Compliance · Vietnam
SMS Compliance in Vietnam
A practical overview of the rules that affect SMS messaging and marketing in Vietnam, with a checklist before you launch.
Key Rules for SMS in Vietnam
Commercial SMS in Vietnam is governed by Decree 91/2020/ND-CP on combating spam messages, emails and calls. Advertising SMS must use a registered brand name, respect recipients' consent and do-not-call registrations, and stay within limits on daily frequency and permitted sending hours.
Several Asian markets require sender ID registration (for example Singapore's SMS Sender ID Registry) and have data protection laws with marketing consent rules, such as Singapore's PDPA and Malaysia's PDPA.
Data Protection
Vietnam's personal data framework, built on Decree 13/2023/ND-CP and the Personal Data Protection Law adopted in 2025, requires notice and consent for processing personal data and sets rules for cross-border transfers.
Keep a record of how each contact was collected, what they agreed to and when, and make it easy for them to withdraw consent.
Practical Checklist
- Collect and record consent (or confirm an existing customer relationship) before sending, with the date and source.
- Use a registered sender ID or number that recipients can recognise as your business.
- Identify your business in every message and keep promotional and service messages separate.
- Give a simple way to opt out of marketing and process opt-outs quickly across all your systems.
- Send in the recipient's local daytime hours and keep frequency reasonable.
Contact data
Format numbers in international E.164 format with the +84 country code, remove duplicates and invalid numbers, and keep consent records linked to each number.
Timing and Language
Vietnam follows the Asia/Ho_Chi_Minh time zone (UTC+07:00 in October 2026). The usual working week is Monday to Friday. Schedule SMS campaigns for the recipient's local daytime hours, avoid public holidays and religious observances that matter to your audience, and convert send times from IST before scheduling.
In Ho Chi Minh City, customers commonly use Vietnamese and English. Messages in the customer's preferred language usually perform better, but check how local-language text affects character counts (for SMS) and template approval (for WhatsApp).
Digital Habits and Channels in Vietnam
Vietnam has high smartphone use, and Zalo is the leading local messaging app, used alongside Facebook and Messenger; Zalo Official Accounts are a common way for businesses to send updates. Advertising SMS must follow Decree 91/2020 on spam, which requires consent, sender identification and restricted sending hours, and branded sender names (brandname SMS) are registered with the operators.
Bank transfers by VietQR, MoMo and ZaloPay are widely used, and cash on delivery remains common. Tet (Lunar New Year) is the biggest commercial period, followed by the 11.11 and 12.12 online sales and Mid-Autumn Festival. Vietnam's Personal Data Protection Law took effect on 1 January 2026.
Vietnam's economy has grown fast through electronics manufacturing (Samsung is the largest foreign investor), textiles, footwear, coffee, rice and seafood. VAT is 10%, temporarily reduced to 8% on many goods. Zalo is the main local messaging app, and MoMo and bank QR codes are used for payments.
Regulators, Registers and Practical Rules in Vietnam
Vietnam's Decree 13/2023 and the Personal Data Protection Law apply.
Brand names for SMS must be registered.
Vietnam's Ministry of Science and Technology now oversees telecoms after the 2025 ministry merger, and Decree 91/2020 on fighting spam messages, calls and emails requires prior consent for advertising messages, limits ad SMS to a set number per day and to daytime hours, and requires brand names to be registered. The Personal Data Protection Law, effective from January 2026, replaces much of Decree 13/2023. Viettel, Vinaphone and MobiFone are the main operators, and Zalo is the dominant messaging app, often more important than WhatsApp.
General guidance, not legal advice. Check current rules with the regulator or a local adviser before launch.
Advertising Alongside Messaging
Advertising must follow Vietnam's Law on Advertising, including its rules on online advertising, and platform policies.
This guide is general information, not legal advice, and reflects our understanding as of October 2026. Rules change, so we check current requirements for Vietnam before every launch.
Planning SMS campaigns for Vietnam?
We check the rules, set up sender requirements and run compliant campaigns.
SMS in Vietnam: FAQs
Do I need consent to send marketing SMS messages in Vietnam?
In most cases, yes, or at least an existing customer relationship and a clear opt-out. Commercial SMS in Vietnam is governed by Decree 91/2020/ND-CP on combating spam messages, emails and calls.
Do I need a registered sender ID for Vietnam?
Sender ID rules vary by country and operator. Some countries require pre-registration of alphanumeric sender IDs, others only allow numeric senders. We confirm the current requirement before launch.
Can DND Teams run SMS campaigns to Vietnam?
Yes. We are based in Bhopal, India, and run campaigns for international markets remotely, after checking the current rules, sender requirements and coverage for Vietnam.
Is this legal advice?
No. This guide is general information to help you plan. Regulations change and their application depends on your business, so take local legal advice for significant campaigns.
Related Guides and Services
Other channels in Vietnam
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