Vietnam Advances Intellectual Property Protection with Legal Reforms and Enforcement Campaigns

Vietnam is strengthening its intellectual property (IP) protection framework through a combination of comprehensive legal reforms, enhanced enforcement measures, and public campaigns aimed at combating counterfeiting and IP violations. This strategic focus reflects the country’s recognition of IP as a vital foundation for economic development, technological innovation, and digital transformation.

Since the enactment of the Intellectual Property Law in 2005, Vietnam has progressively modernized its legal framework with several amendments. The most recent revision, the 2025 Intellectual Property Law, aligns domestic regulations more closely with international standards and Vietnam’s commitments under key free trade agreements such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the European Union–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

A significant feature of the 2025 revision is the clearer delineation of responsibilities for digital platforms and intermediary service providers. These entities are now explicitly tasked with detecting, blocking, and removing infringing content, addressing the growing complexity and sophistication of online IP violations. Enforcement mechanisms have been tightened accordingly, particularly in the digital environment.

The revised law also formally recognizes intellectual property as a transferable and mortgageable asset. This legal recognition enables IP rights to be valued commercially and utilized in broader economic activities, marking a critical step toward building a robust innovation ecosystem where intellectual assets are effectively protected and commercialized.

Complementing these legal reforms, the Vietnamese government has issued directives to bolster IP enforcement. On January 30, 2026, Prime Ministerial Directive No. 02/CT-TTg emphasized stronger protection of IP rights, focusing on combating counterfeit goods and safeguarding consumers within e-commerce platforms.

Following this, Official Dispatch No. 38/CĐ-TTg, issued on May 5, 2026, launched a nationwide enforcement campaign from May 7 to 30. This campaign mandated ministries, agencies, and local authorities to coordinate efforts to detect and address IP violations under a strict principle of “no prohibited zones and no exceptions.” The government set an ambitious target to increase enforcement cases by at least 20% compared to the same period in 2025.

In response, various ministries and local administrations established inter-agency task forces to intensify market inspections and monitor commercial activities, especially on digital platforms. These coordinated efforts have led to notable improvements in IP enforcement outcomes.

Statistics from 2025 illustrate this progress: market surveillance units handled over 3,300 violations in traditional markets and nearly 600 cases in the digital environment. Authorities also blocked or removed more than 1,200 websites infringing copyright. Customs officials uncovered and processed multiple large-scale counterfeit goods cases, while criminal prosecutions related to IP infringement increased relative to the previous year.

Major e-commerce platforms operating in Vietnam, including Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok, have expanded cooperation with regulatory authorities to enhance enforcement effectiveness in the online marketplace.

Beyond enforcement, Vietnam is pursuing a long-term strategy to cultivate a culture that respects intellectual property and creativity. IP education has been increasingly integrated into university curricula to raise awareness among younger generations about innovation, digital responsibility, and legal compliance.

Additionally, the government has expanded support programs for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) seeking international trademark protection. These initiatives provide legal consultation, financial assistance, and guidance on participation in the Madrid System, helping Vietnamese businesses strengthen competitiveness and safeguard intellectual assets in global markets.

Vietnam’s reform efforts have garnered international recognition. The 2025 Global Innovation Index published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) ranked Vietnam 44th among 139 economies, maintaining its position as one of ASEAN’s leading innovation-driven economies.