Vietnam Advances Intellectual Property Law with Major Reforms Two Decades After Initial Adoption

Vietnam has steadily strengthened its intellectual property (IP) legal framework over the past two decades to support deeper integration into the global economy. The country’s journey began in 2005 when the National Assembly adopted the first Law on Intellectual Property, which came into effect on July 1, 2006. This foundational legislation was subsequently amended in 2009, 2019, and 2022 to keep pace with evolving IP needs.

Most recently, on December 10, 2025, Vietnam’s National Assembly enacted a revised Law on Intellectual Property (Law No. 131/2025/QH15). This latest version emphasizes reforming administrative procedures and advancing digital transformation to enhance IP protection and service delivery.

A key feature of the 2025 Law is the reduction in processing times for IP registrations. Patent application processing time has been shortened from 18 months to 12 months. Trademark registrations will now be processed within five months, down from nine months. Industrial design registrations will be completed within five months instead of the previous seven months.

The Law also introduces a mechanism for expedited verification of patent and trademark applications within three months, provided certain conditions are met. This fast-track procedure is rare globally and demonstrates Vietnam’s commitment to efficient IP administration.

Digital transformation is a cornerstone of the new Law. It mandates the integration of new technologies and artificial intelligence to streamline administrative processes, improve state management effectiveness, and meet the growing societal demand for IP services.

Beyond procedural reforms, the Law expands the scope of IP protection. It now covers industrial designs of non-physical products, such as screen layouts, icons, and graphical user interfaces. Additionally, protection extends to inseparable parts of a product, not just the overall appearance.

For the first time, the 2025 Law explicitly addresses issues related to artificial intelligence. It stipulates that Vietnam will not grant patents for inventions not created by humans, clarifying the country’s stance on AI-generated innovations.

According to Luu Hoang Long, Director General of the Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam, the Office received over 423,000 industrial design registration filings between 2021 and 2025, representing a 26.5 percent increase compared to the previous five years. During the same period, the number of issued patents reached 255,000, marking a 55.4 percent rise.

Vietnam continues to collaborate with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and international partners to promote the commercialization of IP rights, supporting national economic growth.

In the current global context, Vietnam’s IP strategy aims to protect the legitimate interests of stakeholders while laying the foundation for enhanced national competitiveness and fostering a new growth model centered on innovation.