VIETNAM – NEW DIRECTIVE ON STRENGTHENING THE ENFORCEMENT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
On January 30, 2026, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh signed Directive 02/CT-TTg on strengthening the enforcement of intellectual property rights. In the context of the digital economy and deep integration, this document is seen as a decisive step to overcome current shortcomings in enforcement.
Current situation
The directive clearly acknowledges that,...
Patent Examination Timeline in Vietnam: Inadequacies and Expert Solutions
The prolonged patent examination process remains a major concern for many inventors and enterprises looking to enter the Vietnamese market. Having to wait years for a patent grant can lead to missed commercialization opportunities or render the technology obsolete before it even receives protection.
To provide readers with a comprehensive...
JPO acts as NOIP’s IPEA and ISA under the PCT system
Having considered the capacity of Japan Patent Office (JPO), the National Office of Intellectual Property of Viet Nam officially recognizes JPO as one of the International Searching (ISA) and Preliminary Examination Authorities (IPEA) for international patent applications originating from Viet Nam under the PCT system as from 01 July...
Update on Decree 189/2025/ND-CP on VAT: Optimal Solutions for Tax Refunds & Risk Management for Businesses
Value Added Tax (VAT) is always one of the taxes with the most direct and powerful impact on the cash flow and operational activities of any business. Any changes in tax policies require businesses to promptly update to avoid the risks of tax arrears, violation penalties, or capital blockage...
VN franchise rules under pressure to change
At the end of the 1990s, franchise was still a strange concept to most people in Việt Nam.
There were no opportunities to enjoy or even see the products and services of the world’s well-known brands in Việt Nam.
KFC, McDonald, Starbucks and Lotteria were not familiar names for Vietnamese youth....
NOIP AND JPO START THE PPH PILOT PROGRAM
On 1 April 2016, the National Office of Intellectual Property of Viet Nam and the Japan Patent Office (JPO) jointly launched the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) Pilot Program. This is NOIP’s first ever PPH Pilot Program ever with another IP Office.
Under the PPH Pilot Program, a patent application filed...
SBLAW Successfully Registers Industrial Design for Daio Paper Corporation (Japan)
Registering intellectual property rights for foreign enterprises in Vietnam demands rigorous procedural adherence and an in-depth understanding of local jurisdictions. Recently, the specialized intellectual property attorneys at SBLAW successfully advised and secured industrial design protection for Daio Paper Corporation (JP) – one of Japan’s premier paper and diaper manufacturers...
The Minister of Science and Technology has handed over the Decision on appointment of the Director General of the National Office of Intellectual Property and De
On 06/3/2017, the Minister of Science and Technology has announced and handed over the Decision appointing Mr. Dinh Huu Phi to hold the position of Director General of the National Office of Intellectual Property and Mr. Pham The Dung to hold the position of Deputy Director General of the...
Counterfeiting on the Rise in Vietnam
The Market Surveillance Agency (MSA) of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, one of the bodies enforcing intellectual property and compliance laws in Vietnamese market, has been very active in the course of 2016. Since the beginning of this year it has made nearly 150,000 inspections and found evidence...
The Ministry of Finance reduces industrial property ownership fees by 50% to support citizens and businesses
On July 2, 2024, the Ministry of Finance officially issued Circular No. 43/2024/TT-BTC, which regulates the reduction of fees in the field of industrial property. This move aims to create more favorable conditions for individuals and businesses to register and protect their intellectual property rights, promoting innovation and business...
To attract high-quality investment, intellectual property is a very important factor!
(THPL) – Lawyer Nguyễn Thanh Hà, Chairman of SBLAW, stated that as Vietnam seeks to attract high-quality investment, particularly in sectors such as technology, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, digital content, and AI, the level of intellectual property protection is an extremely important criterion.
Vietnam’s inclusion by the United States Trade Representative (USTR)...
Valued Added Tax on IP Licensing in Vietnam
Until last month, it was understood that no Intellectual Property license was subject to value added tax VAT under Vietnamese law, benefiting from an exemption based on the principle that technology transfers, being beneficial to the Vietnamese economy, were to be encouraged. This, however, has changed after the Ministry...
Fake, low quality pesticides ‘out of control’
HCM CITY – A severe shortage of funds and personnel has resulted in such loose management of pesticides in the southern region that most of the market is “out of control,” agriculture officials say.
Each province has just two inspectors working for the Cultivation and Plant Protection Division. These two...
Guide to Semiconductor Integrated Circuit Layout-Design Registration Procedures in Vietnam
In the global semiconductor technology race and Vietnam's active microchip development strategy, the layout-design of semiconductor integrated circuits (IC layout-design) represents the core intellectual asset of hardware tech enterprises. To protect high-tech R&D efforts and establish an absolute commercial monopoly, corporations must execute formal registration procedures at the Intellectual...
Procedures for announcement of standard conformity for construction materials
Situation: We are Company A, a limited liability company specializing in importing and distributing construction materials. Currently, our company is preparing to introduce a line of high-end imported tiles to the market. Based on advice from a relative, to ensure compliance with current Vietnamese legal regulations, we want to...


















