Vietnam Advances Intellectual Property Framework to Boost Economic Value Creation

During the 68th series of meetings of the assemblies of the member states of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), Vietnam’s Minister of Science and Technology, Vu Hai Quan, commended WIPO’s pivotal role in advancing the global intellectual property (IP) system. He highlighted WIPO’s contributions to enhancing state management capacity, supporting businesses, training human resources, and promoting the commercialisation of intellectual assets.

Minister Quan reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment to the international IP framework, noting the country’s proactive and rapid integration of international IP obligations under multilateral and bilateral treaties. This engagement contributes to a modern and effective global IP system that fosters innovation and development.

Nguyen Hoang Giang, Deputy Director of the Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam, emphasized that IP is increasingly a cornerstone of the knowledge-based economy. He observed that Vietnam has outpaced many regional peers in integrating into the global IP system, supported by an open legal framework and adherence to high-standard commitments.

Vietnamese enterprises have deepened their involvement in trademarks and industrial designs, reflecting stronger international integration and a shift from mere legal compliance to strategic business and commercial use of IP rights.

The recently revised Law on Intellectual Property, effective from 2025, introduced significant procedural reforms, including shortened application processing times. These changes provide a competitive advantage as businesses prioritize speed to market and seek faster protection mechanisms.

Vietnam’s legal framework aligns with international standards such as the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) and has been further enhanced through new-generation free trade agreements like the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

Deputy Director Giang noted that Vietnam’s international IP integration is demonstrated by its participation in international treaties and high-standard FTAs, active engagement in multilateral organizations including WIPO, the World Trade Organisation, ASEAN, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. This includes technical cooperation, data sharing, training programs, and enterprises’ capacity to utilize international systems for protecting and exploiting IP assets abroad.

Despite improvements in application volumes and processing efficiency, Giang identified a more fundamental challenge: enhancing the quality of IP protection and the ability to convert intellectual assets into tangible economic value.

He stressed that a country’s true IP standing is measured not by application numbers or rankings but by its capacity to transform IP into a tool for economic growth. The 2025 revised law marks a critical shift from a rights-protection mindset to one focused on exploiting and commercialising IP rights as valuable economic assets.

Vietnam has transitioned from building an IP system for integration to actively operating that system to enhance competitiveness. The country now faces a more demanding phase where IP must generate measurable economic returns.

Looking ahead, the Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam plans to improve institutional and policy mechanisms, accelerate digital transformation, and modernize management activities. This includes streamlining processes from application filing and searches to publication and examination, incorporating new technologies and addressing non-traditional IP objects. The objective is to boost processing efficiency and strengthen connectivity with international systems, particularly WIPO-coordinated platforms.

Experts advocate for closer integration of Vietnam’s IP system with the national innovation ecosystem. This would involve providing industrial property data, technology trend information, and support mechanisms for establishing and managing IP rights. Such measures aim to help enterprises shift from merely registering IP for protection to strategically managing intellectual assets to create economic value.

On enforcement, Tran Le Hong, Deputy Director of the Intellectual Property Office, stated that Vietnam pursues a comprehensive and balanced IP protection policy. This approach supports innovation, international integration, and socio-economic development while balancing rights holders’ interests with the public good.

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung has directed ministries and agencies to conduct a comprehensive review of laws and regulations governing IP enforcement. The goal is to address legal bottlenecks promptly, improve enforcement effectiveness, and foster a culture of respect for IP rights in Vietnam.

In response to increasingly sophisticated tactics by offenders, customs authorities are enhancing controls at border gates. They are deploying advanced technologies and refining enforcement measures to intercept illicit goods during import and transit stages, strengthening Vietnam’s IP protection regime.