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Country trademark guide · Updated

Trademark registration in Vietnam

To register a trademark in Vietnam, you file with the Intellectual Property Office of Viet Nam (IP Viet Nam) or designate Vietnam through the Madrid System. Vietnam is first-to-file and applicants based abroad must appoint a Vietnamese industrial property agent; marks made up only of non-Latin characters, such as Chinese, are normally treated as non-distinctive.

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Five questions first

Which route?File directly with IP Viet Nam if you only need Vietnam or want to adapt the mark and the wording of goods to Vietnamese practice; designate Vietnam through Madrid if you already have a home application or registration and want several countries.Details ↓What do I need?The applicant's name and address in Latin letters, the mark, goods or services by Nice class and a power of attorney; foreign-language wording needs its Vietnamese pronunciation and meaning.Details ↓How are official fees charged?Per class: one class of up to 6 items costs VND 1,000,000 at filing (base amount), currently VND 925,000 because certain charges are halved until the end of 2026. Certificate and other fees follow allowance.Details ↓How long does it take?Statutory periods: formality examination 1 month, publication within 1 month after acceptance, substantive examination within 5 months after publication; no official average times are published.Details ↓What are the main risks?Pre-emptive filings by others (first-to-file), marks only in non-Latin characters lacking distinctiveness, imprecise classification and wording, and similarity to earlier marks.Details ↓
Key facts

Trademarks in Vietnam: key facts

OfficeIntellectual Property Office of Viet Nam (Cục Sở hữu trí tuệ, IP Viet Nam), under the Ministry of Science and Technology. Website and search links: IP Toolbox.
LawLaw on Intellectual Property (No. 50/2005/QH11), most recently amended by Law No. 131/2025/QH15, in force since 1 April 2026; implementing rules: Decree No. 65/2023/NĐ-CP (amended in 2026) and Circular No. 10/2026/TT-BKHCN
Registration principleFirst-to-file: where identical or similar marks are filed for identical or similar goods, registration goes to the application with the earliest filing (or priority) date
Madrid SystemMember of the Madrid Protocol since 11 July 2006; Vietnam can be designated through Madrid
Foreign applicantsForeign companies and individuals with no residence or place of business in Vietnam must act through a Vietnamese industrial property agent
LanguageVietnamese; foreign-language wording in a mark needs its Vietnamese pronunciation and, if it has a meaning, a Vietnamese translation
Multi-class applicationsAllowed; official fees are charged per class, each class covering up to 6 goods or services, with a surcharge for each additional item
Examination periods (statutory)Formality examination 1 month; publication within 1 month after acceptance; substantive examination within 5 months after publication (since 1 April 2026)
Responding to refusals (statutory)Within 2 months of the notice of refusal or request for corrections
Opposition (statutory)3 months from publication of the application (for applications published since 1 April 2026; previously 5 months)
Term and renewal10 years from the filing date, renewable any number of times for 10 years each; renew within the 6 months before expiry, or within 6 months after expiry with a late surcharge
Non-useAfter 5 consecutive years of non-use, anyone can request termination of the registration, unless use began or resumed at least 3 months before the request
Official filing feesOne class of up to 6 items: VND 1,000,000 base amount (Circular No. 263/2016/TT-BTC); from 1 July 2025 to 31 December 2026, charges (lệ phí) are halved, giving VND 925,000 currently (Circular No. 64/2025/TT-BTC)

Checked on 2026-10-06; general information only — the office's published rules and fees prevail.

Which route

Direct filing or a Madrid designation

Both routes lead to registration in Vietnam. They differ in prerequisites, fee structure, flexibility and risk.

