Circular 16 entered into force early 2018 and will further align Vietnam with international Intellectual Property norms. It amends and supplements 49 out of 67 points of Circular 01. Circular 16 contains application rules, examination procedures, deadlines, and provides information on changes related to trademarks, patents and industrial designs.

1 January 2018 was an important date for Vietnam and ASEAN: 7 free trade agreements and economic partnerships came into force between Vietnam and Korea, the Eurasian Economic Union, Chile, and Japan; and between ASEAN and China, Korea, Australia/New-Zealand, India, and Japan, and the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) was implemented.

Decree 126 sets out the provisions that are relevant for the equitisation of SOEs. It provides for requirements for strategic investors, IPO (method and strategic investor), lock-up period, valuation method, financial issues and rights of employees.