How to register a website with the Ministry of Industry and Trade in 2026

A legal website recognized by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT, Bộ Công Thương) is a real advantage. It makes the business easier to trust. That matters most if you sell online or run an e-commerce business.

Have you notified or registered your website with MoIT yet? If not, here is 123Website’s guide to how to register a website with MoIT. The steps and figures below are as described in 2024.

Why does a business have to notify MoIT about its website?

Registering and notifying MoIT about a website is a legal requirement for businesses and individuals that sell online in Vietnam. Vietnamese law sets out two procedures. A sales website files a notification (thông báo). An e-commerce service site, such as a marketplace, files a registration (đăng ký). The main reasons are below.

Comply with the law

Under Decree No. 52/2013/ND-CP on e-commerce, businesses that sell online must notify or register their website with MoIT. That keeps the business on the right side of the law and limits the legal risk around it.

An individual can be fined from VND 10 to 20 million for failing to notify a sales e-commerce website, or for a false or misleading notification. A business can be fined from VND 20 to 30 million for failing to register an e-commerce website, or for giving false information when registering (as of 2024).

More trust, and a stronger reputation

Once the website has been notified to or registered with MoIT, customers feel more confident buying from it. The MoIT logo on the site is a sign that the business operates openly and legally.

Protect consumers

Notification and registration make it easier for MoIT to supervise e-commerce, so consumer rights are protected. That helps stop fraud and scams in online sales.

A stronger competitive position

A business that follows the rules and holds MoIT recognition has an edge over competitors that do not. It helps the business build a stronger brand and attract more customers.

Help when there is a dispute

If a dispute arises between the business and a customer, a website that has been notified and registered with MoIT is an important legal basis for resolving it. MoIT can step in and help, using the information on file.

Oversight of business activity

Through registration and notification, MoIT can collect information and supervise online business. That gives the regulator a picture of the market as it actually is, and a basis for policies that support e-commerce over the long term.

Which cases need a website registered with MoIT

The cases that need a website notified or registered with MoIT are usually sites with e-commerce activity. The specific cases are below.

Sales websites

Sales websites of organizations and individuals that sell goods or services by electronic means, including:

• Online stores: retail products and services sold directly to consumers.
• Websites of manufacturers: products sold directly from the producer to the end customer.

E-commerce service websites

E-commerce websites that give other parties a place to buy and sell goods and services. They include:

• E-commerce marketplaces: sites where many businesses and individuals open a shop to sell products and services (for example Lazada and Shopee, two of the largest marketplaces in Vietnam).
• Online promotion websites: sites that run promotions for another business’s products and services (for example Groupon).
• Online auction websites: sites that run online auctions for products and services.

>>> See also: Basic features and evaluation criteria of an e-commerce website

Websites of organizations and individuals that sell digital content

This covers websites that provide digital content, such as:

• Online games: electronic games supplied and played on an online platform.
• Streaming video and streaming music: television and music delivered over the internet (for example Netflix and Spotify).

Websites of businesses that sell online advertising

Websites that provide advertising and communications by electronic means, so other businesses can promote their products and services on the internet.

Websites that provide online financial and banking services

This includes online banking, e-wallets and electronic payment services (for example Momo, VNPAY and Zalopay).

Other cases required by law

Any other case where the law requires registration and notification to MoIT, so e-commerce activity can be managed and supervised.

Registering a website with MoIT helps keep e-commerce transparent and legal, and it protects consumers and the other parties involved.

What documents do you need to notify MoIT about a website?

To notify or register a website with MoIT, you need a complete and accurate file. Prepare the documents below before you file for an e-commerce website:

• The e-commerce website registration or notification form: fill in every field on the form MoIT specifies.
• The business registration certificate: a copy, showing that the business is legally registered.
• The domain name certificate: a copy proving that you legally own the domain the website uses.
• The website operating regulations: This document must set out in detail (how goods are sold and services are provided on the website; the payment policy; shipping and delivery; returns and refunds; protection of the consumer’s personal information; how disputes and complaints are handled).
• Other related documents, if you have them: depending on the case, you may also need a license for a regulated sector, a contract with a third party, and so on.

How to notify and register an e-commerce website with MoIT

The process below is for notifying MoIT about a sales e-commerce website:

Step 1: Create an account on the e-commerce management portal

Open the MoIT portal at online.gov.vn, choose “Đăng ký” (Register), and fill in the required details. Then confirm the registration by email and activate the account.

Step 2: Sign in and create the website notification

After you register, MoIT reviews the account and replies by email. If the account is approved, sign in with it.

• Within 3 working days, if the account details are complete, the trader or organization is issued a login (as of 2024).
• If the account is refused, or more information is requested, the trader or organization has to register again or add what was requested.

Step 3: File the notification for the sales e-commerce website

After you sign in, open the “THÔNG BÁO WEBSITE” (Notify a website) menu on the left, then choose “Thêm mới thông báo website” (Add a website notification). You can also use the website-notification icon under “LIÊN KẾT NHANH” (Quick links), as in the image below:

Step 4: Enter the website details

File the e-commerce website notification by entering what the form asks for: the website logo, the primary domain, the goods and services offered on the site, the hosting provider, the name of the person responsible, the attached documents, and so on.

Step 5: Submit the website notification

• Check every field, then click “Gửi hồ sơ” (Submit).
• MoIT reviews the file within 7 to 10 working days (as of 2024).

How to check whether a website is registered with MoIT

To tell whether a website is registered with MoIT, check the signs below:

• The MoIT notification logo: it usually sits in the footer. Clicking the logo opens MoIT’s confirmation page.
• Contact details: a registered website shows the company name, address, phone number and email.
• A search on the e-commerce management portal: open the MoIT portal and use the search to look the website up.

Registering a website with MoIT is a legal duty, and it also makes the website easier to trust. We hope this guide gives you the information and steps you need to complete the process smoothly.

Alongside a professional website design service for businesses, 123Website also helps clients notify and register a website with MoIT. Let us help you build an online business that is solid and fully compliant. Contact 123Website on the sales hotline 0932 092 002 for a free consultation and get your online business started.