Strong political commitment to intellectual property protection

Vietnam has demonstrated growing political determination to protect IP rights, recognising IP as a critical foundation for economic development, technological innovation, and digital transformation.

Since the introduction of the Intellectual Property Law in 2005, followed by several amendments - most recently the revised 2025 Intellectual Property Law - Vietnam’s legal framework has been progressively modernised and aligned more closely with international standards, including commitments under major free trade agreements such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and the European Union–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement.

One of the most notable changes in the latest revision is the clearer definition of responsibilities for digital platforms and intermediary service providers in detecting, blocking, and removing infringing content. Enforcement mechanisms have also been tightened, particularly in the online environment, where IP violations are becoming increasingly sophisticated and complex.

The revised law further recognises IP as a transferable and mortgageable asset, allowing IP rights to be valued commercially and used in broader economic activities. This is a significant step toward building a more robust innovation ecosystem in which intellectual assets are effectively protected and commercialised.

Enforcement efforts intensify nationwide

Alongside legal reforms, the Government of Vietnam has introduced a series of directives aimed at strengthening intellectual property enforcement.

Directive No. 02/CT-TTg, issued by the Prime Minister on January 30, 2026, called for stronger protection of IP rights, with particular emphasis on combating counterfeit goods and protecting consumers in e-commerce environments.

This was followed by Official Dispatch No. 38/CĐ-TTg dated May 5, 2026, which launched a nationwide enforcement campaign running from May 7 to 30. The campaign instructed ministries, agencies, and local authorities to implement coordinated measures to detect and handle violations under the principle of “no prohibited zones and no exceptions.”

The Government also set a target of increasing the number of enforcement cases by at least 20% compared with the same period in 2025.

In response, many ministries and local administrations established inter-agency task forces to strengthen market inspections and monitor commercial activities, especially on digital platforms.

Measurable progress in 2025

Vietnam has recorded notable improvements in intellectual property enforcement in recent years.

Statistics revealed in 2025 alone show market surveillance forces handled more than 3,300 violations in traditional markets and nearly 600 cases in the digital environment. Authorities also blocked or removed more than 1,200 copyright-infringing websites.

Customs authorities uncovered and processed multiple large-scale counterfeit goods cases, while the number of criminal prosecutions related to IP infringement increased compared with the previous year.

Major e-commerce platforms such as Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok have also expanded cooperation with Vietnamese regulators to improve the effectiveness of enforcement in the online marketplace.

Building a culture of respect for innovation

Beyond enforcement and penalties, Vietnam is pursuing a longer-term strategy focused on fostering a culture that respects intellectual property and creativity.

IP education has increasingly been integrated into university curricula to raise awareness among younger generations about innovation, digital responsibility, and legal compliance.

At the same time, the Government has expanded support programems for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) seeking international trademark protection. These initiatives include legal consultation, financial support, and guidance on participating in the Madrid System, helping Vietnamese businesses strengthen competitiveness and safeguard intellectual assets in global markets.

Vietnam’s reform efforts have gained recognition internationally. According to the 2025 Global Innovation Index published by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), Vietnam ranked 44th among 139 economies, maintaining its position among ASEAN’s leading innovation-driven economies.

The WIPO highlighted Vietnam as one of the countries making positive progress in leveraging IP as a tool for development, particularly in high technology, technology exports, and innovation ecosystems.

Vietnam calls for objective assessment of reform efforts

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) in late April 2026 released its 2026 Special 301 Report on intellectual property protection and enforcement among US trading partners, placing Vietnam in the “Priority Foreign Country” category - the highest warning level under the mechanism.

The USTR report focused on issues commonly assessed across trading partners, including counterfeit goods, digital copyright infringement, border enforcement, and overall IP protection measures.

Against this backdrop, Vietnam’s recent reforms and enforcement campaigns reflect efforts to align domestic policies more closely with international standards, particularly in digital trade and cross-border intellectual property protection.

At a regular press briefing on May 14, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pham Thu Hang reaffirmed that Vietnam is determined to strictly handle all acts of intellectual property infringement while continuing to strengthen the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights.

Vietnam has also expressed readiness to engage in dialogue and information-sharing with international partners, including the United States, to address differences constructively, promote a transparent and sustainable investment environment, and strengthen bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

As the digital economy continues to expand rapidly, Vietnam is gradually building a comprehensive intellectual property ecosystem that combines legal modernisation, stronger enforcement, and broader public awareness. These efforts are aimed not only at meeting domestic development needs, but also at supporting the country's deeper integration into the global trading system, where IP protection remains one of the core standards of modern economic competitiveness.

Vietnam intensifies anti-counterfeit crackdown at border checkpoints

VOV.VN - Vietnamese customs authorities have seized tens of thousands of products suspected of infringing intellectual property rights during a nationwide anti-smuggling and counterfeit goods crackdown launched under the Government’s Official Dispatch No. 38.