Viet Nam imposes tough punishment on intellectual property infringements

The Spokesperson made the above statement at the MOFA's press briefing in Ha Noi on Thursday in response to USTR’s 2026 Special 301 Report.  

Since the introduction of the 2005 Intellectual Property Law, along with subsequent amendments — particularly the revised 2025 version — Viet Nam's legal framework has become increasingly comprehensive and modern, keeping pace with domestic developments and the country's commitments under new-generation free trade agreements.

Efforts to improve the innovation ecosystem and strengthen IP protection and enforcement have been recognized by the international community. The World Intellectual Property Organization ranked Viet Nam 44th among 139 countries and economies in the 2025 Global Innovation Index, placing the country among ASEAN's stronger performers in this field.

Besides legislative reforms, the Government has introduced a range of measures to enhance IP enforcement and combat smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeit goods, and IP-infringing products. These include the Prime Minister's Directive No. 02 issued on January 30, 2026, aimed at strengthening IP enforcement, as well as programs focused on combating counterfeit goods and protecting consumers in e-commerce.

Most recently, the Prime Minister issued Official Dispatch No. 38 dated May 5, 2026, calling for stronger and more decisive actions against IP violations in order to improve enforcement effectiveness, Pham noted.

She stressed that these aforesaid actions demonstrate Viet Nam's consistent policy of reinforcing IP protection in line with sustainable development goals, while building a transparent, secure, and reliable investment and business environment and fulfilling international commitments.

According to Pham, Vietnamese authorities have in recent years worked closely with technology companies, cross-border digital platforms, and service providers to detect and address IP-related violations.

In 2025 alone, enforcement agencies handled thousands of infringement cases. Market surveillance forces dealt with 3,306 cases involving IP violations in traditional markets and another 599 cases linked to e-commerce and social media platforms.

Authorities also blocked more than 1,200 websites suspected of violating copyrights and related rights. The number of criminal investigations, prosecutions, and court cases involving IP crimes has increased compared to the previous year, while customs authorities have uncovered and handled several large-scale counterfeit and IP infringement cases.

In addition to Government efforts, rights holders, cross-border platform operators, and related stakeholders must strengthen their responsibility in reviewing, preventing, removing, and handling infringing content, goods, and services appearing on their platforms.

She also called on the business community, including exporters, to improve awareness of and compliance with IP regulations; avoid producing, trading, or distributing counterfeit trademark goods or products violating IP rights; and actively cooperate with authorities and rights holders in detecting and preventing violations.

According to Pham, this shared responsibility is essential to building a healthy and transparent business environment while enhancing the reputation of Vietnamese enterprises and the country's image in international trade and economic cooperation.

Viet Nam said the Spokesperson is urging the U.S. to provide fair and balanced evaluations of its efforts and achievements in protecting and enforcing intellectual property rights.

She added that Viet Nam remains willing to share information and engage in constructive dialogue with international partners, including the U.S., to clarify policies and regulations, promote transparency, and strengthen international cooperation on intellectual property issues./.