The Nice Classification is an international system for classifying goods and services applied in trademark registration. Established by the Nice Agreement of 1957, it is currently used by over 150 countries and intellectual property offices worldwide, including the Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam (IP Vietnam). The Nice Classification divides all goods and services into 45 classes: 34 classes for goods (Classes 1–34) and 11 classes for services (Classes 35–45).
When filing a trademark application, the applicant must specify which classes of goods or services their mark will cover under the Nice Classification. Correctly identifying the relevant classes is a critical step because it directly determines the scope of trademark protection. Selecting the wrong class can result in inadequate protection or unnecessary costs from registering in multiple classes.
Using the trademark search tool combined with the Nice Classification table below will help you accurately identify the right classes before filing your application. Click on each class to view its detailed description and the list of trademarks registered under that class in Vietnam.
| Class | Class Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chemicals for Industrial, Scientific and Agricultural Use | Class 1 primarily covers chemicals used in industry, science, photography, agriculture, horticulture and forestry. Businesses manufacturing fertilizers, raw industrial chemicals, or unprocessed synthetic resins should register their trademark here to secure brand protection. |
| 2 | Paints, Varnishes and Anti-Corrosion Preparations | Class 2 primarily covers paints, varnishes, lacquers, preservatives against rust and wood deterioration, and colorants. If your business deals in surface coating materials or industrial dyeing, this class is essential for your trademark filing. |
| 3 | Cosmetics and Cleaning Preparations | Class 3 is the most popular class for beauty and personal care businesses, covering makeup removers, skin creams, perfumes, essential oils, and cleaning preparations. Note: this class does not cover medicated cosmetics (such as anti-acne or anti-pigmentation products with pharmaceutical properties), which fall under Class 5. |
| 4 | Industrial Oils, Fuels and Lighting Materials | Class 4 focuses on industrial oils and greases, lubricants, dust absorbing and wetting compositions, and illuminants (candles, wax). Petroleum companies, energy firms, and manufacturers of automotive or motorcycle lubricant additives should prioritize registration in this class. |
| 5 | Pharmaceuticals and Medical Preparations | Class 5 plays a critical role in healthcare, covering pharmaceuticals, medicines for human or veterinary use, dietary food, health supplements, and dental materials. Any healthcare product with medicinal properties must be registered here to avoid infringement risks. |
| 6 | Common Metals and Their Alloys | Class 6 covers common metals, their alloys, metallic building materials, metallic movable structures, non-electric metal wires and cables. It is the right class for businesses dealing in steel, iron rods, metal water pipes, and roll-up metal doors. |
| 7 | Machines and Machine Tools | Class 7 covers industrial machines, machine tools, motors and engines (excluding those for land vehicles), couplings and transmission components. Businesses supplying agricultural machinery, power generators, or industrial robots register their brands in this class. |
| 8 | Hand Tools and Implements | Class 8 primarily covers tools and implements driven by hand, razors, scissors, and cutlery. This class is distinguished from Class 7 (motorized machinery) and is important for manufacturers of garden tools and hand-operated hardware. |
| 9 | Scientific, Electronic Equipment and Computer Software | Particularly important for digital businesses, Class 9 covers computer software (downloadable or pre-recorded), mobile applications, telephone devices, cameras, and safety equipment. This is a "survival" class for tech startups and game developers. |
| 10 | Medical and Dental Devices | Unlike Class 5 (medicines for ingestion or injection), Class 10 focuses on physical tools such as blood pressure monitors, ultrasound machines, surgical instruments, dental chairs, and prosthetics directly serving the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions. |
| 11 | Lighting, Heating, Cooling and Sanitary Apparatus | Class 11 covers apparatus and installations for lighting, heating, steam generation, cooking, refrigerating, drying, ventilating and water supply. Manufacturers of air conditioners, refrigerators, induction cookers, and water purifiers consistently prioritize this class. |
| 12 | Vehicles and Conveyances | Class 12 covers vehicles and conveyances for transportation by land, air or water. From manufacturers of buses, motorcycles, and electric vehicles to businesses distributing tires and spare parts, all fall within the scope of Class 12. |
