How to protect your trademark in Vietnam?

How to protect your trademark in Vietnam?

In Vietnam, trademark registration is the first step in obtaining trademark protection. A trademark opposition may be filed to prevent a mark application that is pending from being granted. Litigation is the last option for resolving disputes involving trademark protection in Vietnam.

A trademark is a sign that helps separate one company's goods or services from those of others. Products and services trademarks play a crucial role in the expansion of the business, alongside patents and industrial designs. A trademark connects a business and its clientele. Customers will be more likely to use goods or services if the trademark is strong. The infringement of a trademark is inevitable when the trademark is well-known and has significant economic benefits from the sale of goods or services.

The owner of a trademark has two options for registration: either directly register a trademark in Vietnam by filling out a registration application with the Vietnam NOIP, or use Madrid's system to seek protection in Vietnam. In accordance with Vietnam's intellectual property law, the trademark owner must prepare, apply for registration, and pay a fee for the first option. If a trademark needs to be protected in multiple countries, such as Vietnam, the owner can register it using Madrid's system.

The trademark owner must assess the degree of infringement and damage in each location where a trademark violation occurs in order to select appropriate solutions. In the beginning, the owner of a trademark may protect themselves by requiring the trademark violator to stop their violations, apologise, and make amends. Owners of trademarks have the right to seek compensation in the event of damage. If negotiations or mediation fail, the trademark owner can use a settlement mechanism or submit a denunciation application to the Vietnam NOIP and ask the appropriate state agencies to handle acts of infringement. Acts of infringement may necessitate litigation. In general, civil litigation proceedings are more complex than arbitration proceedings. Civil litigation takes precedence when the trademark owner requires a court decision to end trademark infringement. In the remaining cases, arbitration is the better option because it is less expensive, takes less time to settle, and is more adaptable.

The client company's competitive advantage is heavily reliant on trademarks. Through trademark registration, oppositions, and other trademark protection resolutions in Vietnam, ANT Lawyers' IP service in Vietnam assists you in securing protection for these priceless intellectual assets.

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Trademark protection in Vietnam

Trademark protection in Vietnam is initially obtained through trademark registration. Trademark opposition could be filed to prevent a pending application for a mark from being granted application. Litigation is the final measure to handle dispute during trademark protection in Vietnam.

Trademark is a sign that help distinguish the goods or services of one enterprise from those of others. Together with industrial design and patent, trademark of goods and services plays an extremely important role for the growth of the enterprise. Trademark establishes a link between enterprise and customer. A strong trademark will attract customers to use goods or services. When trademark is popular and economic benefits achieved through sale of goods or provision of services coupled with trademark is large, the violation of trademark is inevitable.

 

Trademark protection in Vietnam

The annual reports of the Vietnam National Office of Intellectual Property (NOIP) prove that trademark violation in Vietnam is the most popular, among other industrial property rights. According to the preliminary annual report in 2011, and 2012, there has been more than 1,000 cases of trademark violations each year. Report of 2013 and after shows more than 2,000 trademark infringements were handled with the total fines of trademark violators of around USD 1 million per year. Having said that, it is important for trademark owner to register trademarks in Vietnam for better protection. This is also suggested for even well-known trademarks.

For registration, trademark owner has two options: either directly register trademark in Vietnam by filling an application for registration with the Vietnam NOIP, or seek the protection in Vietnam through Madrid’s system. For the first option, the trademark owner needs to prepare, file for registration, and pay fee as the requirement of Vietnam Intellectual Property law. In case trademark needs to be protected in a number of nations, including Vietnam, trademark owner may register trademark through Madrid’s system.

Where the violation of trademark occurs, trademark owner needs to judge the level of infringement, level of damage to choose suitable resolutions. Initially, the trademark owner may protect by requiring to the trademark violator to terminate the infringing acts, apologize, and rectify. In case of being damaged, trademark owners have rights to claim compensation. If failing to reach result, trademark owner may use settlement mechanism through negotiation or mediation or could request the competent state agencies to handle acts of infringement through i.e. filling a denunciation application and submitting to the Vietnam NOIP. Litigation might be required to handle acts of infringement. Generally, the proceeding of civil litigation is more complex than the arbitration proceeding. In cases the trademark owner needs a decision from court in order to end trademark infringement, civil litigation is top priority. In the remaining cases, arbitration is a better choice with advantages of cheaper cost, shorter settling time, and more flexible.

