These new regulations are expected to reshape the "digital economy game," shifting the model from manual management to data-driven management.
Tighten control over counterfeit and smuggled goods in the digital environment.
The 2025 E-commerce Law stipulates many prohibited acts in e-commerce activities, including fraud, deception, and the misuse of digital platforms for illegal business practices.
Notably, the law strictly prohibits the trading or facilitating the trading of goods and services that violate the law, such as counterfeit goods, goods infringing intellectual property rights, smuggled goods, goods of unknown origin, expired goods, or goods that do not meet quality standards. This regulation applies not only to sellers but also places greater responsibility on the operators of e-commerce platforms.
One of the notable new features of the 2025 E-commerce Law is the clear definition of responsibilities for e-commerce platform owners. Accordingly, platforms are responsible for checking, reviewing, and promptly removing or handling illegal business practices as soon as they are detected or reported.
In addition, platform owners must fully and transparently disclose operating conditions and transaction terms, and submit periodic online reports through the E-commerce Activity Management System or as required by state management agencies.
For platforms that use algorithms to prioritize or restrict the display of goods and services, the law requires them to publicly disclose the main selection criteria being applied.
Furthermore, e-commerce platforms are also responsible for cooperating with authorities in resolving disputes, handling complaints, investigating, and addressing violations of the law.
The law also adds many new obligations for sellers on e-commerce platforms and social networks with sales functions. According to the regulations, sellers must provide complete information for platform administrators to verify their identity. Depending on the entity, verification information includes the name and registered business location of the enterprise or household business; the name and registered address of the organization; or the name and residential address of the individual.
In addition to verifying information, sellers must also publicly disclose mandatory information related to goods and services as required by law. This information includes product quality and mandatory labeling information, except for specific information such as production date, expiration date, batch number, chassis number, or engine number.
When requested by competent state authorities, sellers must also provide information related to their e-commerce activities as required by regulations.
For businesses operating on intermediary e-commerce platforms or social networks with online ordering functionality, sellers must fulfill additional obligations.
Specifically, sellers are only allowed to use their own payment accounts on the platform. For businesses operating in regulated sectors, sellers must provide complete documentation proving they meet the business investment requirements before being permitted to sell goods or provide services.
If a product is found to be defective according to consumer protection laws, the seller must proactively notify the platform owner to publicly disclose the information, recall and dispose of the product, and compensate for damages as prescribed.
This marks a period of "trial by fire" for e-commerce.
Specifically, the 2025 E-commerce Law clearly stipulates the forms of handling violations by organizations and individuals. Depending on the nature and severity of the violation, violators may be subject to administrative penalties; blocked from accessing or temporarily suspending the platform's transaction functions; have the infringing content or account removed; and be compelled to take remedial measures and restore the legitimate rights and interests of the parties involved.
In cases of causing damage, the offending organization or individual must also provide compensation as prescribed by law. If the act shows signs of a crime, the authorities will consider criminal prosecution in accordance with current regulations.
In light of this change, Mr. Do Huu Hung, Vice President of the Vietnam E-commerce Association, believes that when the new law comes into effect, sellers will actually be the ones with the least to worry about.
"The core objective of this law and decrees is to hold the 'big players,' i.e., e-commerce platforms, accountable for paying taxes, controlling product quality, and implementing identity verification procedures in livestreaming activities."
However, sellers absolutely must not be complacent. What needs to be done right now is to strictly comply with current regulations on taxes, invoices, certificates of origin, and product quality standards,” Mr. Hung stated.
During turbulent times, many businesses may try to circumvent the law, but as the legal framework improves, conducting business properly from the outset is essential for sustainable development. This transparency is not a burden, but an opportunity to purify the market, eliminating unfair competition and the sale of counterfeit goods.
2026 marks a critical period for Vietnam's e-commerce industry. To avoid being left behind, sellers cannot simply rely on luck or quick growth tools.
The combination of strategic adaptability (operational optimization, multi-channel) and transparency and legal compliance will be the key to business growth in the new era of digital commerce.
Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/luat-thuong-mai-dien-tu-2025-giup-doanh-nghiep-phat-trien-trong-thoi-ky-thuong-mai-so-1209351.html