| 13 | Firearms, Ammunition and Fireworks | Class 13 is a specialized class primarily covering hand-held firearms (using explosives), ammunition, industrial explosives, as well as fireworks and flares. |
| 14 | Precious Metals, Jewellery and Watches | Class 14 revolves around precious metals (gold, silver, platinum), products made from or plated with precious metals, fashion jewellery, pearls, gemstones, and watches. Extremely important for jewellery chains and watch brands. |
| 15 | Musical Instruments | Class 15 simply covers mechanical and electronic musical instruments such as pianos, violins, flutes, drums, and music boxes, as well as accessories like strings and music stands. |
| 16 | Paper, Packaging and Stationery | Class 16 covers paper, cardboard, printed matter (books, newspapers, magazines), bookbinding materials, paper or plastic packaging and stationery. Publishers, carton manufacturers, and packaging printing companies should register in this class. |
| 17 | Rubber, Plastics and Insulating Materials | Class 17 focuses on rubber, natural or synthetic latex, asbestos, mica, and plastics in extruded form for use in manufacture (semi-finished goods). It also includes materials for padding, insulating, sealing, and soundproofing used in industrial applications. |
| 18 | Leather Goods and Bags | Class 18 covers leather and imitation leather, and products made from these materials including wallets, fashion handbags, briefcases, travel suitcases, sports bags, as well as umbrellas and walking sticks. Highly important for local accessory brands. |
| 19 | Non-metallic Building Materials | Unlike Class 6, Class 19 is specifically for non-metallic building materials such as cement, floor tiles, concrete, building glass, plywood, non-metallic water pipes, and asphalt. Large material aggregate brands register here. |
| 20 | Non-metallic Furniture | Class 20 primarily includes furniture, mirrors, picture frames, as well as alternative (non-metallic) products such as plastic cabinets, clothes pegs, and rattan or wicker goods. Carpentry workshops and modern furniture brands need to protect Class 20. |
| 21 | Household Utensils and Kitchen Equipment | Class 21 covers small household appliances without electric motors, such as glass or aluminium pots and pans, ceramic tableware, toothbrushes, cleaning and hygiene implements, and combs. Very popular for practical household goods vendors. |
| 22 | Ropes, Nets and Tents | Class 22 covers ropes, cords, nets of all kinds (including aquaculture nets), tents, awnings, sacks for transport and storage of bulk materials, raw fibrous textile material, and animal wool. Mainly for net-weaving factories and tent manufacturers. |
| 23 | Yarns and Threads for Textile Use | Class 23 is narrow in scope, covering only synthetic or natural yarns spun into thread, silk yarn, and cotton or wool yarn used in the textile industry, embroidery, and weaving. |
| 24 | Textiles and Household Linen | Class 24 covers fabrics, household textile goods not classified elsewhere, bed covers (quilts, sheets, tablecloths), fabric curtains, and towels. If you run a Bedding (sheets, quilts, pillows) store, this class is mandatory. |
| 25 | Clothing, Footwear and Headgear | Class 25 is one of the three most-registered classes, covering all types of men's, women's and children's clothing, sports and fashion footwear, and headgear of all kinds. Anyone launching a fashion brand must register Class 25 to prevent trademark theft. |
| 26 | Haberdashery and Trimmings | Class 26 supplements the fashion industry, covering lace, decorative ribbons, buttons, snap fasteners, zippers, sewing needles and thread, and artificial flowers. For businesses supplying sewing accessories and handmade goods. |
| 27 | Carpets and Floor Coverings | Class 27 covers materials for laying on finished surfaces underfoot (excluding tiles from Class 19), such as floor carpets, car floor mats, tatami/plastic mats, and notably wallpaper (non-textile material). |
| 28 | Games, Toys and Sporting Equipment | Class 28 protects brands covering all games, smart/children's toys (including toy robots), gym and sporting goods equipment (treadmills, badminton rackets), fishing tackle, and Christmas tree decorations. |
| 29 | Meat, Fish and Preserved Food | Class 29 is a very broad food industry class, covering processed animal and vegetable foods including: canned meat and fish, poultry, preserved or dried vegetables and fruits, jams, eggs, dairy products and milk-based goods, and cooking oils and fats. |
| 30 | Coffee, Tea, Confectionery and Condiments | Class 30 accompanies the food and beverage industry, focusing on plant-derived foods prepared for consumption (not dried vegetables): coffee, tea, cocoa, rice, bread, cakes and chocolate confectionery, ice, salt and fish sauce, and all types of condiments. Extremely important for café chains and the sweet F&B segment. |