ItemDirect filing with IP Viet NamMadrid designation of Vietnam
PrerequisiteNoneA basic application or registration at your office of origin
Official feesIn Vietnamese dong, per class, paid to IP Viet NamBasic fee paid to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), plus: if your office of origin is party to both the Madrid Agreement and the Protocol (e.g. China), only the CHF 100 complementary fee for Vietnam (and a supplementary fee for more than 3 classes), as Article 9sexies of the Protocol excludes the individual fee; from other offices of origin, the Vietnam individual fee (per class, in Swiss francs). See the WIPO fee calculator
Goods and servicesBy Nice class as published by IP Viet Nam; the wording can be adapted to Vietnamese examination practiceCannot go beyond the scope of the basic application; Vietnamese examination also requires clear wording
Vietnamese agentRequired from filingNot needed to file through WIPO; required once a provisional refusal from Vietnam has to be answered
When protection startsOnce the certificate and other fees are paid, a decision to register is issued with a registration certificate (electronic; a paper certificate can be requested)From the date IP Viet Nam decides to grant protection; if no decision is made within 12 months of WIPO's notification designating Vietnam, from the day after that period ends (statutory)
Dependency riskNoneIf the basic application or registration is refused or cancelled within 5 years, the Vietnamese designation falls with it (it can be transformed into a Vietnamese national application within the set time limit)
Best forYou only need Vietnam; a mark in Chinese or another non-Latin script needs a version for Vietnam; you have no home filing to rely onYou already have a home filing and want protection in several countries

Not sure? Run a free search first, then submit an order online; the agent will recommend a route based on the search results.

What to prepare

Documents checklist

For a direct application to IP Viet Nam, prepare the following information and documents. No evidence of use is needed at filing.

Applicant

  • Name and address: foreign applicants give them in Latin letters, in the international form of the original (for a company, usually the English name matching its business registration); they are not translated into Vietnamese
  • Type of applicant (company or individual) and country

The mark

  • A clear image: each element 8–80 mm, the whole mark within an 80 × 80 mm frame
  • A colour image if you claim colours; otherwise a black-and-white image
  • Foreign-language wording needs its Vietnamese pronunciation and, if it has a meaning, a Vietnamese translation; for Chinese characters, state their pronunciation and meaning; describe any figurative elements

Goods and services

  • List them by Nice class as published by IP Viet Nam, in common terms; avoid dialect, rare or invented words
  • Up to 6 items per class are covered by the basic official fee; each additional item costs extra

Power of attorney and priority

  • Power of attorney: in writing, stating the names and addresses of both parties, the scope, term and date, and signed or sealed by the applicant; it can be filed after the application, but before the application is accepted as valid
  • Priority from an earlier application filed abroad: file in Vietnam within 6 months of the earlier filing date; the priority document can be submitted within 3 months of the Vietnamese filing date

Signed documents such as the power of attorney are provided following the agent's instructions. If the mark uses another person's portrait, that person's consent and a copy of their identity document are also required.

How long

Process and timeline

Example: a direct application with no opposition. All periods below are statutory.

  1. Step 1

    Clearance search (recommended)

    Search Vietnam's official database (WIPO Publish) for similar marks and settle the classes and wording

  2. Step 2

    Filing

    File through an agent (online filings are processed with priority) and receive an application number; the application details are made public straight away

  3. Step 3

    Formality examination

    1 month from the filing date (statutory)

  4. Step 4

    Publication and opposition

    Publication within 1 month after the application is accepted as valid; 3-month opposition period after publication (statutory)

  5. Step 5

    Substantive examination

    Completed within 5 months after publication (statutory); if there are grounds for refusal, respond within 2 months (statutory)

  6. Step 6

    Fees and registration

    Pay the certificate and other fees within 2 months of the notice of allowance; the decision to register follows within 1 month of payment (statutory)

IP Viet Nam publishes no official statistics on average trademark examination times, so this page lists statutory periods only; time taken by the applicant to respond or make corrections is not counted. Expedited examination can be requested in the cases set by law, with substantive examination completed within 3 months after publication. Applications filed before 1 April 2026 are in principle handled under the old law, but those published after that date follow the new opposition and examination periods.

How to read the periods: "statutory" = set by law; "official statistics" = averages published by the office; "estimate" = typical cases. Actual timing varies.

How much

Official fees

Official fees are charged in Vietnamese dong, per class: each class covers up to 6 goods or services, with a surcharge for each additional item. Part is paid at filing, and the certificate, publication and recordal fees after allowance. The table below shows the base amounts set by Circular No. 263/2016/TT-BTC of Vietnam's Ministry of Finance; from 1 July 2025 to 31 December 2026, the "charges" (lệ phí) among them, such as the filing, certificate and renewal charges, are collected at 50%, while search, examination and publication fees are not reduced.