Trademarks are an important part of client company’s competitive edge. ANT Lawyers, IP service in Vietnam helps you protect these valuable intellectual assets through trademark registration, oppositions, and other trademark protection resolutions in Vietnam.  

 

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Intellectual Property and Trademark Registration Services in Vietnam

 

In Vietnam, many businesses today have not paid sufficient attention to trademark protection. Only when their trademarks would be infringed by other companies or competitors, they really concern to protect their trademarks and business through trademark registration, trademark opposition or take further actions. Such situation will negatively impact the business financially.

Trademark Registration services in Vietnam

Trademark rights will be protected within the national territory, therefore when a trademark has been registered in Vietnam, it will be protected in Vietnam. If one company wishes their trademarks to be protected in other countries, it could:

-Directly register in each country or

-Register via the Madrid International registration by filing a single application which indicates the registrations at respective countries.

If registered under the Madrid International, firstly, trademarks must have been submitted trademark applications or have registered in Vietnam, depending on whether the country for protection is under the Madrid Protocol or the Madrid Agreement.

Law on Intellectual Property and its related documents could also be referred to for further information.

ANT Lawyers’ services in the field of trademark registration advice covers:

-Look-up, assess and consult possibilities to register trademark in Vietnam and abroad;

-Represent clients in applying for certificates of trademark registration, record modification, extend degree of trademark protection in Vietnam and abroad;

-Evaluate the effectiveness of the certificate of trademark registration in Vietnam and the possibility of trademark rights violation;

-Implement of the protected trademark rights: investigate, monitor, negotiate, seek arbitration or initiate a lawsuit or request other competent agencies for handling of infringement in Vietnam and abroad;

-Negotiate, draft, evaluate and register the of changing trademark ownership in Vietnam and abroad;

-Advise on building strategies, brand development;

If you are looking for an experienced Trademark lawyers in Vietnam to help you with your Trademark application, you should visit ANTLawyers.vn. Our attorneys have experience with the IP process and will work closely with you as you apply for your IP.

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When and How to Register Trademark to Protect IP Rights

Considering trademark registration activities, the subject holder must comply with certain conditions to fulfill its trademark registration rights.

According to Article 13.1 Law on Intellectual Property amended in 2009:

-Organizations and individuals may register marks to be used for goods they produce or services they provide.

Register trademark in Vietnam

-Organizations and individuals that conduct lawful commercial activities may register marks for products they are marketing but produced by others, provided that the producers neither use such marks for their products nor object to such registration.

-Lawfully established collective organizations may register collective marks to be used by their members under regulations on use of collective marks. For signs indicating geographical origins of goods or services, organizations that may register them are collective organizations of organizations or individuals engaged in production or trading in relevant localities. For other geographical names or marks indicating geographical origins of local specialties of Vietnam, the registration must be permitted by competent state agencies.

-Organizations with the function of controlling and certifying the quality, properties, origin or other relevant criteria of goods or services may register certification marks, provided that they are not engaged in the production or trading of these goods or services. For other geographical names or marks indicating geographical origins of local specialties of Vietnam, the registration thereof must be permitted by a competent state agency.

-Two or more organizations or individuals may jointly register a mark in order to become its co-owners on the following conditions: i) This mark is used in the names of all co-owners or used for goods or services which are produced or traded with the participation of all co-owners; ii) The use of this mark causes no confusion to consumers as to the origin of goods or services.

If the subject falls into one of the cases mentioned above, they will have the right to register the mark at the National Office of Intellectual Property. After the subject condition has been met, consideration should be given to the condition that a mark can be protected as a trademark. In particular (i) It is a visible mark in the form of letters, words, drawings or images including holograms, or a combination thereof, represented in one or more colors; (ii) It is capable of distinctive goods or services of the mark owner from those of other subjects.

