Under the first-to-file principle applied in Vietnam, the National Office of Intellectual Property (NOIP) prioritizes granting protection titles to the applicant who submits their registration dossier earliest. Therefore, before initiating the official procedure, businesses and individuals must evaluate registrability and check for identical or similar pre-existing marks. In practice, a mark might face refusal despite not being entirely identical due to similarities in name, pronunciation, pictorial elements, or designated classes of goods and services. Conducting an online assessment, an international review, and checking the usage status can significantly mitigate legal risks, save time, reduce costs, and enhance the likelihood of successful protection both domestically and globally. This article by Viet An Law provides comprehensive guidance on Trademark Search in Vietnam 2026: How to Search Logos & Check Trademark Registrability, detailing common methods and crucial considerations before submitting your application.
A trademark search in Vietnam is the process of examining the registrability of a brand name, logo, or slogan before submitting an application to the NOIP. This ensures the proposed mark does not conflict with or closely resemble previously registered trademarks.
In practice, this is a critical preparatory step. If your mark is deemed confusingly similar to an existing one, the application may be rejected, resulting in wasted time and financial resources while disrupting business operations. Currently, businesses can perform a preliminary online evaluation, execute a logo search Vietnam, review international databases, or engage specialized services for a precise assessment.
Executing a proper Vietnam trademark check prior to application helps enterprises:
Often, a mark is refused even if not strictly identical due to:
Particularly for export enterprises or those building global brands, reviewing international registrations designating Vietnam is essential to avoid conflicts with Madrid System marks or foreign brands already protected locally.
| Search method | Characteristics | Accuracy rate |
| Preliminary search | Free online search on public databases | Approximately 60-70% |
| In-depth search | Evaluation by intellectual property experts | Approximately 85-95% |
| International search | Checking Madrid/WIPO data designating Vietnam | High |
| Image/logo search | Checking visual elements based on the Vienna Classification | High |
| Search method | Reference cost | Accuracy rate |
| Preliminary online search | Free | Approximately 60-70% |
| In-depth search for 1 class | 800,000 – 1,000,000 VND | Approximately 85-95% |
| Logo/image search | 800,000 VND | High |
| International search | 2,000,000 – 10,000,000 VND | High |
| Multi-class search | Calculated per class | Increases with scope |
These platforms feature dedicated lookup sections; however, effectively utilizing a Vietnam trademark database requires specific knowledge and skills to yield accurate results and evaluate the potential for similarity or consumer confusion.
Below are detailed instructions on how to search trademark Vietnam online, utilizing WIPO Publish (the system of the NOIP) and the WIPO Global Brand Database as the most official and accurate data sources for your assessment.
For an effective evaluation, you need to follow these four steps:
Performing an international evaluation, including a logo trademark check, is primarily done through the WIPO Global Brand Database. This is a highly robust tool containing tens of millions of records from the Madrid international system and national data of member states, including Vietnam.
Visit the address: https://www3.wipo.int/branddb/en/ The default interface of the website is English.
WIPO provides two powerful search functionalities: Text Search and AI Image Search.
Method 1: Text Search
This is suitable when you want to look up a brand name, slogan, or competitor’s name. Look at the left menu column under the “Search by Text” section.
Method 2: Image Search
Look at the horizontal search bar in the middle of the screen and click the camera icon (Image). Upload your logo file. The system will prompt you to choose how the AI analyzes the image:
Because WIPO contains global data, failing to filter will return tens of thousands of results. Look to the right menu column (or below the search bar) to configure filters:
Results appear in the middle area. You can choose a Grid view (displaying large, easily visible logos) or a List view. Click each result to view application details:
Note: The WIPO Global Brand Database is aggregated, meaning there is always a certain delay (usually weeks to months) compared to live internal data processed at national intellectual property offices.
Many enterprises only verify the brand name while neglecting to:
This significantly increases the risk of an application being refused.
Inaccurate categorization under the Nice Classification can lead to:
Many businesses fail to check:
This is a common reason applications face opposition or refusal despite passing domestic scrutiny.
Determining what constitutes “confusingly similar” requires intellectual property expertise. In many instances:
It is not mandatory, but it is an exceptionally critical step prior to registration.
No. Online data frequently lacks recent filings or unpublished applications.
Typically, it takes 1-2 working days depending on the evaluation scope.
Yes. However, evaluating the likelihood of confusion usually demands specialized intellectual property expertise.
No. The results strictly serve as a reference and evaluate registrability at the time of inquiry. Practically, system databases may not fully reflect newly submitted or unpublished dossiers. Furthermore, the final decision to grant a protection title rests within the NOIP’s authority based on substantive examination. Nonetheless, prior evaluation significantly mitigates refusal risks and optimizes success.
Businesses can review international records on:
For exporters or Madrid System applicants, evaluating international marks designating Vietnam is crucial to limit conflicts with previously protected brands.
Yes, especially for enterprises that:
Viet An Law provides comprehensive Trademark Search in Vietnam 2026: How to Search Logos & Check Trademark Registrability services to assist enterprises and evaluate exact prospects of registration. Our trademark search services assist enterprises to:
Typically, an in-depth evaluation is performed by:
For high-value brands or global registrations, businesses should utilize specialized services to minimize refusal risks and optimize protection scope. To assist businesses and individuals in establishing rights for their goods and services rapidly, professionally, and accurately before market entry, Viet An Law guides the comprehensive lookup and registration process for our clients.