| 31 | Fresh Agricultural Produce and Animal Feed | Class 31 covers raw, unprocessed agricultural organic materials: ungraded grains, fresh herbs, fresh fruits and vegetables, plant seeds, live plants, and notably feed for animals and livestock. |
| 32 | Beers and Non-Alcoholic Beverages | Class 32 is entirely focused on non-alcoholic beverages and specific liquid foods: beers (despite containing alcohol, they are in this class), mineral water, carbonated soft drinks, fruit juices, and compressed preparations for making beverages. |
| 33 | Alcoholic Beverages (Except Beers) | Class 33 provides clear and simple trademark protection for all alcoholic beverages with higher alcohol content than beer: wines, vodka, liqueurs, pre-mixed alcoholic drinks, and alcoholic extracts. (Beers are not included – they fall under Class 32.) |
| 34 | Tobacco and Smokers' Articles | Class 34 covers finished tobacco products or raw tobacco leaf, smoking articles such as cigars, electronic cigarettes (vapes, pods), lighters, pipe cases, matches, and cigarette rolling papers. |
| 35 | Advertising, Business Management and Consultancy | Class 35 is the most popular class for the service industry, covering advertising, management, administration and governance. Supermarkets, retail chains, e-commerce platforms, and marketing agencies (Agencies) must register their trademarks for these trade promotion services, sometimes considered as important as the product classes themselves. |
| 36 | Financial, Banking and Real Estate Services | Class 36 covers financial services of all sizes, monetary services, banking, credit investment, and insurance. Notably, all services related to the management, brokerage, buying and selling, or rental of real estate (real estate exchange platforms) are all registered in this class. |
| 37 | Construction, Repair and Installation Services | Class 37 primarily covers services from contractors, construction of buildings (residential/roads) and mining. It also encompasses mobile device repair services, vehicle maintenance, cooling system installation, and building cleaning/maintenance services. |
| 38 | Telecommunication Services | Class 38 is reserved for telecommunications infrastructure: providing cable network connections, broadcasting cable TV programs, radio broadcasting, and providing online platforms and virtual meeting/chat rooms (e.g., Zoom). This class does not cover self-produced content. |
| 39 | Transportation, Travel and Storage Services | Class 39 plays the role of transport connector, primarily covering transportation of goods or people by road, sea, or air. Packaging and warehousing/storage services (Logistics/Fulfillment), as well as tour booking and port/terminal services, all require focus on Class 39. |
| 40 | Treatment of Materials | Class 40 is the "Custom Manufacturing" class – it involves transforming the physical/mechanical state of a product not owned by the service provider. Examples include: tailoring on demand, wood carving, water treatment for households, 3D label printing, or industrial waste recycling. |
| 41 | Education, Training, Entertainment and Sports | One of the hottest service classes, Class 41 covers activities for mental and intellectual development: nursery schools, adult schools, language centres, and online course platforms (EdTech). It simultaneously covers TVC production, film/video shooting, concert organisation, esport/game entertainment, and all physical sports activities. |
| 42 | Scientific, Technological and IT Services | Class 42 encompasses high-level technology and architectural thinking services: website design/programming, mobile app and SaaS development, cloud server hosting, and software-as-a-service. It is not exclusively for IT professionals – chemistry/biology laboratories and quality inspection services also fall under Class 42. |
| 43 | Food and Beverage Services and Temporary Accommodation | Class 43 is the core class for direct F&B operators: bubble tea shops, cafés, European/Asian restaurants (serving at-premises consumption). The second major service covered is hotel and resort room booking, and providing temporary accommodation for travellers. |
| 44 | Medical, Beauty and Agricultural Services | While Class 5 sells medicines, Class 44 represents clinics providing "physical health intervention services", such as dentistry, hospital surgery, and psychological services. It is also the protection home for bustling spa, head-washing/relaxation massage, beauty clinics, and pet health inspection services. |
| 45 | Legal and Security Services | Class 45, the final service class, is most commonly used by attorneys and intellectual property representatives providing investigation, patent registration and litigation services. Smaller branches include civilian personal security guard services, funeral services (cremation/funeral homes), and social matchmaking/dating services. |