ItemChargedAmountApprox. USD
Paid on filing
Filing fee (per application)Per application75,000 VND≈ USD 3
Publication fee for the application (per application)Per application120,000 VND≈ USD 5
Search fee (per class, up to 6 goods or services)Per class180,000 VND≈ USD 7
Substantive examination fee (per class, up to 6 goods or services)Per class550,000 VND≈ USD 22
Paid on registration
Certificate issuance fee (including the first class)Per application60,000 VND≈ USD 2
Certificate issuance fee (each class from the second)Each additional class50,000 VND≈ USD 2
Publication fee for the registration decision (per registration)Per application120,000 VND≈ USD 5
Entry in the National Register fee (per registration)Per application120,000 VND≈ USD 5
Payable when applicable
Additional search fee (each item from the 7th in a class)Per item30,000 VND≈ USD 1
Additional examination fee (each item from the 7th in a class)Per item120,000 VND≈ USD 5
Priority claim examination fee (if priority is claimed, per application)Per application600,000 VND≈ USD 24
Keeping the registration
Renewal fee (every 10 years, per class; 10% surcharge per month within 6 months after expiry)Per class50,000 VND≈ USD 2
Certificate use fee on renewal (every 10 years, per class)Per class700,000 VND≈ USD 28
Renewal request examination fee (per registration)Per application160,000 VND≈ USD 6
Publication fee for the renewal decision (per registration)Per application120,000 VND≈ USD 5
Register entry fee for the renewal decision (per registration)Per application120,000 VND≈ USD 5

Source: ipvietnam.gov.vn · current fees in force since 2025-07-01 · checked on 2026-10-11 · USD figures are approximate, converted at the Bank of China selling rate (spot; cash rate where no spot rate is published; the central bank's USD rate for currencies it does not quote); the official fee is the amount in the original currency

Official fees are as published by the office; the service fee is quoted by an agent after you submit, and you pay only after accepting the quote.

Example: one application filed through the ordinary channel, 1 class, up to 6 items, currently costs VND 75,000 (filing charge, halved) + VND 120,000 (publication fee) + VND 180,000 (search fee) + VND 550,000 (examination fee) = VND 925,000 at filing; at the base amounts it is VND 1,000,000. With 2 classes it is currently VND 75,000 + VND 120,000 + 2 × (VND 180,000 + VND 550,000) = VND 1,655,000 (VND 1,730,000 at the base amounts).

After allowance you also pay the certificate charge (VND 120,000 for the first class and VND 100,000 for each further class, halved during the reduction period), a VND 120,000 fee for publishing the decision to register and a VND 120,000 recordal fee. Applications handled online through VNeID, Vietnam's national electronic identity app, benefit from a separate exemption, subject to the conditions set by Vietnamese rules; the amounts actually due are those in IP Viet Nam's payment notice.

The reduction runs until 31 December 2026; whether it continues after that depends on what Vietnam's Ministry of Finance announces.

Service fees are quoted by the agent after you submit the order; you pay only after accepting the quote.

Watch out

Rules specific to Vietnam and common refusals

These are the most common issues in Vietnamese examination, along with Vietnam-specific rules that are easy to overlook.

Non-Latin characters lack distinctiveness

Vietnam's examination rules treat Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai and other non-Latin characters as script the average Vietnamese consumer cannot read: on their own they are held non-distinctive, unless combined with other elements into a distinctive whole or presented in a special, stylised way. For the Vietnamese market, also register a Latin-letter or figurative mark.

Pre-emptive filings under first-to-file

Vietnam registers a mark to whoever files first, so file before you enter the market. If someone has registered your mark: invalidation of a bad-faith filing can be requested at any time, with no time limit; registration by a foreign owner's agent or distributor in its own name without consent is expressly prohibited by law; invalidation on other grounds must be requested within 5 years of registration.

Classification and wording

Goods and services must follow the Nice classification published by IP Viet Nam, in common terms; if they are wrongly classified, the office reclassifies them and charges a classification fee. Each item beyond 6 in a class adds search and examination fees, so longer lists cost more.

Similarity to an earlier mark

The most common ground for refusal. Since 1 April 2026, if a cited earlier mark is open to cancellation (for example, after 5 consecutive years of non-use), you can request a suspension of examination, ask for the cited mark to be terminated or invalidated first, and have examination resume once there is a result.

