Vietnam Signals a New Wave of Intellectual Property Reform: AI, Digital Assets and Technology Commercialisation in Focus
On 17 June 2026, the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam issued Conclusion No. 51-KL/TW (“Conclusion“) on strengthening intellectual property (“IP“) work in support of socio-economic development in the new era. Against this backdrop, Vietnam has enacted a sweeping package of legislative and regulatory reforms that fundamentally reshape its IP framework. To read more about the Conclusion and its key features, please see our June 2026 Legal Update titled “Vietnam Signals a New Wave of Intellectual Property Reform: AI, Digital Assets and Technology Commercialisation in Focus“.
Between 2025 and 2026, the National Assembly and the Government enacted Law No. 131/2025/QH15 amending the Law on Intellectual Property, Law No. 134/2025/QH15 on Artificial Intelligence, and Resolution No. 81/2025/UBTVQH15 of the National Assembly Standing Committee, establishing specialised regional IP courts. A series of implementing decrees, decisions and circulars were also enacted and issued.
Taken together, these reforms position Vietnam not merely as a rule-taker under international IP obligations, but as an active participant in adopting advanced international standards, particularly in relation to artificial intelligence (“AI“)-assisted innovation, AI training data governance, IP commercialisation, digital enforcement and specialised IP adjudication.
This Update provides a high-level overview of the key legal and practical developments shaping Vietnam’s evolving IP landscape.
For more information, click here to read our Legal Update.
Vietnam's New Foreign Investment Strategy: Key Takeaways from Resolution No. 10-NQ/TW
On 8 June 2026, the Politburo of Vietnam issued Resolution No. 10-NQ/TW on the development of the foreign-invested economic sector (“Resolution“).
The Resolution is an important policy-oriented document that sets out Vietnam’s evolving approach to the foreign-invested economic sector in the coming period. It reaffirms that the foreign-invested sector remains an important component of the Vietnamese economy, while emphasising the need to enhance the quality, effectiveness, and substantive contribution of foreign investment to Vietnam’s next stage of economic development.
Rather than focusing primarily on attracting investment capital, Vietnam is increasingly seeking investments that contribute technology, innovation, research and development (R&D), human capital development, supply-chain integration, sustainability, and long-term economic competitiveness.
More significantly, the Resolution positions foreign investment within Vietnam’s broader development agenda, including the establishment of international financial centres, development of capital markets, promotion of innovation ecosystems, digital transformation, green transition, and enhancement of national strategic autonomy.
For investors, the Resolution provides useful insight into the sectors, investment models, and economic contributions that may receive greater policy attention and support in the years ahead.
For more information, click here to read our Legal Update.
Reduction and Simplification of Administrative Procedures for Businesses in Resolution 66.16/2026/NQ-CP
On 7 April 2026, the Government passed Resolution 66.16/2026/NQ-CP on reducing and simplifying administrative procedures and regulations related to production and business activities (“Resolution“). The Resolution took effect from 15 April 2026.
The Resolution marks a significant step in Vietnam’s ongoing efforts to modernise its regulatory framework for doing business in Vietnam. It simplifies (and, in some cases, abolishes altogether) licensing conditions and procedures for many conditional sectors, including healthcare, logistics, construction, accounting and audit.
One of the major features of the Resolution is its focus on strengthening digital governance and improving coordination among government agencies. There is emphasis on using digital services in order to centralise and standardise administrative procedures, and establish implementation, which aims to reduce the need for submissions and engagements with multiple authorities.
Arbitration in Vietnam's International Financial Centre: Bridging the Gap Between Legal Framework and Institutional Capacity
Vietnam has officially launched and commenced operations of the Vietnam International Financial Centre (VIFC), marking a significant milestone in its financial modernisation and global integration strategy. As Vietnam positions itself as a regional financial hub, the effectiveness of its dispute resolution framework – particularly arbitration – will play a critical role in shaping investor confidence.
Building on earlier discussions of Vietnam’s international financial centre (“IFC“) framework and enforcement practice, this article adopts a broader comparative and operational perspective, focusing on the court–arbitration interface and institutional capacity in an IFC environment.
While Vietnam’s legal framework for arbitration is broadly aligned with international standards, the key question is whether its institutional capacity and judicial practice are sufficiently developed to support complex, high-value cross-border disputes in an IFC environment.
For more information, click here to read the full Update.
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Please note that whilst the information in this Update is correct to the best of our knowledge and belief at the time of writing, it is only intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter and should not be treated as a substitute for specific professional advice
