Ministry of Industry and Trade E-commerce Website Management Guidelines

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has officially issued Consolidated Document No. 09/VBHN-BCT regulating the operation of e-commerce websites. This is an important step towards aligning existing legislation, helping government administration and helping companies conduct their business more efficiently.

Systematization of the legal framework based on Circular 47/2014/TT-BCT

This consolidated text is based on Circular No. 47/2014/TT-BCT, which came into force on January 20, 2015. It is an important legal basis that contains detailed regulations for e-commerce activities in Vietnam.

In addition, the new document is based on important government regulations such as Regulation No. 52/2013/ND-CP on electronic commerce, Regulation No. 95/2012/ND-CP on the functions and responsibilities of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and Regulation No. 59/2006/ND-CP on the list of goods excluded from trade.

The roadmap for updating regulations by 2025

In practice, the legal framework for managing e-commerce websites has been continuously revised at various stages to adapt to technological and market developments:

• 2016: Circular No. 04/2016/TT-BCT on the reform of administrative procedures relating to chemicals, alcohol and e-commerce.
• 2018: Circular No. 21/2018/TT-BCT extended the scope of the administration to applications on mobile devices.
• 2019: Circular No. 42/2019/TT-BCT amends the rules on periodic reporting systems.
• 2022: Circular No. 01/2022/TT-BCT further improves the website and mobile application management mechanism.

Of particular note is Circular No. 38/2025/TT-BCT dated June 19, 2025, which officially comes into force on July 1, 2025. This document focuses on decentralizing administrative procedures, streamlining the apparatus and strengthening the proactive role of relevant units.

Impact on state management

The publication of Consolidated Document No. 09/VBHN-BCT contributes to the unification of the regulatory system, which was previously distributed across many different circulars. This not only makes it easier for state administrative authorities to enforce the law more accurately, but also makes it easier for organizations and individuals to find and comply with the regulations in e-commerce.

Overall, this change reflects the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s efforts to increase transparency in the online business environment and improve management efficiency in the context of Vietnam’s rapidly developing digital economy.