3-month opposition period

For applications published since 1 April 2026, third parties must oppose within 3 months of publication (previously 5 months) and pay a fee per class; after that, they can only submit third-party observations for the examiner's reference until the decision to register. If you already have a brand in Vietnam, keep watching IP Viet Nam's trademark publications.

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After registration

Keeping the registration

A Vietnamese registration is valid for 10 years from the filing date and is renewed at expiry; 5 consecutive years of non-use can lead to termination.

WhenWhat to doOfficial fee
Within the 6 months before expiry, every 10 yearsRenew; you can renew for only some of the goods or servicesPer class: renewal charge VND 100,000 + certificate use fee VND 700,000; per application: examination fee VND 160,000, publication fee VND 120,000 and recordal fee VND 120,000
Within 6 months after expiryLate renewalA surcharge of 10% of the renewal charge for each month late
Any timeRecord assignments and changes of name or address with IP Viet Nam; an assignment contract takes effect only once recordedVaries

The renewal charge is a "charge" (lệ phí) and is collected at 50% until 31 December 2026 (Circular No. 64/2025/TT-BTC); the payment notice prevails.

Once registered, you can ask Vietnam Customs to inspect and supervise, or suspend clearance of, imports and exports suspected of infringing the mark. After 5 consecutive years of non-use, anyone can request termination of the registration, so keep evidence of sales, advertising and other use in Vietnam.

FAQ

Trademark registration in Vietnam

How much does a Vietnamese trademark cost?

Official fees are charged per class. For one class of up to 6 goods, the base amount at filing is VND 1,000,000 (filing charge VND 150,000, publication fee VND 120,000, search fee VND 180,000, examination fee VND 550,000), plus VND 150,000 for each item beyond 6 in a class. From 1 July 2025 to 31 December 2026 the filing charge and other charges (lệ phí) are halved, so one class filed through the ordinary channel currently costs VND 925,000 at filing. Certificate, publication and recordal fees follow allowance. Service fees are quoted by the agent after you submit the order; you pay only after accepting the quote.

How long does trademark registration in Vietnam take?

Statutory periods: formality examination 1 month, publication within 1 month after acceptance, substantive examination within 5 months after publication, then fee payment after allowance and a decision to register within 1 month of payment. IP Viet Nam publishes no average examination times; refusals, oppositions or corrections take longer. Online filings are processed with priority.

Can I register a mark in Chinese characters or another non-Latin script?

You can apply, but Chinese or other non-Latin characters on their own are normally treated as non-distinctive. A mark that combines them with Latin letters or a figurative element into a distinctive whole, or presents them in a stylised design, is more likely to be accepted; the application must state their pronunciation and meaning. If you sell to Vietnamese consumers, also register a Latin-letter mark.

How long is the opposition period in Vietnam?

For applications published since 1 April 2026, 3 months from publication (previously 5 months). Publication itself takes place within 1 month after the application is accepted as valid, and opposition fees are charged per class. After the period ends, third parties can still submit observations for the examiner's reference until the decision to register.

What can I do if someone has filed my mark in Vietnam?

First check what stage the other application has reached: within 3 months of publication, you can file an opposition; after the opposition period but before registration, you can submit third-party observations; once it is registered, you can request invalidation (with no time limit for a bad-faith filing, otherwise within 5 years of registration), or request termination if the mark has not been used for 5 consecutive years.

Can a foreign company file in Vietnam without a local agent?

No. Foreign companies and individuals with no residence or place of business in Vietnam must act through a Vietnamese industrial property agent; for a Madrid designation of Vietnam, an agent is also needed once a provisional refusal has to be answered.

Other IP rights

Patents: in Vietnam, patents for inventions last 20 years from the filing date and utility solution patents (Vietnam's utility models) 10 years; PCT applications can enter the Vietnamese national phase within 31 months from the priority date.

Designs: industrial designs are protected for 5 years from the filing date and can be renewed twice, for 5 years each time; Vietnam has been party to the Hague Agreement since 30 December 2019 and can be designated through the Hague System.

Patent applications are handled through an affiliated patent agency.

IP news: Vietnam

Other countries and territories in the region

Thailand　·　Malaysia　·　Indonesia　·　Philippines　·　Singapore　·　Cambodia

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