In its response to the USTR's categorization Vietnam as a Priority Foreign Country, the country is breaking away from past enforcement methods to launch a modern offensive against digital piracy. Initiated by a mandate from the Prime Minister on May 5, 2026, in response to the treat of US sanctions, this new initiative is a shift in how the country protects copyright, moving from slow, manual monitoring to a more aggressive, tech-driven, and criminal-focused strategy.
Two well known problems are:
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Instant Movie Theft: Just hours after the film "Mua do" (Red Rain) was released on streaming platforms in 2025, hundreds of websites illegally pirated it. Similarly, the movie "Tho oi!!" (Bunnie!!) was secretly recorded and uploaded online within days of its theatrical premiere. Over 400 unauthorized websites currently host tens of thousands of pirated films.
