Ho Chi Minh City, 20 June 2026
The Business Times has featured perspectives from Mr. Dang The Duc – Managing Partner and Ms. Vu Hoang Ha Thu – Associate | Head of Intellectual Property in its recent article examining the growing compliance pressures facing Vietnam’s small businesses, exporters, and supply chains.
Titled “Can Vietnam’s Small-Business Backbone Survive a Compliance Squeeze – All at Once?”, the article considers how more rigorous intellectual property enforcement, tax administration reforms, and increased scrutiny of rules of origin are reshaping the operating environment for Vietnamese enterprises.
For many smaller businesses, these developments represent more than a technical regulatory shift. Practices that may previously have been viewed as routine commercial workarounds – such as the use of unlicensed software, unauthorised digital content, or products incorporating another party’s intellectual property – are increasingly being treated as formal legal and business risks.
Commenting on the intellectual property dimension, Mr. Dang The Duc and Ms. Vu Hoang Ha Thu noted that the pressure is particularly acute for businesses operating in digital content, technology, e-commerce, and retail. As enforcement becomes more visible, businesses will need to reassess whether their use of software, digital assets, trademarks, and other third-party intellectual property is properly licensed, documented, and controlled.
The implications also extend beyond domestic businesses. For foreign companies sourcing goods or services from Vietnam, compliance failures at the supplier level may create operational disruption, reputational exposure, and additional regulatory scrutiny. This places IP compliance within a wider supply-chain governance discussion, particularly for foreign investors, buyers and regional businesses seeking to maintain reliable and compliant operations in Vietnam.
The article further situates these changes within Vietnam’s broader efforts to strengthen its regulatory framework, support higher-value investment, meet international commitments, and reinforce its role in global supply chains. While the transition may create short-term adjustment pressures, more consistent compliance standards can also contribute to a more transparent and sustainable business environment.
Read the full article in The Business Times: Link
For advice on IP protection and regulatory risk management in Vietnam, please contact our team:
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