Trademark Registration Service in Vietnam

Vietnam follows a “first-to-file” system, which means that registering a trademark is mandatory if you want to obtain protection and exclusive rights. In Vietnam, rights generally belong to the first applicant, not the first user. Although well-known trademarks may receive protection without filing, this is an exception and should not be relied upon.

Because of this, registering a trademark in Vietnam is essential to secure enforceable ownership over your:

• Brand name
• Logo
• Business or product name
• Packaging
• Labels

A registered trademark in Vietnam provides:

• Exclusive nationwide rights
• A stronger legal position in case of infringement
• Proof of ownership for marketplaces and digital platforms
• Increased customer trust and brand credibility
• Long-term protection as your business expands in Asia and internationally

Trademark applications must be filed before the **National Office of Intellectual Property of Vietnam (NOIP). Vietnam is also a member of the Madrid Protocol, allowing protection through an international application via the Madrid System.

Prior use is not required to file or obtain registration in Vietnam. However, extensive previous use can help demonstrate acquired distinctiveness if NOIP raises objections related to descriptiveness or lack of distinctiveness.

If you register a combined trademark (word + logo), your exclusive rights apply only to the exact configuration filed. If you also wish to protect the word element or the figurative element independently, you should file separate applications for each version.

For any business expanding in Southeast Asia, Vietnam trademark registration is a key component of a strong, defendable brand protection strategy.

To register a trademark in Vietnam, you will generally need:

• Original Power of Attorney, signed. No notarization or legalization required.
• The name or logo you want to register
• The applicant’s details

Your iGERENT consultant will confirm the exact requirements for your case and guide you through each step.

Timelines vary, but a typical Vietnam trademark registration takes approximately 14 months for straightforward cases. This estimate can change depending on examination delays, objections issued by the office, or third-party oppositions.

The process includes several stages:

• An initial formality check of the application
• Publication in the Official Gazette of Intellectual Property
• A substantive examination, which NOIP aims to complete within {{estimatedProcessingMonths}} months

If no objections or oppositions arise during these steps, the trademark proceeds to registration.

Throughout the entire process, your dedicated consultant will keep you informed at every stage, ensuring you never miss a deadline, notice, or request from the office.

Once your trademark is approved, it proceeds to registration and you receive your official certificate. In Vietnam, a registered trademark is valid for t10 years from the filing date and can be renewed indefinitely for further periods of ten (10) years.

You may request renewal:

• From six (6) months before the expiration date, and
• Up to six (6) months after expiration, in which case late renewal fees will apply.

After registration, the trademark must not remain unused for five consecutive years, or it may become vulnerable to cancellation actions for non-use. The level of use required is not high, but you must be able to show genuine use if your rights are challenged.

As with all countries, timely renewal is essential to keep your protection in force. To simplify the process and avoid missing deadlines, you can use our Trademark Renewal Service in Vietnam**.

Yes. Vietnam allows trademark oppositions. Once a mark is published in the Official Gazette of Intellectual Property, third parties may file opposition actions if they believe the application conflicts with their existing rights.

In practice, if someone tries to register a trademark that is identical or confusingly similar to yours for related goods or services, you may oppose it on grounds such as:

• Similarity to an existing registered mark
• Prior use or earlier rights
• Likelihood of confusion among consumers

Third parties generally have 5 months from the publication date to file an opposition. The chances of success will always depend on the specific facts of each case, including the similarity between the marks, the overlap in goods/services, the evidence submitted, and the reputation of the earlier mark.

If you believe a Vietnam trademark application affects your rights, we can review your situation and guide you through the full opposition procedure in Vietnam.

Use is not required to file or obtain trademark registration in Vietnam.

However, after registration:

• The trademark must not remain unused for five (5) consecutive years.
• If the mark is not used during this period, third parties may file cancellation actions for non-use.
• The level of use required is minimal, but there must be at least some genuine commercial use to defend the registration if it is challenged.

If evidence of use is ever requested by the office or raised in a non-use cancellation action, iGERENT will guide you through everything needed to prove use and help you maintain your rights in Vietnam.