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Vietnam

Major international treaties signed
  • Patent Co-operation Treaty
  • Paris Convention
Costs of obtaining a patent
Average time to obtain a patent 5 – 6 years
Official language for patent prosecution Vietnamese
Non-patentable subject matter
  • Discoveries, scientific theories; mathematical formulae
  • Schemes, plans, rules or methods for performing mental acts, playing games, doing business; computer programs
  • Presentations of information
  • Solutions of aesthetic characteristics only
  • Plant varieties, animal varieties
  • Processes of essentially biological nature for the production of plants and animals other than microbiological processes
  • Methods of diagnostic, prophylaxis and treatment for human or animals
Grace period for prior disclosure or sale
  • Six months before filing date in Vietnam
Major prosecution events Paris Convention entry: 12 months

National phase entry:31 months

Formality Examination : 1 months from local filing date

Substantive Examination: 42 months

Term of examination: 18 months

Payment of grant fee : At the end of examination

Renewals (after grant): Every year on anniversary of grant date
Extension of deadlines Only one extension permitted, for a period of 2 months
Pharmaceutical Data Exclusivity Laws In force
Parallel Imports Allowed
Term of patent 20 years from filing date
Patent term extension Not available
Restoration of lapsed patent Not Allowed
Search and Examination The Vietnamese National Office of Intellectual Property (NOIP) conducts its own Search and Examination, both as to form and as to substance
Other forms of patents Utility Solution (for minor inventions)
Useful links www.mirandah.com www.noip.gov.vn
Infringement offence Civil and Criminal (in special cases)
Any specialized courts for IP No
Outline of the enforcement steps
  • Cease and Desist Letter
  • File a petition at the local authority to denounce the infringer
Relief against groundless threats Not Available
Declaration of non-infringement Not Available
Preliminary injunctions Available
Alternative dispute resolution (i)  Mediation
(ii) Arbitration
Availability of damages and other relief for infringement (i)    Injunction
(ii)   Loss of revenue
(iii)  Account of profits

Patent Applications

Year Resident Non-Resident Total
2001 52 1,234 1286
2002 69 1,142 1211
2003 78 1,072 1150
2004 103 1,328 1431
2005 180 1,767 1947
2006 196 1,970 2166
2007 219 2,641 2860
2008 204 2,995 3199
2009 258 2,632 2890
2010 306 3,276 3582
2011 300 3,260 3560
2012 382 3,423 3805
2013 443 3,552 3995
2014 487 3,960 4447
2015 582 4,451 5033

Patent Grants

Year Resident Non-Resident Total
2001 7 776 783
2002 9 734 743
2003 17 757 774
2004 22 676 698
2005 27 641 668
2006 44 625 669
2007 34 691 725
2008 39 627 666
2009 29 677 706
2010 29 793 822
2011 48 958 1006
2012 52 1,016 1068
2013 59 1,123 1182
2014 36 1,361 1397
2015 63 1,325 1388

Source: WIPO