However, there are some exceptions even when the mark satisfies those two conditions. For example, marks identical with or confusingly similar to national flags or national emblems; or marks identical with or confusingly similar to emblems, flags, armorial bearings, abbreviated names or full names of Vietnamese State bodies, political organizations, socio-political organizations, socio- politico-professional organizations, social organizations or socio-professional organizations or with international organizations, unless permitted by such bodies or organizations shall not be protected as a trademark.

In order to register for protection of a trademark, the registrant should pay attention to the subject matter and the conditions for the trademark to be protected in order to avoid being refused at the registration authority because of the failure to meet the conditions for the subject or the conditions for protection.

IP Attorney at ANT Lawyers – a Law Firm in Vietnam, a licensed IP agent in Vietnam shall be providing the advice to client to help the clients evaluate and file registration for trademark, patent, copyright and other IP related services

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Legal consequences of the trademark with origin in Vietnam and designation EU registered under Madrid system after Brexit

After 47 years being a member of EU, UK officially left EU on January 31, 2020. This is an almost half of century relationship, thus, there would be a number of arising confusion as well as the issue which is in need of negotiation to complete the process including trademark registration with origin from Vietnam.

 

Trademark protection in Vietnam

UK is the member of Madrid system from Dec 1st, 1995, concurrently, EU has also officially become a member of this system since Oct 1st, 2004.  According to the international trademark searching Madrid Monitor, there are 292 Vietnamese trademarks registered internationally designated EU which include both the trademarks during the examination period and granted certificate.

How is the fate of these trademarks after Brexit?

According to the guidance from Intellectual Property Office of UK (“IPO”), the owner or applicant of the trademark which submitted according to the Madrid system and designated EU need to note the following points:

International trade mark registrations protected in the EU (“EUTM”) under the Madrid Protocol will no longer enjoy protection in the UK after 1 January 2021. According to Brexit Agreement, IPO will create a system: “comparable UK trademark” in relation to each international (EU) trade mark designation. In case EUTM are still in the examination period, the applicant has the right to register that exact trademark in UK in the transition period from January 1st, 2021 to September 30th, 2021. In details:

Firstly, to the trademarks which has been protected, UK will:

-Be recorded in UK registration system;

-The recorded trademark will have the same legal status as the trademark protected according to UK law;

-Keep the submitting of the application as EUTM;

-Keep the priority date according to the Madrid system or seniority date according to UK law;

-Be recognized as independently existing trademark according to UK law and may be challenged, assigned, licensed or renewed separately from the original international registration.

However, it is noted that: (i) the Comparable trademarks will be created at no cost to the holder of the international trademark, except a minimal administrative burden will be placed upon the rights holder (ii) the applicant will not receive the trademark certificate, however, they could be searched for the trademark at GOV.UK.

Secondly, for the EUTM which are still in examination phase:

In case EUTM are still in examination phase, on January 1st, 2021, the applicant has the following rights:

-Apply the trademark application in UK for EUTM during the transition, nine months from January 1st, 2021 until September 30th, 2021 as mentioned above;

-Keep the earlier filing date as EUTM;

-Enjoy other international priority claim effecting on EUTM in accordance with the seniority claim according to UK law.

However, it is noted that when applying the EUTM during the examination phase according to the UK trademark system then:

-The trademark applied in UK must be the same with the trademark in EU application which submitted previously;

-Goods/services required to protect of the trademark must be the same or included in the scale of EUTM.

In case the application submitted into UK does not satisfy the above criteria, the application would not enjoy the priority date or the priority claim of EUTM.

The application after having been submitted within that period and satisfies the criteria will be deemed as UK application and be examined according to UK law.

If you are looking for an experienced IP services in Vietnam to help you with your IP application, you should visit ANTLawyers.vn. Our attorneys have experience with the IP process and will work closely with you as you apply for your IP. We routinely match inventors with experienced IP attorneys for a free consultation on our platform and offer a money back guarantee. 

 

 

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How to Dealing with Trademark Infringement

According to Vietnam law on intellectual property, when detecting the trademark infringement act, the trademark owner has the self-protection right includes (i) apply technological measures to prevent acts of trademark infringement (ii) request organization or individual who commits an act of trademark infringement of the holder to terminate such act, make a public apology or rectification, and compensate damages; (iii) request the competent authority to handle with acts of trademark infringement in accordance with the provisions of laws.

