Vietnam (VN)
Vietnam is a dynamic, rapidly developing Socialist Republic stretching 1,650km down the eastern coast of the Indochinese Peninsula — a country of extraordinary geographical diversity, from the karst mountains of the north and the Red River Delta, through the stunning coastline of the Central region, to the vast Mekong Delta in the south.
Consumer Rights
Right of withdrawal, contracts and debt collection in Vietnam.
Vietnam's consumer protection framework is governed by the Law on Consumer Protection 2023 (Luật Bảo Vệ Quyền Lợi Người Tiêu Dùng 2023, replacing the 2010 Law — effective 1 July 2024). The new law strengthens e-commerce transaction protections, platforms' liability and digital consumer rights — particularly relevant given Vietnam's booming online shopping sector. The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT — Bộ Công Thương) oversees consumer protection policy. The Vietnam Competition and Consumer Authority (VCCA — Cục Cạnh tranh và Bảo vệ người tiêu dùng) handles enforcement. The Vietnam Standards and Consumer Association (VINASTAS) serves as an independent consumer advocacy body. Practical reality: formal consumer protection mechanisms exist but are slow. For most expat-relevant disputes (retailer, service provider, landlord), direct negotiation and escalation through formal channels is the most practical route.
Right of withdrawal (Widerrufsrecht)
Under the Law on Consumer Protection 2023 (effective 1 July 2024): for off-premises contracts (door-to-door, roadshow, or multi-level selling), consumers have at least 3 working days to unilaterally terminate the signed contract. For purely online/distance purchases (Shopee, Lazada, Tiki, Amazon.vn), the withdrawal position depends on the platform policy and the specific contract terms — major platforms offer 1–15 day return windows. Brick-and-mortar purchases: return/exchange policy is at the seller's discretion (most major retailers — Co.opMart, Lotte Mart, WinMart — have 7–14 day exchange policies with receipt). Defective goods: 12-month warranty (or manufacturer's warranty if longer) applies under consumer protection law. Keep all receipts and packaging.
Contract cancellation
Service contracts (internet, gym, language school, insurance): cancellation rights depend on the specific contract terms. The 2023 Consumer Protection Law requires that cancellation clauses be clearly stated in the contract. Minimum standard: consumers may cancel for cause (service not as described, material defect) within 12 months. Telecommunications service: VNPT, Viettel, FPT — 30 days notice to cancel; penalties may apply for early termination during a promotional period. Gym contracts: no standardised rule — review cancellation terms before signing. Language schools: usually require 30 days notice; partial refund if within trial period. Internet banking: accounts can be closed with no fee at any time at the branch.
Automatic subscription renewals are common in Vietnam, particularly for software, SaaS, and some insurance products. The 2023 Consumer Protection Law requires that businesses clearly disclose auto-renewal terms, charges and cancellation procedures. Businesses must send advance notice (minimum 5 business days) before auto-renewing a subscription exceeding VND 200,000. Non-compliant auto-renewals can be cancelled and refunded by filing a complaint with VCCA.
Debt collection — response deadlines
Informal reminders: Creditors typically begin with phone calls, SMS and emails (or Zalo messages) for overdue amounts. There are no standardised legal intervals but sending more than 3–5 contacts per day is considered harassment and may be reported.
Court order: For legitimate debts, creditors must file a civil claim at the district People's Court (Tòa án nhân dân). Small claims (under VND 3,000,000): handled at ward People's Committee. Judgment enforcement: People's Court Enforcement Agency (Cục Thi hành Án Dân sự). No wage garnishment without court order.
Response deadline: Court summons must be responded to within 15 days. Ignoring a court summons results in a default judgment. Debts in Vietnam do not trigger criminal proceedings unless involving fraud — purely civil matter.
Consumer protection authority
Vietnam Competition and Consumer Authority (VCCA / Cục Cạnh tranh và Bảo vệ người tiêu dùng) — under Ministry of Industry and Trade. Website: vcca.gov.vn. Hotline: 1800 6838 (free, Monday–Friday 8:00–17:00).
File consumer complaints: (1) VCCA consumer complaint portal: online.vcca.gov.vn. (2) VCCA hotline: 1800 6838 (free). (3) VINASTAS (Vietnam Standards and Consumer Association): vinastas.org — for product quality and safety issues. (4) Department of Market Management (Cục Quản lý Thị trường — QLTT): for counterfeit and fake goods — hotline 1800 888 538. (5) Information and Communications Ministry: for e-commerce platform disputes involving major platforms. (6) District Consumer Protection Office: for local/retail disputes. For online shopping fraud: report to both VCCA and the police (cybercrime hotline). Keep all receipts, order confirmations, bank transfer receipts and screenshots of any fraudulent communications.