Month: April 2025

On 15 April 2025, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 768/QD-TTg approving the adjustment of the national electricity development plan for the 2021 – 2030 period with a vision to 2050 (Decision 768). Decision 768 outlines the newly adopted demand forecast and provides more support towards the net-zero goal of Vietnam by 2050. Please find below the key takeaways of Decision 768:
1. Development of industrial ecosystems
By 2030, two interregional industrial centers for renewable energy will have been established in the northern, south-central, and southern areas.
By 2035, 5,000–10,000 MW of electricity is expected to be exported to Malaysia, Singapore, and other nearby markets.
2. Power structure by 2030:
The total capacity of power plants serving domestic demand (exclusive of exports) will be 183,291 – 236,363 MW, comprising:
– Onshore and nearshore wind: 26,066 – 38,029 MW (14.2% – 16.1%).
– Offshore wind: 6,000 – 17,032 MW to be commissioned during 2030–2035, with the possibility of earlier deployment if conditions are favorable and costs are appropriate.
– Solar: 46,459 – 73,416 MW (25.3% – 31.1%)
– Biomass: 1,523 – 2,699 MW
– Hydropower: 33,294 – 34,667 MW (14.7% – 18.2%)
– Nuclear: 4,000 – 6,400 MW to be commissioned during 2030–2035
– Storage sources: 10,000 – 16,300 MW (5.5% – 6.9%)
– Coal-fired: 31,055 MW (13.1% – 16.9%)
– Domestic gas-fired: 10,861 – 14,930 MW (5.9% – 6.3%)
– LNG-fired: 22,524 MW (9.5% – 12.3%)
– Flexible power sources: 2,000 – 3,000 MW (1.1% – 1.3%)
– Pumped-storage hydropower: 2,400 – 6,000 MW
– Imports: 9,360 – 12,100 MW from Laos and China (4.0% – 5.1%)
3. Orientation towards 2050:
The total capacity of power plants serving domestic demand (exclusive of exports) will be 774,503 – 838,681 MW, comprising:
– Onshore and nearshore wind: 84,696 – 91,400 MW (10.9%)
– Offshore wind: 113,503 – 139,097 MW (14.7% – 16.6%)
– Sola: 293,088 – 395,646 MW (35.3% – 37.8%)
– Biomass: 4,829 – 6,960 MW
– Hydropower: 40,624 MW (4.8% – 5.2%)
– Nuclear: 10,500 – 14,000 MW (1.4% – 1.7%)
– Storage sources: 95,983 – 96,120 MW (11.5% – 12.4%)
– Coal-fired: 0 MW (0%), coal will no longer be used for power generation
– Domestic gas-fired and conversion to LNG: 7,900 MW (0.9% – 1.0%)
– Domestic gas-fired converted to run entirely on hydrogen: 7,030 MW (0.8% – 0.9%)
– LNG-fired with CCS: 1,887 – 2,269 MW (0.2% – 0.3%)
– LNG-fired co-fired with hydrogen: 18,200 – 26,123 MW (2.3% – 3.1%)
– LNG-fired converted to run entirely on hydrogen: 8,576 – 11,325 MW (1.1% – 1.4%)
– Flexible power sources: 21,333 – 38,641 MW (2.8% – 4.6%)
– Pumped-storage hydropower: 20,691 – 21,327 MW
– Imports: 14,688 MW from Laos and China (1.8% – 1.9%)
– Participation in DPPA and new energy production is expected to take up about 30–60% of total electricity output from renewable energy, or higher, depending on the status of market development.
Electricity exports will be maintained at around 10,000 MW, possibly higher.
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Please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Oliver Massmann at omassmann@duanemorris.com if you have any questions. Dr. Oliver Massmann is the General Director of Duane Morris Vietnam LLC.

