Hanoi, Vietnam – On 31 March 2026, the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) issued Circular No. 10/2026/TT-BKHCN (the “Circular“), introducing a comprehensive set of new official forms for industrial property procedures before the Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam (IP Vietnam). Effective from 1 April 2026, the Circular replaces the previous forms issued under Decree No. 65/2023/ND-CP (as amended) and forms part of Vietnam’s broader programme to streamline administrative procedures, accelerate digital transformation and further align its IP system with international standards.
The changes affect virtually every stage of industrial property protection in Vietnam and are therefore highly relevant to businesses, brand owners, innovators, foreign associates and intellectual property practitioners managing trademark, patent and industrial design portfolios.
Practical Impact: What Should Businesses Do?
Although the Circular does not introduce substantive changes to the registrability of intellectual property rights, it has immediate procedural implications for applicants and rights holders.
Businesses intending to file new trademark, patent or industrial design applications in Vietnam should ensure that all submissions made on or after 1 April 2026 are prepared using the updated official forms. Failure to do so may result in formality deficiencies, requests for amendment or unnecessary delays during examination.
Companies managing large IP portfolios should also consider:
- reviewing existing filing templates and internal precedents;
- updating standard operating procedures for Vietnam filings;
- coordinating with foreign associates and local counsel to ensure procedural compliance;
- verifying that future post-registration requests (renewals, assignments, licences, amendments and recordals) use the new prescribed forms.
For multinational corporations, adopting the updated documentation at an early stage will help minimise administrative risks and improve the efficiency of future filings before IP Vietnam.
Why This Update Matters
Vietnam continues to refine its intellectual property framework in response to increasing foreign investment, cross-border innovation and international treaty commitments.
The introduction of unified filing forms reflects IP Vietnam’s ongoing efforts to improve administrative transparency, promote electronic filing and create a more predictable prosecution process for domestic and international applicants alike.
For businesses operating in Vietnam, procedural compliance is often just as important as substantive legal protection. Keeping filing practices up to date helps reduce avoidable office actions, lowers prosecution costs and shortens the time required to obtain and maintain intellectual property rights.
About Bud & Prairie
Bud & Prairie LLC, along with its arm Bud & Prairie Legal LLC, is a multi-service firm specialising in intellectual property, corporate and commercial law. Our intellectual property practice advises domestic and international clients on the full lifecycle of IP protection, including trademarks, patents, industrial designs, copyright, licensing, enforcement, portfolio management and dispute resolution.
We regularly represent multinational corporations, foreign law firms and IP agencies in protecting and commercialising intellectual property rights in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and other countries.
Contact
If you have questions regarding Circular No. 10/2026/TT-BKHCN, the new official filing forms, or any trademark, patent or industrial design matter in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and other countries, our IP team would be pleased to assist.
Bud & Prairie LLC
