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In May 2026, the Government of Vietnam launched a nationwide peak enforcement campaign aimed at strengthening the prevention, detection, and handling of intellectual property infringement. This is regarded as one of the most decisive enforcement actions in recent years concerning intellectual property rights protection and enforcement, clearly reflecting Vietnam’s commitment to building a transparent and healthy investment environment in line with its international integration commitments.
Under Official Dispatch No. 38/CĐ-TTg dated May 5, 2026, signed by Deputy Prime Minister Hồ Quốc Dũng, ministries, authorities, local governments, and enforcement agencies across the country were instructed to simultaneously implement strict enforcement measures from May 7, 2026 to May 30, 2026 to seriously address intellectual property infringements. The Official Dispatch emphasized the principle of “no prohibited zones, no exceptions.”
Over the years, Vietnam has achieved significant progress in the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights. Competent authorities have detected and handled numerous cases involving counterfeit goods, trademark infringement, copyright violations, and unfair competition practices. However, infringements continue to evolve in a complex manner across many sectors and localities, particularly in the digital environment and e-commerce activities.
Current violations are no longer limited to the manufacture and sale of trademark-counterfeit goods but have expanded into digital copyright areas such as films, music, television programs, video games, and computer software. These infringements directly affect the lawful rights and interests of businesses, content creators, and investors, while also negatively impacting Vietnam’s business environment image in the eyes of the international community.
One notable aspect of this nationwide campaign is the Government’s directive to focus on dismantling large-scale copyright-infringing websites with substantial online traffic. The Ministry of Public Security has been assigned to take the lead, in coordination with relevant ministries and agencies, in verifying, investigating, and initiating criminal proceedings against serious cases related to copyright, related rights, trademarks, and geographical indications.
In particular, websites illegally storing or distributing films, music, television programs, and video games in Vietnamese or foreign languages, especially English, will become key targets of the enforcement campaign. This demonstrates Vietnam’s increasing emphasis on controlling copyright infringement in the online environment, an area that has posed considerable enforcement challenges in recent years.
At the same time, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has been tasked with conducting inspections on software copyright compliance within enterprises, as well as activities involving the provision of digital content online. Serious violations will be immediately sanctioned or transferred to competent authorities for further handling in accordance with the law. Notably, the Government has set a target that the number of cases handled in May 2026 must increase by at least 20% compared to the same period in 2025.
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In addition to digital copyright enforcement, the campaign also strongly expands into the field of industrial property rights and counterfeit goods. The Ministry of Industry and Trade, together with market surveillance authorities nationwide, has been instructed to intensify inspections, supervision, and strict enforcement against trademark infringement, false indications of origin, and violations of industrial property rights. The target of increasing the number of handled cases by at least 20% also applies to these violations.
Regarding border areas and import-export activities, the Ministry of Finance has directed customs authorities to strengthen inspections of goods circulating through border gates. Customs authorities are required to proactively suspend customs clearance procedures for goods showing signs of intellectual property infringement where clear grounds exist. This is considered an important measure to prevent infringing goods from entering the commercial circulation chain from the outset.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of National Defence has been assigned to coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security and local authorities in directing border guards, coast guard forces, and other relevant units to intensify efforts against smuggling and the transportation of goods infringing intellectual property rights across borders and at sea.
Another prominent feature of this campaign is the coordinated involvement of the judicial system. The Supreme People’s Procuracy and the Supreme People’s Court have been requested to strengthen prosecution and adjudication activities concerning intellectual property cases in order to ensure the strictness and deterrent effect of the law. The Government also requested the selection of several representative cases for investigation, prosecution, and public trial.
Alongside enforcement activities, public communication and awareness raising are also being strongly emphasized. Press agencies and media organizations have been instructed to enhance public awareness campaigns to help individuals, businesses, and society better recognize acts of intellectual property infringement, thereby improving legal compliance awareness and encouraging proactive participation in anti-infringement efforts.
To ensure consistency and enforcement efficiency, the Government has required local authorities to urgently establish inter-agency task forces headed by Chairpersons of provincial People’s Committees. These task forces will directly coordinate enforcement activities among local authorities, promptly handle complex cases, and report issues beyond their authority in a timely manner.
In addition, a daily rapid reporting mechanism will be applied throughout the campaign period. Ministries, agencies, and local authorities are required to regularly update information on the detection, seizure, and handling of serious cases for consolidation by the Ministry of Science and Technology and reporting to the Prime Minister on a weekly basis or upon request.
It can be seen that the nationwide enforcement campaign in May 2026 is not only intended to address specific infringement cases but also reflects the strong determination of the Government of Vietnam to comprehensively and sustainably enhance intellectual property rights enforcement. As Vietnam continues to integrate more deeply into global trade and investment chains, establishing an effective intellectual property protection mechanism is regarded as a crucial factor in attracting foreign investment, promoting innovation, and enhancing the country’s international reputation.
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