Which documents require a digital signature by law in Vietnam?

Understanding Vietnam’s Digital Signature Regulations

Vietnam’s legal framework for electronic signatures has evolved significantly in recent years, reflecting the country’s push toward digital transformation and economic integration. As a rapidly growing economy in Southeast Asia, Vietnam enacted the Law on Electronic Transactions in 2005, which was later supplemented by Decree No. 130/2018/ND-CP on electronic authentication and digital signatures. This decree, effective from November 2018, establishes the validity of digital signatures equivalent to handwritten ones under specific conditions, promoting their use in business and government operations. The framework aligns with international standards like the UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Commerce, ensuring that digital signatures are legally binding for most commercial activities.

From a business perspective, these regulations aim to streamline processes, reduce paperwork, and enhance efficiency amid Vietnam’s booming e-commerce sector, which saw over $20 billion in transactions in 2023. However, compliance requires adherence to technical standards set by the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC), including the use of certified digital signature certificates issued by authorized providers. Businesses operating in Vietnam must ensure that their digital signature tools meet these criteria to avoid legal disputes or invalidation of documents.

Key Documents Requiring Digital Signatures by Law

Under Vietnamese law, not all documents mandate digital signatures, but several categories do, particularly those involving official transactions, financial reporting, and public administration. This requirement stems from the need for authenticity, non-repudiation, and tamper-proofing in an increasingly digital environment. Here’s a breakdown of the primary document types:

1. Tax Declarations and Invoices: The General Department of Taxation mandates digital signatures for electronic tax invoices (e-invoices) as per Circular 78/2021/TT-BTC. All businesses must use e-invoicing systems with digital signatures to submit VAT declarations, corporate income tax returns, and personal income tax filings. Failure to comply can result in fines up to VND 20 million (about $800). This applies to over 90% of enterprises since the full rollout in 2022, significantly cutting processing times from days to hours.

2. Corporate Registration and Business Licenses: Documents submitted to the Department of Planning and Investment, such as business registration applications, amendments to enterprise charters, and annual reports, require digital signatures under the Enterprise Law 2020. Digital signatures ensure secure online submissions via the National Business Registration Portal, facilitating Vietnam’s goal of a paperless government by 2030.

3. Contracts and Agreements: While not all contracts require digital signatures, those in regulated sectors like real estate, banking, and labor must comply if executed electronically. For instance, labor contracts under the Labor Code 2019 and real estate transfer agreements per the Land Law 2013 necessitate digital signatures for enforceability. The Supreme People’s Court has upheld such signatures in disputes, provided they use MIC-approved certificates.

4. Government and Public Service Documents: Bidding documents, procurement contracts, and citizen service applications (e.g., via the National Public Service Portal) demand digital signatures. Decree 130 specifies that public officials and agencies must use qualified digital signatures for approvals, licenses, and certifications, covering areas like customs declarations and social insurance filings.

5. Judicial and Notarial Documents: Court submissions, powers of attorney, and notarial acts increasingly require digital signatures, especially post-COVID to enable remote notarization. The Notarization Law 2014, amended in 2020, recognizes digital signatures for wills, inheritance transfers, and affidavits.

6. Financial and Banking Transactions: The State Bank of Vietnam’s Circular 19/2016/TT-NHNN requires digital signatures for loan agreements, payment orders, and credit contracts in electronic banking. This is crucial for fintech growth, with Vietnam’s digital banking users surpassing 30 million in 2024.

Exceptions exist for sensitive documents like marriage certificates or land titles, which may still require wet-ink signatures due to cultural or security concerns. Businesses should consult legal experts or the MIC’s guidelines to navigate nuances, as non-compliance can lead to contract invalidation or regulatory penalties. Overall, these mandates support Vietnam’s Digital Economy Strategy to 2025, targeting 80% of administrative procedures to be digital.