Firstly, to apply the technological measures to prevent acts of trademark infringement measure, infringed party may give our the information related to original of emergence, trademark certificate, protection and duration scope and other information related to the right of trademark owner in order to inform that the infringed trademark are under protection warn the infringing party not to infringe. Besides, the owner of infringed trademark may use the technical means or measures to mark, identify, distinguish and protect the infringed trademark.

Secondly, the owner could also request organization or individual who commits an act of trademark infringement of the holder to terminate such act, make a public apology or rectification, and compensate damages. In particular, the trademark owners may themselves or authorize to individual or organization, IP attorney in Vietnam to send to the infringed party to stop the the infringement by indicating the information regarding origin of infringement, trademark certificate, protection scope, protection duration and set a reasonable period of time for the infringer to terminate the act of infringement. In addition, depending on the case and level of infringement, the written request will bear different content. It can be said that this is a prior-should-use measure before taking other measures including application of technological measures. If the violating party cooperates and stops the infringement, it will save time and money of both parties when not taking other stronger measures.

Thirdly, owner of trademark could request the competent authority to deal with acts of trademark infringement in accordance with the provisions of laws. When the trademark owner sends the request as mentioned above to infringing party, and, the violated party does not cooperate and continue the infringement, infringed party may sent a request to competent authority with the information such as: date of making the request; name and address of infringed party or their legal representative; name of receiving request authority; name and address of infringing party; name and address of the suspected violator in the case of request for temporary cessation of customs clearance for exports or imports suspected of infringement; brief information of infringed trademark and infringement; proposed measures to handle infringement; documents and evidence accompanying the request. Depending on the seriousness of the infringement, the petitioner may submit a request to the relevant authorities to apply administrative, civil, criminal or customs measures. Be noted that if the request is sent to custom authority for temporary cessation of customs clearance for imports or exports suspected of infringement, it is required to provide the additional information on the mode of import or export, country of exportation, mode of packaging, the lawful importer or exporter, features of lawfully imported or exported goods for distinction from infringing goods.

Overall, it is important to protect the intellectual property rights. Further, engaging with IP attorney in Vietnam will help the process efficiently from registration, managing the intellectual properties, protecting the intellectual property from infringement, and handling the disputes against the IP violators in Vietnam through administrative measures, civil litigation or even criminal prosecution.

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The Benefits of Registering the Trademark

The claim of ownership: Registering your trademark gives you the mark of ownership, which essentially means, that you retain the exclusive use of the mark and no one else can use it. Thereby, helping you establish your brand more effectively.

Trademark in Vietnam 

Listing in IP Vietnam’s Database:

Being listed on IP Vietnam’s online database ensures that others know that you own the mark and have exclusive rights to using it. It acts as a deterrent against possible misuse.

The right to use the ® symbol:

Once your trademark has been registered; you have the right to use the ® symbol which shields your trademark from infringement by granting it legal protection.

Sell and License your brand:

Having a trademark can help you sell and license your brand and also helps in brand recognition.

Protects from unfair practices:

 It secures your business from unfair practices such as the use of deceptively similar marks by rivals that could hurt your brand’s image. A trademark gives you legal protection from such unfair practices.

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What are the benefits of Trademark registration?

Trademark Registration is a legal protection for your Brand name which can not be copied by any other party Legally. If in case they copy that brand then through the Rights under Intellectual Property Act. The owner of the Trademark can recover the whole profit earned with the name of Registered Trademark.

Trademark attorneys in Vietnam 

Rest following are the Advantages of Trademark Registration.

1.Exclusive Identification:

A trademark helps your consumers & audience to identify uniquely the product & service provided by you. It builds up an image in the marketplace. It becomes the face of the company by which your products and services are recognized.Registering your trademark also ensures that you are the only owner of that particular symbol, logo, name, etc. and can't be misused by any other trader.

