Industrial Design Search in Vietnam, 2026 Guide and Search Tools

Before filing an application to register an industrial design in Vietnam, one step that should not be skipped is an industrial design search. A search gives a business a preliminary view of whether protection is available and helps it avoid investing in a design that someone else has already registered or that has already been publicly disclosed, either of which will lead to refusal for lack of novelty.

This guide explains why a search matters, how the Locarno Classification frames it, which official tools are available, how a preliminary search differs from an in-depth search, and what foreign applicants should keep in mind before filing with the Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam.

Why is an industrial design search necessary?

An industrial design is granted an exclusive patent only when it meets three conditions: it must be new, it must be creative, and it must be capable of industrial application. Of these, novelty is the condition on which applications most often fail. A design is considered not new if it is identical to, or not significantly different from, a design that was publicly disclosed before the filing date, whether in Vietnam or abroad. Searching before filing helps you to:

check whether an identical or similar design has already been registered or published;
reduce the risk of refusal and avoid wasting the cost and time of pursuing the application;
adjust the design to improve the chances of protection;
assess the risk of infringing third-party rights when the product is brought to market.

Two further rules make the search especially important. First, the law allows a grace period: disclosure within 6 months before the filing date does not destroy novelty, but a design that has been displayed, sold or advertised for more than 6 months before filing is no longer new. Second, protection does not extend to features dictated entirely by technical function, or to features that are not visible when the product is used normally (Article 64 of the Law on Intellectual Property). Technical features are protected through a patent instead. Background on the protection conditions is in our article on what an industrial design is and why to protect it.

The Locarno Classification, the foundation of a search

Industrial designs are classified under the Locarno International Classification, issued by WIPO, which groups products into classes and subclasses according to their function. Correctly identifying the product's Locarno class narrows the search results and avoids missing similar designs in the same field.

The Locarno class also matters at filing. Applicants should classify the product themselves; if they do not, the Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam will classify it and charge an additional 100,000 VND for each classification. You can refer to our guide to the Locarno Classification for industrial designs to determine the right class before searching.

Tools for searching industrial designs

You can search free of charge through the following official databases.

1. The database of the Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam

The Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam (Cục Sở hữu trí tuệ) provides an online search database, a digital library of industrial property, that lets you look up industrial design applications filed and patents granted in Vietnam. This is the most important source because it directly reflects the rights already established in Vietnamese territory.

2. WIPO's Global Design Database

The WIPO Global Design Database lets you search industrial designs from many countries and from the international registration system. It is useful when you want to assess novelty internationally, especially if you plan to export or to register designs abroad. Vietnam has been a party to the Hague Agreement since 30 December 2019, so designs registered internationally under the Hague System and designating Vietnam can also take effect here.

3. Searching by image and by keyword

Besides searching by application number and applicant, you can search by Locarno class and by product name, and review the design images to compare the degree of difference visually.

Preliminary search and in-depth search

Criterion	Preliminary search	In-depth search
How it is done	Done yourself through free online databases	Carried out by an industrial property specialist or representative
Scope	A quick check for obvious duplication	A comprehensive assessment of novelty, creativity and degree of difference
Reliability	An initial reference	Higher, with analysis and recommendations
Cost	Free	A service fee applies

A preliminary search is suitable for quickly ruling out designs that are clearly duplicated. Assessing whether a design is "significantly different", however, is specialist work. For important products, an in-depth search should be carried out to give a solid basis before filing.

Basic steps for a preliminary search

Identify the product and its Locarno class.
Access the database of the Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam, the WIPO database, or both.
Search by Locarno class and product name, and review the design images.
Compare the design you intend to register with the results in terms of shape, lines and overall appearance.
Record closely similar designs to assess the degree of difference, or consult a specialist if the results are unclear.

How the search fits into the registration process

Your own search is separate from the search that the Intellectual Property Office carries out during examination. Once an application is filed and published, the Office conducts a search for examination purposes and then examines the substantive conditions of novelty, creativity and industrial applicability. Under the amended Law on Intellectual Property 2025, the substantive examination period is 5 months from publication of the application, shortened from 7 months. Among the official charges, the following relate directly to that search and examination:

the search fee for examination purposes: 480,000 VND per design variant, payable before substantive examination;
the substantive examination fee: 700,000 VND per design variant;
the filing fee: 150,000 VND, currently reduced by 50% to 75,000 VND under Circular No. 64/2025/TT-BTC until 31 December 2026.

Because the search and examination fees are charged per variant, a careful preliminary search can also help you decide which variants are worth including in one application. A full breakdown is in our article on industrial design registration fees. If protection is granted, the patent lasts 5 years from the filing date and can be renewed twice, each time for 5 years, for a maximum of 15 years.

Points to note when searching

The results of a preliminary search are for reference only and do not replace the examination conclusion of the Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam.
Novelty is assessed on a worldwide basis, so searching Vietnamese data alone is not enough for products with an international dimension.
Databases are updated with a delay, so newly filed applications may not yet appear.
Once the search results are satisfactory, file early to secure the priority date, because disclosing the design to the market yourself before filing can destroy its novelty once the 6-month grace period has passed.

Points for foreign applicants

Foreign companies and individuals that do not have a business establishment or residence in Vietnam must file through a licensed Vietnamese industrial property representative (Article 89 of the Law on Intellectual Property). In practice, the representative can also run the in-depth search, translate the design description into Vietnamese and prepare the power of attorney. Where the design was first filed abroad, the applicant can claim priority by submitting a copy of the earlier foreign application as a priority document. Applicants who later want to protect the same design in several markets should consider the Hague System. If you suspect that a competitor's product already copies your design, see our guide to industrial design infringement.

Frequently asked questions

Can I search industrial designs free of charge myself?

Yes. You can carry out a free preliminary search through the online database of the Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam and the WIPO Global Design Database, but the results are for reference only.

Is an industrial design search mandatory?

It is not mandatory, but it is strongly advisable, because it helps assess novelty, reduces the risk of refusal and saves the cost and time of pursuing an application that is unlikely to succeed.

How does a preliminary search differ from an in-depth search?

A preliminary search is one you do yourself using free databases to check quickly for obvious duplication, while an in-depth search is carried out by an industrial property representative and provides a comprehensive assessment of novelty and degree of difference, with analysis and recommendations.

Is searching Vietnamese data enough?

Not necessarily. Novelty is assessed on a worldwide basis, so for products with an international dimension you should also search international databases such as WIPO's Global Design Database.

Can I still register a design I have already shown at a trade fair or sold?

Only if the disclosure took place no more than 6 months before the filing date; a design disclosed publicly more than 6 months before filing has lost its novelty and can no longer be protected, so it is safer to file before launching the product.

Does the Intellectual Property Office also carry out a search?

Yes. During examination the Office conducts its own search, charging a search fee of 480,000 VND per design variant, before examining novelty, creativity and industrial applicability; your own search before filing is a separate step that helps you decide whether and how to file.

How LTV Law helps

LTV Law carries out comparative searches in Vietnamese and WIPO design data, assesses novelty and conflict risk, advises on the drawings and photographs, and files and follows the application through to grant as your local representative. Details are on our industrial design registration service page.

To have a design assessed before filing, contact our team.

This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice.