On April 7, 2020, Cambodia’s Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training (MLVT) released an urgent notification to postpone the Cambodian New Year holiday, and require all employers and employees to treat April 13 to April 16, 2020, as regular working days. The postponement is in light of the current circumstances regarding the COVID-19 global pandemic, and presumably to prevent widespread travel during the holiday. 

Cross-Border Transportation of GoodsThe National Taskforce Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control has issued Guideline No. 020, Regarding Prime Minister’s Order No.02/PM, dated April 2, 2020, which includes directives aimed at the freight sector. The transportation of goods is one of the few operations that is still permitted to cross the Lao border, although this is subject to the following regulations:

On February 3, 2020, the Vietnamese Government issued Decree No. 15/2020/ND-CP stipulating penalties for administrative violations in the fields of postal services, telecommunications, radio frequency, information technology, and electronic transactions (“Decree 15”). Decree 15 will replace the existing decree on penalties in the technology and telecom sectors (Decree No. 174/2013/ND-CP) and will take effect on April 15, 2020.

On March 23, 2020, the National Steering Committee Against Smuggling, Trade Fraud, and Counterfeit Goods (“National Steering Committee 389”) issued Decision No. 195/QD-BCD 389 promulgating regulations on receiving and handling information from organizations and individuals (e.g., tips or leads) on smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeit goods.

Last week, the Prime Minister of Vietnam issued Directive No. 16 providing regulations on a social distancing campaign during the COVID-19 global outbreak. Later, the Prime Minister issued guidelines on issues such as which businesses may continue to operate during the campaign. Additionally, many localities, such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Duong Province, have issued their own local guidelines.

The latest issue of Asia Franchise & Business Opportunities  magazine features an article by two of Tilleke & Gibbins’ intellectual property specialists in Bangkok.

Like many government agencies in Vietnam, the Copyright Office of Vietnam (COV) has temporarily closed during the COVID-19 pandemic to safeguard the health of its staff as well as its visitors.As a result, the COV is no longer directly receiving applications for registration of copyright and related rights at its office through April 15, 2020. (This period could be extended, depending on the developments of the epidemic.)These procedures can still be conducted through one of the following options:

As the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic continues to unfold, the government of Vietnam has taken strict measures to stem the outbreak with the help of various agencies and authorities. In connection with this, the Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam (IP Office) issued Notice No.