Vietnam Enacts New Legal Pillars for Science, Technology and Digital Transformation

Effective 1 July 2026, Vietnam will implement four new legal frameworks covering cyber security, electronic commerce, digital transformation and high‑technology. The 2025 Cyber Security Law upgrades the legal terminology, establishes five information‑system classification levels, imposes strict data‑retention and rapid removal duties on service providers, protects children online and bans AI‑generated deepfakes.

The Electronic Commerce Law brings livestream sales and affiliate marketing under official regulation, requires platform operators to disclose policies, verify seller identities and retain livestream content for at least one year. Foreign platforms must appoint a local representative, pay taxes and comply with consumer‑protection rules.

The Digital Transformation Law creates a national digital architecture, authorises sandbox trials for new digital products, and includes measures to narrow the digital divide by supporting connectivity and smart devices for remote, minority, elderly and disabled populations.

The High‑Technology Law defines “strategic technology” and sets criteria for identifying and supporting breakthrough products that are critical for national defence and security.