Trademark Registration in Vietnam 2026 for Domestic and Foreign Businesses

What a trademark is and why to register early

A trademark (often called a brand or logo) is a sign used to distinguish the goods or services of one business from those of another. It may be a word, a device, a combination of words and devices, or another sign eligible for protection under the law.

Once you hold a trademark registration certificate, you gain the exclusive right to use the mark for the registered goods or services and a legal basis to stop unauthorized use. Failing to register leaves your brand exposed to being registered first by someone else, risking loss of the name, forced rebranding, or costly disputes.

• Establishes exclusive rights and creates an intangible business asset.
• Provides a basis to act against infringement, counterfeits, and imitations.
• Increases value when raising capital, franchising, assigning rights, or expanding markets.

Legal basis applicable in 2026

Trademark registration and protection in Vietnam are governed by the Law on Intellectual Property No. 50/2005/QH11 (effective 1 July 2006), which has been amended and supplemented several times.

The most recent amendment is Law No. 131/2025/QH15, effective 1 April 2026, which includes provisions shortening application processing times and adding rules relating to intellectual property in the digital and artificial intelligence environment. You should check the original texts and current implementing regulations when carrying out procedures, as timelines and forms may be updated.

The first-to-file principle and pre-filing search

Vietnam applies the first-to-file principle: among applications for identical or confusingly similar marks used for identical or similar goods and services, priority belongs to the earliest valid applicant. Delaying your filing may therefore cost you the right to an earlier applicant.

Before filing, it is advisable to run a clearance search to assess whether your mark is identical or confusingly similar to marks already registered or protected. A search helps reduce the risk of refusal, saves time, and guides adjustments to the sign or the scope of classes. Note that search results are for reference only; the final decision rests with IP Vietnam.

Nice classification and scope of protection

Goods and services in a trademark application are classified under the International Classification of Goods and Services (the Nice Classification). The application must clearly state the list and the classes of goods or services being registered.

The scope of protection is limited to the registered classes and list. You should therefore identify the correct and complete classes matching your current business and expansion plans. Registering too few classes may leave gaps for competitors, while registering unused classes increases cost and carries risks related to use obligations.

Dossier and process at IP Vietnam

Applications are received and processed by the Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam (IP Vietnam) under the Ministry of Science and Technology. A typical process follows the sequential steps below.

After filing, the application undergoes formality examination, is published, and then undergoes substantive examination before IP Vietnam decides to grant or refuse the protection title. The outcome is decided by IP Vietnam based on the law.

• Clearance search (recommended).
• Prepare and file the application with IP Vietnam, including the mark specimen and list of classes.
• Formality examination.
• Publication of the valid application.
• Substantive examination.
• Grant or refusal of the trademark registration certificate.

Term of protection and renewal

A trademark registration certificate is valid for 10 years from the filing date. This is a key date to monitor so you can renew proactively and on time.

A trademark may be renewed multiple times, each for 10 years, so in practice the rights can be maintained for a long period provided you complete renewals fully and within the deadlines set by law.

Registering abroad (Madrid) and foreign businesses registering in Vietnam

If you want protection in several countries, consider the Madrid System for the international registration of marks, which lets you file a single application designating multiple member countries and makes managing an international trademark portfolio easier.

Conversely, foreign businesses, especially Chinese companies, with no legal presence in Vietnam may still register a trademark in Vietnam through a licensed industrial property representative. This is a suitable way to protect a brand before entering the market and to avoid being pre-empted by another party under the first-to-file rule.

Fees and processing time (for reference)

The cost and processing time of a trademark application depend on the number of classes, the number of goods and services, the examination outcome, and any opposition. Fee levels and timelines are for reference only and may change under current regulations.

Đông Nam Á does not guarantee that a title will be granted, because the outcome is decided by IP Vietnam. We assist you with searching, classification, dossier preparation, and application monitoring to optimize the prospects of protection and to respond to IP Vietnam's notices in time.