Patent protection in Vietnam was first in force as defined in the Decree 31/CP dated 23 January 1981 and Regulations on technical innovation, rationalization of production and patent. Accordingly, in Vietnam technical solutions shall be granted with Certificate for Inventors or Patent Certificate if they meet such protection conditions as novelty, inventive step and susceptibility of industrial application. This Decree came into effect until 11 February 1989 (as the birthdate of Ordinance of industrial property protection). In this period, Vietnam only granted Certificate of Patent Author.

On 28 December 1988, the Decree 200-HDBT on protection of utility solutions was signed, therefore, technical solutions shall be granted with Utility Solution Certificate if they meet such protection conditions as novelty (in national phase), susceptibility of industrial application.