In a world of constant economic uncertainty, foreign investors seem to view Vietnam as a promising land. This is particularly true in the franchise sector. Vietnam is enjoying an unprecedented level of attention from the international franchise industry, especially from the opening of its retail market to foreign investors since January 1, 2008, in connection with the state’s WTO commitments. Another reason is the country’s rapid economic growth, which according to the Viet Nam Food and Drink Report continues to eclipse the growth of most Southeast Asian economies. Vietnam is also valued by potential international and local franchisors against the background of a stable political situation and its rapidly growing consumption-oriented young population, of which the average age is 30 years old. The emerging urban middle class has a rising disposable income and an insatiable hunger for quality products and Western brands.
The delayed development of franchising in Vietnam is another reason. Franchising, for example, is a business model based essentially on intellectual property, with Vietnam historically having a fairly underdeveloped judiciary and providing inadequate intellectual property protection to protect the rights of franchisors and franchisees. While the no-longer in-effect Intellectual Property Law 2005 (revised 2009) and Decree No. 35/2006/ND-CP Governing Franchises have expanded the legal framework for safeguarding intellectual property and franchise rights, the protection and enforcement of intellectual rights remains property is critical and challenging for franchisors. The recently effective Intellectual Proper Law 2022 has somewhat dealt with challenging and outstanding issues in franchising market. However, in order to capitalize on both their own intellectual property values and the potential Vietnamese market, franchisors need to be sure of a sound strategy that aims to protect and enforce equally adequately. The expanding domestic franchise market, which includes leading local brands such as Trung Nguyen Coffee, Highlands Coffee, Pho 24, as well as international brands such as KFC, Lotteria, Starbucks, McDonald’s suggests that with proper due diligence, professional advice and persistence, the challenges are not insurmountable.
A strategy for a franchisor should include:
1 Registration of Intellectual Property and Related Rights. The rights must be entered early in view of the first-to-file principle.
2 Trademarks. All franchised trademarks must be registered with the State Intellectual Property Office. Registering a trademark provides the basis for taking action against franchise counterfeiters.
3 Copyright. Copyrights arise originally from the creation of a work. While it is not necessary to register copyright in a work, filing with the Copyright Office makes it easier for the franchiser to establish proof of ownership and allows for any direct enforcement of rights.
4 Company name. A company name is a name under which a company or individual conducts business. Although registration of the name is not required as rights can be directly established through the lawful use of a company name, registration of the name as a trademark is recommended when deemed appropriate.
5 Domain names. A domain name identifies an Internet address. Franchisers should register their domain names with Vietnam’s state Internet Center to avoid unauthorized use on the Internet.
6 Business Secrets/ Know-How
A trade secret (such as the recipe for Coca Cola) is any business or technical knowledge that is not available to the public. Trade secrets are protected in Vietnam as long as they are of economic value, are not common knowledge or are easily traceable and the owner tries to keep them secret. Given that the franchiser bears the burden of proving that the trade secret has been kept under wraps, they are regularly difficult to protect. Confidentiality agreements and the design of access restrictions for employees serve equally as proof of confidentiality and authorization.
7 Due diligence. An analysis of a potential franchisee by the franchisor before an agreement is entered into pays off. Proper audits are mandatory to ensure strict compliance with the franchise agreement.
8 Franchise agreements
Before signing the franchise contract, the franchisor should insist that the contract negotiations be flanked by a non-disclosure agreement. The franchise agreement must be made in writing and in the Vietnamese language. This language restriction, however, does not apply to a franchise agreement under which a Vietnamese franchisor grants a franchise in a foreign country. The franchise agreement should cover all aspects of the obligations and provide watertight protection of intellectual property rights, including the limits of the rights of use that are transferred to the franchisee. It would also be advisable to include a clause providing for mediation or arbitration in the event of a disagreement rather than recourse to local general jurisdiction.
9 Registration of Franchising Business
A franchise agreement need not be registered to be effective. However, franchises from overseas, from an export processing zone, a non-tariff area, or a separate customs area need to be registered with the Ministry of Industry and Trade (“MOIT”) before becoming active. An offshore franchisor has only to register its franchising business once.
The franchising agreement itself need not be included in the registration dossier, except if necessary to register the licensing of intellectual property rights that are associated with a franchised business and fall within the regulations on intellectual property.
The franchisor must provide the prospective franchisee with the Franchise Description Document in the prescribed form by the MOIT and a copy of the form of the franchise agreement at least 15 working days prior to the execution of a franchise agreement, unless the parties agree otherwise. The Franchise Description Document is a part of the registration dossier for registering franchising business with the MOIT.
10 Workers
In any case, a reasonable personnel policy should ensure that the use of intellectual property by employees after they have left the company is excluded. Vietnamese employment contracts provided by franchisors or franchisees should contain restrictive covenants regarding intellectual property as well as trade secrets and confidential information. The importance of the brand should be conveyed through the training of the staff.
Against the background of developing commercial legal protection and the growth of the local and international franchise market of 20-30% annually expected by industry experts, the time seems ideal for companies and entrepreneurs to invest in this dynamic but comparatively underdeveloped market.
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Please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Oliver Massmann at omassmann@duanemorris.com if you have any questions. Dr. Oliver Massmann is the General Director of Duane Morris Vietnam LLC.