2.Legal protection:

It delivers certain legal protections to the proprietor and once the trademark is registered the owner has the power to sue any third party who tries to infringe the existing trademark. It protects from the following situations:Before any trader creates their trademark, there is no chance of Trademark infringement as in the research process they will find your trademark in the Trademark Database/Trademark Registry. Trademark infringement as in the research process they will find your trademark in the Trademark Database/Trademark Registry.If any other trader tries to register the same brand name as their trademark, then they will certainly be objected in the first place by the Trademark Office. In case you discover anybody using your trademark you get the right to claim infringement case under certain conditions.

3.Building up Trust/Goodwill:

Serving to public with the quality product under the registered trademark helps you to build up trust/loyalty of your consumers. A registered trademark also portrays that you personally care about your brand which further passes on positive values about your brand in public.

4.Global Permits:

A trademark registration in Vietnam will also help you getting exposed to the global market under the International Trademark system. Foreigners can also register trademark in Vietnam and Vietnam entities can register trademark at a global level.

5.Protection from Infringement Claims:

If your trademark is registered, then you are safe from the infringements claims that you will come across. As your trademark is recorded in the registry, you will have proper legal evidence to defend your trademark.

6.The value in the Market:

Having a trademark gives a standard to the product and services in the market which further builds up Value of the brand i.e. brand entity. It becomes easy to spot your company/brand in the marketplace.

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Are there any differences in filing a Trademark application in Vietnam as compared to your home country?

The legal protection of Trademark is based on the principle of territoriality. That means each nation is free to regulate the use of intellectual property on its own territory. For instance, it can only grant protection titles to the domestic brands while denying foreigners. In order to overcome such problems, nations around the world have been reaching and signed a number of international treaties which was built on the principle of territoriality. There was a remarkable achievement that nations established certain rules that all member States must respect. Member States shall protect trademarks of companies of other member States as if they were his own citizen (so called principle of national treatment). In other words, assuming that Vietnam and France are member States, Vietnam is bound to treat French enterprises the same rules that it applies to Vietnamese firms.

As a consequence, there are not any differences in principle when filing a Trade mark application in Vietnam as compared other State members. However, practically, for filing a Trade mark application in Vietnam, there might some additional requirements or language of necessary documents as following:

1.Right to register marks: According to Article 89 Law on intellectual, foreign individuals not permanently residing in Vietnam and foreign organizations and individuals without production or business establishments in Vietnam could not file applications for Trademark registration by themselves but through their lawful representatives in Vietnam by POA (Power of Attorney).

2.Solving the language barrier: Foreign individuals permanently residing in Vietnam and foreign organizations and individuals whose production or business establishments are in Vietnam could file applications for Trademark by themselves. However, the language barrier might be the problem because Applicants shall fill a standard form in Vietnamese and submit this form to the NOIP accompanies by documents evidencing the registration right, the priority right or other documents supporting the application. All these documents could be made in another language but shall be translated into Vietnamese at the request of the State administrative body for industrial property rights

To be accepted, the sample of the Trademark must be clearly described by words in order to clarify elements of the mark and the comprehensive meaning of the mark, if any; where the mark consists of words or phrases in a foreign language, such words or phrases must be translated into Vietnamese.

3.Time for request your priority claim: Priority claim shall not be automatically recognized in Vietnam, therefore the claim for the priority right must be clearly stated in the application accompanied by a copy of the first application certified by the first IP office.

4.Applying “First to use” or “first to file” principle: In Vietnam, “first to file” principle is applied, that is far cry from so-called “first to use” countries. The “first to file” principle means rights in a trademark generally are acquired only through registration therefore a trademark owner can apply to Trademark registration without having used it anywhere and at any time. Kindly be advised that if you come from the United States, the Philippines, Australia, and New Zealand where trademark rights are generally acquired through use.

All in all, these treaties built up a harmonized system that benefits the international firms to protect their Trademark outside of the home nation. The local qualified Intellectual property Agent might support the international firms in overcoming the barrier of language and these additional requirements.

How ANT Lawyers Could Help Your Business?

Please click to learn more about ANT Law firm in Vietnam or contact our lawyers in Vietnam for advice via email ant@antlawyers.vn or call our office at (+84) 24 32 23 27 71

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How To Protect Trademark in Vietnam?

Trademark protection in Vietnam is initially obtained through trademark registration.

