The statement was made by Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pham Thu Hang during the ministry’s regular press briefing on May 14 in response to questions regarding Vietnam’s policies and recommendations for domestic exporters following issues raised in the United States’ 2026 Special 301 Report on intellectual property.

The spokesperson said Vietnam remains firmly committed to strictly handling all acts of intellectual property infringement and will continue strengthening intellectual property protection and enforcement.

Vietnam’s legal framework related to intellectual property has continuously been improved and synchronized, she added.

Vietnam’s efforts to improve its innovation environment and intellectual property protection and enforcement have also been recognized by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

In 2025, Vietnam ranked 44th out of 139 countries and economies in the Global Innovation Index (GII), placing it among ASEAN countries showing positive performance in this field.

Alongside legal reforms, the Vietnamese government has issued multiple directives and policy documents aimed at strengthening intellectual property enforcement and combating smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeit goods and intellectual property violations.

Most recently, the Prime Minister issued an official dispatch calling for stronger and more decisive measures to prevent and handle intellectual property violations in an effort to create substantial improvements and enhance enforcement effectiveness in this area.

According to the spokesperson, these efforts reflect Vietnam’s consistent policy of strengthening intellectual property protection and enforcement in line with sustainable development goals, building a transparent and secure business environment and effectively implementing international commitments.

More than 1,200 copyright-infringing websites blocked

Pham Thu Hang said Vietnamese authorities have recently worked closely with technology companies as well as cross-border platform and service providers to detect and handle numerous intellectual property-related cases.

In 2025, Vietnamese enforcement agencies handled thousands of intellectual property infringement cases.

The Market Surveillance Force alone handled 3,306 intellectual property infringement cases in traditional markets and 599 cases involving e-commerce platforms and social media.

At the same time, more than 1,200 websites providing and sharing content suspected of infringing copyrights and related rights were blocked.

The number of criminal investigations, prosecutions and trials involving intellectual property violations also increased compared to the previous year.

Customs authorities also discovered and handled numerous cases involving counterfeit goods and products infringing intellectual property rights with large values.

“We believe that alongside the efforts of the Vietnamese government, rights holders, cross-border platform providers and relevant stakeholders also need to further strengthen their responsibilities in reviewing, preventing, removing and handling content, goods and services showing signs of intellectual property infringement on their platforms,” the spokesperson said.

She added that all parties should work together more actively to combat intellectual property violations.

For the business community, including exporters, Vietnam recommends increasing compliance awareness regarding intellectual property laws and avoiding the production, trading or distribution of counterfeit goods and products violating intellectual property rights.

Businesses are also encouraged to proactively protect their intellectual assets and coordinate with authorities and rights holders in detecting and handling violations.

According to the spokesperson, this is a shared responsibility aimed at building a healthy and transparent business environment while enhancing the reputation of Vietnamese enterprises and Vietnam’s image in international economic and trade cooperation.

Pham Thu Hang emphasized that Vietnam hopes the United States will provide an objective and balanced assessment of Vietnam’s efforts and achievements in intellectual property protection and enforcement.

“At the same time, we are ready to share information and clarify Vietnam’s policies and regulations with international partners, including the United States, in order to appropriately address differences, thereby contributing to a transparent and healthy investment and business environment in Vietnam and promoting international cooperation in the field of intellectual property,” she said.

Tran Thuong