefix: Which Country Does It Belong To?
The 893 prefix at the start of an EAN-13 barcode identifies GS1 Vietnam; this article explains what it means and what it does and does not prove about a product.
What Is a Barcode? Structure, Meaning and Common Types
An introduction to barcodes, how an EAN-13 code is structured, what its digits mean, and the main barcode types used in retail and logistics.
How to Check Whether a Barcode or Product Is Genuine
Practical steps to verify a product's barcode against registered GS1 data, and why the barcode alone is only one indicator of authenticity.
How to Create a Barcode Online
An explanation of how to generate a barcode image online and why a genuine retail barcode still requires a registered GS1 company prefix.
How to Scan a Barcode on Your Phone
A simple guide to scanning product barcodes and QR codes using a smartphone camera or an app, and how to interpret the results.
Do Two Identical Products Share the Same Barcode? GS1 Numbering Rules
An explanation of the GS1 rule that each distinct product variant needs its own barcode, and when identical items do or do not share a code.
Registering a GS1 Barcode for Your Business: A Full Guide
A step-by-step overview of how a business in Vietnam registers a GS1 company prefix, from preparing documents to creating product barcodes and maintaining the registration.
Setting Up a Single-Member Limited Liability Company in Vietnam
A practical overview of how a single owner establishes and runs a single-member limited liability company under Vietnam's Law on Enterprises 2020.
Amending Business Registration in Vietnam: Name, Address, Capital and Business Lines
How companies update key registered particulars such as name, head-office address, charter capital and business lines under Vietnamese law.
Registering Internal Labour Rules in Vietnam
An overview of when and how employers must issue and register internal labour rules under Vietnam's Labour Code.
Holding the General Meeting of Shareholders in a Vietnamese Joint-Stock Company
How a joint-stock company convenes and conducts the general meeting of shareholders in compliance with the Law on Enterprises 2020.
Notifying and Registering Sales Promotions in Vietnam
When traders must notify or register promotional campaigns with the Department of Industry and Trade under Vietnam's Commercial Law.
When a Business in Vietnam Needs a Retained Legal Counsel
Signs that a company operating in Vietnam would benefit from ongoing retained legal support rather than ad hoc advice.
Understanding the Cost of Retained Legal Counsel in Vietnam
How retained legal services in Vietnam are typically priced and the factors that influence the fee structure.
A Periodic Legal Compliance Review Checklist for Companies in Vietnam
A practical checklist for the regular legal health-check that helps companies in Vietnam stay compliant across corporate, labour and licensing areas.
The Food-Safety Eligibility Certificate for Establishments in Vietnam
An overview of the certificate confirming that a food business establishment meets food-safety conditions under Vietnamese food-safety law.
Divorce Procedure in Vietnam: Process, Documents, Fees and Timing
A practical overview of how divorce works under Vietnamese law, including the documents you need, the steps at court, and how long the process typically takes.
The Divorce Petition in Vietnam: Mutual and Unilateral Applications
What a Vietnamese divorce petition must contain and how a joint mutual-consent request differs from a unilateral application filed by one spouse.
Uncontested Divorce in Vietnam: Procedure and Timing
How mutual-consent divorce works in Vietnam when both spouses agree on ending the marriage, the children and the property, and what to expect from the court.
Contested Divorce in Vietnam: Conditions, Procedure and Documents
How a unilateral divorce works when only one spouse wants to end the marriage, what the court examines, and the documents required.
Divorce Court Fees and Costs in Vietnam
An overview of how court fees for divorce are structured in Vietnam, including the difference between cases with and without disputed property.
Child Custody and Support on Divorce in Vietnam
How Vietnamese courts decide who cares for children after divorce, when a child's wishes are considered, and how child support is arranged.
Division of Marital Property on Divorce in Vietnam
How marital property is divided when a marriage ends in Vietnam, including the principle of broadly equal division and the factors that adjust each spouse's share.
Divorce Involving a Foreign Element in Vietnam: Procedure and Jurisdiction
How divorce works when one spouse is foreign or lives abroad, which court has jurisdiction, and the additional document requirements to expect.
How to Make a Valid Will in Vietnam, Including a Handwritten Will
What makes a will legally valid under the Civil Code 2015, the requirements for a handwritten will, and how a will interacts with inheritance by law.
Inheritance of Land in Vietnam: Distribution, Declaration and Title Transfer
How land passes to heirs under Vietnamese law, the declaration of inheritance, and the steps to transfer the land-use right certificate into the heirs' names.
The Handwritten Divorce Petition in Vietnam: How to Write It Correctly
Guidance on preparing a handwritten divorce petition that the People's Court will accept, including the information it must contain and common mistakes to avoid.
Industrial Design Registration in Vietnam: A Guide for Foreign Businesses (2026)
Protecting the appearance of your products in Vietnam: what qualifies, the drawings that matter, timeline, fees and how design rights complement trademarks and patents.
Enforcing Intellectual Property Rights in Vietnam: A Guide for Rights-Holders (2026)
Four enforcement routes in Vietnam — administrative, customs, civil and criminal — and how foreign rights-holders should combine them against infringement and counterfeiting.
Using the Madrid Protocol to Protect Your Trademark in Vietnam (2026)
How the Madrid System works for and from Vietnam: designating Vietnam in an international application, using Vietnam as an office of origin, fees and key timelines.