Trademark opposition could be filed to prevent a pending application for a mark from being granted application.  Litigation is the final measure to handle dispute during trademark protection in Vietnam.

Trademark is a sign that help distinguish the goods or services of one enterprise from those of others. Together with industrial design and patent, trademark of goods and services plays an extremely important role for the growth of the enterprise. Trademark establishes a link between enterprise and customer.  A strong trademark will attract customers to use goods or services. When trademark is popular and economic benefits achieved through sale of goods or provision of services coupled with trademark is large, the violation of trademark is inevitable.

The annual reports of the Vietnam National Office of Intellectual Property (NOIP) prove that trademark violation in Vietnam is the most popular, among other industrial property rights.  According to the preliminary annual report in 2011, and 2012, there has been more than 1,000 cases of trademark violations each year.  Report of 2013 shows more than 2,000 trademark infringements were handled with the total fines of trademark violators of around USD 1 million.  Having said that, it is important for trademark owner to register trademarks in Vietnam for better protection.  This is also suggested for even well-known trademarks.

For registration, trademark owner has two options: either directly register trademark in Vietnam by filling an application for registration with the Vietnam NOIP, or seek the protection in Vietnam through Madrid’s system.  For the first option, the trademark owner needs to prepare, file for registration, and pay fee as the requirement of Vietnam Intellectual Property law.  In case trademark needs to be protected in a number of nations, including Vietnam, trademark owner may register trademark through Madrid’s system.

Where the violation of trademark occurs, trademark owner needs to judge the level of infringement, level of damage to choose suitable resolutions.  Initially, the trademark owner may protect by requiring to the trademark violator to terminate the infringing acts, apologize, and rectify. In case of being damaged, trademark owners have rights to claim compensation.  If failing to reach result, trademark owner may use settlement mechanism through negotiation or mediation or could request the competent state agencies to handle acts of infringement through i.e. filling a denunciation application and submitting to the Vietnam NOIP.  Litigation might be required to handle acts of infringement.  Generally, the proceeding of civil litigation is more complex than the arbitration proceeding. In cases the trademark owner needs a decision from court in order to end trademark infringement, civil litigation is top priority. In the remaining cases, arbitration is a better choice with advantages of cheaper cost, shorter settling time, and more flexible.

Source: ANTLawyers

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Intellectual Property and Trademark Registration

Trademark is a sign for consumers to identify the goods or services of each company from those of others.

In Vietnam, many businesses today have not paid sufficient attention to trademark protection.  Only when their trademarks would be infringed by other companies or competitors, they really concern to protect their trademarks and business through trademark registration, trademark opposition or take further actions.  Such situation will negatively impact the business financially.

Register trademark in Vietnam

Trademark rights will be protected within the national territory, therefore when a trademark has been registered in Vietnam, it will be protected in Vietnam.  If one company wishes their trademarks to be protected in other countries, it could:

• Directly register in each country or

• Register via the Madrid International registration by filing a single application which indicates the registrations at respective countries.

If registered under the Madrid International, firstly, trademarks must have been submitted trademark applications or have registered in Vietnam, depending on whether the country for protection is under the Madrid Protocol or the Madrid Agreement.

Law on Intellectual Property and its related documents could also be referred to for further information.

ANT Lawyers’ services in the field of trademark registration advice covers:

• Look-up, assess and consult possibilities to register trademark in Vietnam and abroad;

• Represent clients in applying for certificates of trademark registration, record modification, extend degree of trademark protection in Vietnam and abroad;

• Evaluate the effectiveness of the certificate of trademark registration and the possibility of trademark rights violation;

• Implement of the protected trademark rights: investigate, monitor, negotiate, seek arbitration or initiate a lawsuit or request other competent agencies for handling of infringement in Vietnam and abroad;

• Negotiate, draft, evaluate and register the of changing trademark ownership in Vietnam and abroad;

•  Advise on building strategies, brand development;

ANT Lawyers has law offices in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, and Da Nang City.  For advice or service request, please contact us via email ant@antlawyers.vn, or call +84 8 3520 2779.  To learn more about us, visit www.antlawyers.vn.

Source: ANTLawyers.vn

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