On 10 April 2025, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (“MOIT”) issued Decision 988/QĐ-BCT, which sets forth the electricity price framework applicable to solar power plants for the year 2025. This framework, issued by the MOIT, ensures transparency and consistency in pricing, serving as the foundation for agreements between power generation units and Electricity of Vietnam (“EVN”).

KEY ELECTRICITY PRICE:

The electricity price framework for 2025, applicable specifically to solar power plants, outlines the maximum allowable tariffs across regions and plant types. Below are the detailed provisions:

1. Ground-Mounted Solar Power Plants (Without Battery Storage Systems):
• Northern Region: Maximum price of 1,382.7 VND/kWh (excluding VAT).
• Central Region: Maximum price of 1,107.1 VND/kWh (excluding VAT).
• Southern Region: Maximum price of 1,012.0 VND/kWh (excluding VAT).
2. Floating Solar Power Plants (Without Battery Storage Systems):
• Northern Region: Maximum price of 1,685.8 VND/kWh (excluding VAT).
• Central Region: Maximum price of 1,336.1 VND/kWh (excluding VAT).
• Southern Region: Maximum price of 1,228.2 VND/kWh (excluding VAT).
3. Ground-Mounted Solar Power Plants (With Battery Storage Systems):
• Northern Region: Maximum price of 1,571.98 VND/kWh (excluding VAT).
• Central Region: Maximum price of 1,257.05 VND/kWh (excluding VAT).
• Southern Region: Maximum price of 1,149.86 VND/kWh (excluding VAT).
4. Floating Solar Power Plants (With Battery Storage Systems):
• Northern Region: Maximum price of 1,876.57 VND/kWh (excluding VAT).
• Central Region: Maximum price of 1,487.18 VND/kWh (excluding VAT).
• Southern Region: Maximum price of 1,367.13 VND/kWh (excluding VAT).
TECHNICAL PARAMETERS FOR BATTERY STORAGE SYSTEMS:

To calculate maximum prices for solar power plants with battery storage systems, the following requirements apply:
• Capacity: At least 10% of the installed capacity of the solar power plant.
• Storage/Discharge Duration: 2 hours.
• Charging Power Output Ratio: 5% of the plant’s total output.
This legal update signals a significant step forward in aligning Vietnam’s renewable energy sector with standardized pricing mechanisms and broader energy policy goals. Power generation units and stakeholders in the energy industry should review these provisions and ensure compliance in their operations.

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Please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Oliver Massmann under omassmann@duanemorris.com if you have any questions on the above. Dr. Oliver Massmann is the General Director of Duane Morris Vietnam LLC.