Navigating Digital Signature Solutions for Vietnam Compliance

As Vietnamese businesses digitize operations, selecting a compliant digital signature platform becomes essential. The market features global players adapted to local needs, balancing cost, features, and regulatory alignment. From a commercial viewpoint, tools must integrate with Vietnam’s PKI infrastructure and support multilingual interfaces for the country’s diverse workforce.

DocuSign: A Global Leader in eSignature

DocuSign remains a dominant force in electronic signatures, offering robust tools for enterprise workflows. Its eSignature platform supports Vietnam’s legal requirements through API integrations and customizable templates, enabling secure signing for tax and contract documents. Pricing starts at $10/month for personal use, scaling to $40/month per user for business pro plans with features like bulk send and conditional logic. While effective for multinational firms, DocuSign’s seat-based model can escalate costs for large teams, and APAC-specific compliance may require add-ons.

Adobe Sign: Seamless Integration with Productivity Suites

Adobe Sign, part of Adobe Document Cloud, excels in embedding signatures into workflows like PDF editing and collaboration. It complies with Vietnam’s electronic transaction laws via certified digital IDs and supports mobile signing for on-the-go approvals in sectors like real estate. Key features include automated reminders and audit trails, with pricing from $10/user/month for individuals to enterprise custom plans. Its strength lies in integration with Microsoft and Google ecosystems, though additional fees for advanced API access can add up for high-volume users.

HelloSign (by Dropbox): User-Friendly for SMBs

HelloSign, now under Dropbox, provides a straightforward interface for digital signing, ideal for small to medium Vietnamese businesses handling contracts and invoices. It offers legally binding signatures compliant with ESIGN/UETA equivalents and Vietnam’s framework, with features like team templates and payment collection. Pricing is $15/month for essentials (up to 20 documents) to $25/month for unlimited, emphasizing ease without steep learning curves. However, it lacks deep APAC-specific identity verifications.

eSignGlobal: APAC-Focused with Global Reach

eSignGlobal positions itself as a versatile alternative, supporting compliance in 100 mainstream countries worldwide, including Vietnam’s electronic signature mandates. In the APAC region, where electronic signatures face fragmentation, high standards, and strict regulations, eSignGlobal holds an edge through optimized infrastructure. Unlike the framework-based approaches in the US (ESIGN) or EU (eIDAS), which rely on broad guidelines, APAC standards emphasize “ecosystem-integrated” solutions—deep hardware and API-level integrations with government digital identities (G2B). This demands higher technical barriers than email-based or self-declaration methods common in the West, such as linking to national ID systems for seamless verification.

eSignGlobal is actively competing with DocuSign and Adobe Sign globally, including in Europe and the Americas, by offering cost-effective plans. Its Essential version, at just $16.6/month (or $199/year), allows sending up to 100 documents for electronic signature, unlimited user seats, and verification via access codes—all while maintaining high compliance. This pricing delivers strong value, especially for teams avoiding per-seat fees. For Vietnam users, it integrates smoothly with local PKI and supports bulk sends for tax filings. In broader APAC contexts, like Hong Kong’s iAM Smart or Singapore’s Singpass, eSignGlobal provides native, hardware-secure docking, reducing latency and enhancing regulatory adherence. Businesses can start a 30-day free trial to test these features without commitment.

Comparing Digital Signature Providers: A Neutral Overview

To aid decision-making, here’s a markdown comparison table of key providers, focusing on features relevant to Vietnam’s market. This draws from public pricing and capabilities as of 2025, highlighting trade-offs in cost, compliance, and scalability.

This table underscores that while global giants like DocuSign and Adobe Sign offer proven reliability, regional players like eSignGlobal provide tailored advantages for Vietnam’s regulatory landscape without inflating costs.

Final Thoughts on Compliant Digital Signing in Vietnam

In summary, Vietnam’s evolving laws prioritize digital signatures for efficiency in tax, corporate, and contractual processes, fostering a competitive business environment. When evaluating tools, consider alignment with local standards alongside global usability. For those seeking DocuSign alternatives emphasizing regional compliance, eSignGlobal emerges as a practical choice in APAC-focused scenarios.