Which authority handles what

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Filing with the wrong authority is the fastest way to lose several weeks. A lookup table of who administers which right.

Two central authorities handle almost all IP procedures in Vietnam, and they sit under different ministries. Confusing them is common, partly because the colloquial phrase "registering copyright" gets used for trademark filings as well.

Under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Website: cov.gov.vn.

Handles copyright and related rights — issuing registration certificates for both.

Filing addresses: the Hanoi head office at 33, Alley 294/2 Kim Ma Street, Ba Dinh; representative offices at 170 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, and 58 Phan Chu Trinh, Hai Chau, Da Nang. Filing by post and through the ministry's online public service portal is also available.

Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam

Under the Ministry of Science and Technology. Website: ipvietnam.gov.vn.

Handles the whole industrial property branch — patents, utility solutions, industrial designs, trademarks, geographical indications and layout designs — and is the receiving office for PCT, Madrid and Hague filings.

It also publishes notices about fee and procedure changes. Worth monitoring if you have a pending application, especially through 2026 while the framework is in flux.

Website: banquyen.gov.vn. The focal point for copyright in the digital environment, supporting rights holders against infringing online content.

Beyond the two offices

Once you move from acquiring rights to enforcing them, the list of relevant bodies widens considerably: specialised inspectorates, market surveillance, police, customs and the people's courts each have jurisdiction in particular situations. Which one you approach depends on the route you choose — administrative, criminal, border control or civil.

Sources