Vietnamesen haben bisher geglaubt, einen Weg durch den Zoll-Dschungel zu finden. So war zuletzt der Stahlexport in die USA gestiegen. Doch nun plant der US-Präsident 46 Prozent an Einfuhrabgaben, mehr als für fast jedes andere Land.
Vietnam treffen die neuen reziproken Zölle von US-Präsident Donald Trump in Höhe von 46 Prozent hart. Ein Drittel des vietnamesischen Bruttoinlandseinkommens hängt am US-Export. Das Land hat mittlerweile das drittgrößte Außenhandelsdefizit gegenüber den USA, exportiert also deutlich mehr als es importiert – was den amerikanischen Präsidenten Donald Trump regelmäßig erzürnt hat. Die Politik hat sich dementsprechend schon vor dem Liberation Day darüber besorgt gezeigt, dass sich viele US-Investoren auf einmal aus dem Markt zurückziehen könnten.
„Daher haben sie versucht, diplomatisch vorzusorgen und wohlwollende Botschaften zu senden“, erklärt Oliver Massmann. Der Partner der US-Kanzlei Duane Morris lebt und arbeitet seit mehr als 25 Jahren in Vietnam. „Das Land verfolgt seit Jahrzehnten eine ‘Bamboo-Diplomacy’, wie die Leute sie hier nennen. Sich mit möglichst vielen anderen Staaten anfreunden, flexibel und widerstandsfähig sein und vor allem: rasant wachsen.“
Um die USA zu beschwichtigen, ist ihnen der südostasiatische Staat in mehreren Bereichen entgegengekommen. Mitte Februar hatte der Minister für Industrie und Handel, Nguyen Hong Dien, angekündigt, dass Vietnam bereit sei, mehr Agrargüter aus den USA zu importieren. Um das Handelsdefizit zu schmälern, sollen auch LNG-Exporte nach Vietnam diskutiert worden sein. Und um die Führungsspitze zu besänftigen, hat Vietnams Premierminister Pham Minh Chinh außerdem den Weg für einen landesweiten Einsatz des Satelliten-Internets Starlink von Trump Intimus Elon Musk geebnet. Starlink will der Multimilliardär Mukesh Ambani zeitgleich auch nach Indien holen.
Einer der größten Stahllieferanten der USA
Eine Sonderbehandlung habe Vietnam auch vor den neuen Zöllen dadurch allerdings nicht bekommen: „Die USA hatten beispielsweise 2018 viele Länder von der damaligen Erhöhung der Stahl- und Aluminiumzölle ausgenommen – nicht aber Vietnam“, sagt Massmann. Importeure zahlen seitdem auf vietnamesischen Stahl 25 Prozent Zoll. Dem Handel hat das bisher keinen Abbruch getan, der Stahlexport ist im Vergleich zu 2018 trotz der Handelshemmnisse sogar deutlich gestiegen. Vietnam ist gemessen am Warenwert heute der sechstgrößte Stahllieferant der USA; bezogen auf die Menge liegt Vietnam inzwischen sogar vor Deutschland auf Platz fünf.
Trotz mangelnder Sonderbehandlung gehörte das Land außerdem zu den Profiteuren der US-Zollpolitik in Trumps erster Amtszeit. Viele Unternehmen waren aus China nach Vietnam geflüchtet oder hatten Vietnam als Transitstaat für Exporte genutzt, um den US-Strafzöllen gegen China zu entgehen. Die reziproken Zölle heben diesen Vorteil nun auf – und strafen dadurch ein weiteres Mal China ab. Ob sich die Lieferketten aus Vietnam zukünftig in die Nachbarländer verlagern könnte, bleibt abzuwarten. Auch Malaysia wird mit Abgaben von 24 Prozent belegt, Indonesien mit 32 Prozent und Kambodscha sogar mit 49 Prozent. In Washington ist Vietnam also mit seiner Bambus-Diplomatie vorerst gescheitert – und es ist fraglich, ob die florierenden Handelsbeziehungen zwischen den beiden Staaten die hohen reziproken Zölle unbeschadet überleben werden.
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Bei Fragen und für weitere Einzelheiten steht Ihnen Dr. Oliver Massmann unter omassmann@duanemorris.com gerne zur Verfügung. Dr. Oliver Massmann ist der Generaldirektor von Duane Morris Vietnam LLC.