Vietnam steps up global engagement in competition and consumer protection

In times of globalization and deepening international integration, Vietnam has reaffirmed its proactive and constructive role in promoting international cooperation on competition and consumer rights protection. Since 2020, the Vietnam Competition Commission (VCC) has made notable contributions by effectively implementing initiatives within both multilateral and bilateral cooperation frameworks.

Signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding on consumer protection between the National Competition Commission and the Embassy of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

From 2020 to 2023, Vietnam successfully served as Chair of the ASEAN Experts Group on Competition (AEGC) in 2020. The VCC not only led the mid-term review of the ASEAN Competition Action Plan (ACAP) 2016–2020 but also actively contributed to the formulation of the ACAP 2021–2025. Vietnam also hosted the 9th ASEAN Competition Conference, affirming its leadership and coordination capabilities within the region.

In parallel, the VCC has strengthened bilateral technical cooperation with key development partners such as Australia, Japan, and Germany. These collaborative projects have focused on enhancing the enforcement capacity in competition law and consumer protection—key pillars in ensuring a transparent and healthy business environment.

Since April 2023, the VCC has expanded both the scope and depth of its international engagements. The Commission has dispatched 58 delegations to participate in, deliver remarks at, and contribute to numerous high-level international events. A standout achievement is Vietnam’s assumption of the Chair of the APEC Competition Policy and Law Group (CPLG) for the 2024–2025 term, to be held in Peru and the Republic of Korea—further demonstrating the country's rising prestige and influence in the international arena.

Additionally, the VCC has signed four Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with relevant authorities from Australia, Republic of Korea, China, and the United Kingdom Embassy in Vietnam. These agreements lay a concrete foundation for practical and impactful cooperation programs, helping to foster the development of a modern competitive regulatory framework and robust consumer protection mechanisms.

Vietnam is also actively participating in negotiations of regional and global agreements, including the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Competition (AFAC) and competition and consumer protection chapters in Free Trade Agreements such as ASEAN–Canada, the upgraded ASEAN–China FTA, DEFA, and IPEF. These efforts not only contribute to refining the domestic legal framework but also support Vietnam’s deeper integration into global value chains.

Proactive international cooperation in the fields of competition and consumer protection is playing an increasingly vital role in enhancing Vietnam’s standing, credibility, and coordination capacity within multilateral institutions, while simultaneously laying the groundwork for the sustainable development of its domestic market.