Vietnam is introducing a major new legal framework for digital platforms, and it will reshape how apps, games, streaming services, and digital content businesses operate in here. The Vietnam law on digital technology industry, taking effect on January 1, 2026, is set to establish clear requirements for both domestic and foreign platforms that engage with Vietnamese users.
Whether your company offers in-app credits, digital tipping, or any monetized content features, this law is likely to affect your business, even if your company is not established in Vietnam.
In here, let us go through the overview of what the law covers, who it applies to, and what businesses should start doing now to prepare.
Why Vietnam Needs the Law on Digital Technology Industry Now?
Vietnam’s digital economy is booming. Mobile games, livestream platforms, social media, and app-based services are expanding rapidly, while the legal framework governing these sectors has remained fragmented, outdated, or simply nonexistent.
Up to now, platforms dealing in virtual goods (like in-app credits, top-ups, or digital gifts) operated in a legal gray zone. At the same time, foreign platforms often reached millions of Vietnamese users without any local registration or tax responsibility.
The introduction of the Vietnam law on digital technology industry is not about stopping innovation. It is about catching up to it, making sure platforms that profit from Vietnamese users also respect local rules, pay tax, and protect consumers.
What Does The Law Cover?
The Vietnam law on digital technology industry is designed to regulate a wide range of online services and platforms. It introduces official definitions for digital units like in-app credits and reward points, classifying them as “virtual assets.” These virtual assets, previously were not clearly defined under Vietnamese law, are now subject to state oversight, especially when they are sold, exchanged, or used as part of a digital economy.
The Vietnam law on digital technology industry applies to:
- Game platforms with in-app purchases,
- Live-streaming and content apps with tipping or virtual gifting,
- Cloud services that support monetized user features,
- Any digital business offering reward-based engagement systems.
Another key feature of the Vietnam law on digital technology industry is its regulatory sandbox. This allows platforms to test new technologies and digital models in Vietnam under government supervision. Companies applying for sandbox approval can develop innovative services before full regulation kicks in, reducing the risk of being penalized for trying something new.
Who Needs To Comply?
If your digital platform serves Vietnamese users and includes features like virtual goods, monetized content, or creator payments, then your business is likely to fall within the scope of the Vietnam law on digital technology industry. This is true even if you have no office in Vietnam.
Many platforms allow users to buy in-app credits or offer tips to broadcasters and creators. If those credits or gifts have any monetary value, they may now be considered regulated virtual assets. Even reward points or loyalty tokens could trigger legal obligations.
The law is especially important for foreign platforms whose user base includes Vietnam, but who have not yet engaged with any local licensing, tax, or regulatory process. It closes the gaps that many services have relied on for years.
What Are The Risks?
Companies that do not adjust to the Vietnam law on digital technology industry may face a range of issues. These include local banks rejecting fund transfers related to digital goods, app stores being ordered to delist non-compliant platforms, and potential audits for tax violations or unlicensed business activity.
For example, some Vietnam-based resellers of virtual goods have already reported bank rejections for transactions connected to distributor agreements involving in-app digital units. These informal signals are early signs that enforcement is on the way.
Failure to act could result in commercial delays, frozen payments, or reputational risks. But platforms that prepare early may gain a strategic edge over competitors by securing sandbox access or applying for licenses before the rush.
Getting Ready And Steps To Consider
For now, platforms should review the structure of their digital services. If your app uses any system where users purchase or exchange digital items, whether as top-ups, gifts, or credits, you should consult legal counsel on how those features align with Vietnam’s new definitions of virtual assets.
You should also examine how your business model handles payments to creators or resellers. These flows may need to be disclosed or licensed under the law. Consider whether any part of your model would benefit from applying to the sandbox, particularly if you are trying something new in the market.
The Vietnam law on digital technology industry is not an isolated law. It will interact with existing rules on game licensing, tax declarations, cross-border payment reporting, and user data protection. Platforms should prepare with a broader compliance mindset.
From Virtual Goods To Platform Licenses
To further exploring, we will be looking forward to upcoming topics that discuss legal risks surrounding virtual goods in Vietnam, how game platforms must approach license classifications (from G1 to G4), and how digital reward systems are interpreted by local banks and regulators.
We will also explore what payment structures raise red flags for banks, how corporate contracts with Vietnamese resellers can be strengthened, and what the sandbox process means for apps looking to enter the market legally.
By understanding how the Vietnam law on digital technology industry fits into the broader digital economy, platforms can stay compliant, competitive, and prepared for what is next.
Go check your platform compliance.
Now is the time to align with the Vietnam law on digital technology industry before the year 2026!
About ANT Lawyers, a Law Firm in Vietnam
We help clients overcome cultural barriers and achieve their strategic and financial outcomes, while ensuring the best interest rate protection, risk mitigation and regulatory compliance. ANT lawyers has lawyers in Ho Chi Minh city, Hanoi, and Danang, and will help customers in doing business in Vietnam.
Source: https://antlawyers.vn/digital-assets/vietnam-law-on-digital-technology-industry.html
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