Viet Nam’s position is to strictly handle all acts infringing intellectual property rights and to continue strengthening the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights, while also hoping that the US will make a more objective, comprehensive, and balanced assessment of Viet Nam’s recent reform and enforcement efforts. However, some extremist and ill-intentioned individuals immediately sought to exploit this issue to spread misinformation, make false accusations, and smear Viet Nam’s investment environment as well as its serious commitments to international integration.
In reality, Viet Nam is demonstrating strong political determination in protecting intellectual property rights, an area regarded as a key pillar for the sustainable development of the digital economy and innovation.
At the Foreign Ministry’s regular press briefing on May 14, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang affirmed: “Viet Nam’s position is to strictly handle all acts infringing intellectual property rights and to continue strengthening the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights.” This is also a concrete commitment to action, consistently reflected through an increasingly comprehensive legal system and resolute enforcement measures.
From the 2005 Law on Intellectual Property to its amendments and supplements — most recently the revised and supplemented law in 2025 — Viet Nam’s legal framework has been developed in an increasingly comprehensive and modern manner, aligned with domestic development realities as well as the high standards set out in new-generation free trade agreements such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the EU–Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). Legal provisions have clarified the responsibilities of digital platforms and intermediary service providers in reviewing, preventing, and promptly removing infringing content, while shortening processing times. Penalty mechanisms have also been tightened, especially in cyberspace, where violations are currently the most widespread and complex.
Notably, the new law recognises intellectual property rights as a type of intellectual asset that can be valued, transferred, and used as collateral, thereby opening broader economic space for creative activities. This is truly an important step forward, reflecting the determination of the Party and the State to build an ecosystem in which innovation is encouraged and strictly protected, becoming a genuine driver of growth.
Viet Nam’s persistent efforts have been recognised by the international community. According to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)’s 2025 Global Innovation Index (GII) Report, Viet Nam ranked 44th out of 139 countries and economies in the 2025 global innovation rankings, placing it among the ASEAN countries with positive results in this field. WIPO highly appreciated Viet Nam as a typical model in leveraging intellectual property for development, noting that the country leads the world in several important indicators such as high-tech imports, high-tech exports, and the share of creative goods exports.
Recently, the Government and the Prime Minister have issued numerous specific and resolute directives on this issue. The Prime Minister’s Directive No. 02/CT-TTg (dated January 30, 2026) on strengthening intellectual property rights enforcement outlined a series of key tasks, notably the implementation of a project to combat counterfeit and imitation goods and protect consumers in e-commerce.
The Prime Minister’s Official Dispatch No. 38/CD-TTg (dated May 5, 2026) requested a focused and resolute implementation of measures to combat, prevent, and handle violations, while also launching a nationwide peak campaign from May 7 to May 30, 2026. The dispatch emphasised the spirit of “no forbidden zones, no exceptions”, requiring the coordinated engagement of the entire political system, enhanced inspection, supervision, and strict handling of infringements, especially in the area of industrial property and counterfeit trademark goods, with the goal of increasing the number of handled cases by at least 20% compared to the same period in 2025. Immediately after the dispatch was issued, ministries, sectors, and localities quickly established inter-sectoral task forces and rolled out strong inspection and supervision measures.
Previously, in 2025, Viet Nam’s intellectual property rights enforcement achieved positive results. Market surveillance forces handled more than 3,300 cases in traditional markets and nearly 600 cases in the digital environment; more than 1,200 websites providing copyright-infringing content were blocked or removed. Customs authorities detected and handled many large-scale counterfeit goods cases. The number of criminal cases in this field also increased compared to the previous year. Major e-commerce platforms such as Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop also coordinated more closely and responsibly with Vietnamese authorities.
Protecting intellectual property rights does not stop at detection and punishment. A more important and long-term strategic issue is to build a culture of respecting creativity from the roots, making it a shared awareness and responsibility across society. Intellectual property content has been integrated into university curricula, helping younger generations gain a deeper understanding of the value of creativity and the legal responsibilities of each individual. The State has also introduced policies to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in registering international trademark protection, including financial assistance, legal consultation, and guidance on registration through the Madrid System, thereby enhancing competitiveness and protecting brands when expanding into foreign markets.
Of course, challenges remain, especially online copyright infringement and counterfeit goods on digital platforms. This is a global issue that requires persistence and closely coordinated cooperation among the State, businesses, and society as a whole over a long-term sustained process.
Viet Nam’s strong administrative reforms and high political determination in enforcing intellectual property rights are undeniable. Attempts by certain extremist organisations and individuals to deliberately exaggerate shortcomings, attribute causes to the political system, and distort Viet Nam’s investment environment are biased, subjective, and do not reflect reality.
Based on the practical and comprehensive nature of the issue, Viet Nam calls on the US to make objective and balanced assessments of Viet Nam’s efforts and achievements in the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights. Viet Nam is always ready to share information and engage in constructive dialogue to properly address differences, contributing to building a transparent and healthy investment and business environment in Viet Nam, thereby helping to deepen and sustain cooperative relations with international partners, including the US.
