Does Sinh Vũ take on small projects?

Sinh Vũ serves individuals, SMBs, and enterprises. Each tier has a suitable scope and approach. Small project clients often start with a 30-minute Coffee chat (free) or a Workshop/Audit to get the right direction before investing.

Self-brief, or do you need Sinh Vũ to assist with the brief?

Both are fine. Door 01 Detailed form for you if the scope is clear. Door 02 Chat with Sinh Vũ (5 minutes, AI asks the right questions) for you if the scope is unclear and needs consultation first.

How long from brief to the first deliverable?

Sinh Vũ responds within 24 hours. Detailed proposals within 48–72 hours. The first deliverable depends on the scope, typically 2–6 weeks from contract signing and deposit receipt.

What industries does Sinh Vũ work in?

300+ projects across 16 major sectors: F&B, Cosmetics, Fashion, Real Estate, Technology and SaaS, Manufacturing, Education, Healthcare, Finance, Travel, Agriculture, B2B professional services, and other sectors.

Is there a contract and confidentiality?

Yes. Every project signs a standard service contract from Sinh Vũ Studio, including clear confidentiality (NDA) and intellectual property terms. Briefs are stored separately, accessible only to the responsible team.

Is it necessary to research across multiple industries, or just the industry we operate in?

You need to research multiple groups. A brand can cause conflicts if that industry group relates to the field you operate in, even if not directly overlapping. This is why thorough research conducted by professionals is more important than self-conducted research, as they will accurately define the scope of groups to check.

Check the trademark before or after finalizing the name

Quick summary

Trademark checks must be done before finalizing the name, not after. Specifically: conduct two layers, a quick scan when there are still 5 to 7 names on the list, then a thorough check on the final name before printing and registration. Vietnam follows the principle of first-to-file, meaning rights belong to the earliest applicant, not the one who names first, so waiting until after finalization to check puts you at a disadvantage.

Quick comparison

You should choose this direction when

quick scan when there is a short list of 5 to 7 names
thorough research before finalizing the name and before any printing
submit registration early as Vietnam follows the first-to-file principle

Not needed when.

fall in love with a name before researching, hard to backtrack
only check for exact name matches, ignoring similar-sounding or meaning-related names

Many business owners look up trademarks after they have already liked a name, envisioned the identity system, and even printed trial packaging. That is the reverse order. It is not because of mandatory procedures, but because discovering a name conflicts with someone else's trademark at that stage incurs very high costs: packaging, signage, documents, social media accounts, domain names, everything needs to be redone from scratch.

Two layers of research, two time points

Checking trademarks is not a single step. There are two layers, done at two different times during the naming process.

Quick scan (knockout search): Do this as soon as you have a shortlist of 5 to 7 names. The goal is to eliminate names with obvious conflicts, exact duplicates, or taken domains before investing time in deeper evaluation. This step is quick and does not replace legal research.
Comprehensive search: Conducted on the final name, before printing, communication, or submitting an application. This step examines names that are phonetically or semantically similar, unregistered trademarks that are widely used, and related industry groups. It is necessary to have an industrial property representative conduct this to obtain legal opinions.

These two steps follow one another, they do not replace each other. A quick scan followed by submission still exposes significant risks.

Why Vietnam needs to act sooner

Vietnam follows the first-to-file principle: the rights to a trademark belong to the earliest applicant, not the one who named it first or used it longer. This has two practical implications for you.

If you finalize a name and use it for a while before submitting the application, someone else could submit an application for that name before you during the waiting period.
An early search helps you know if that name is still available, allowing you to decide whether to continue investing in this name or switch to another before incurring additional costs.

Practical conclusion: after finalizing the name and obtaining comprehensive search results showing no serious risks, you should submit the trademark application as soon as possible.

Finalize the name before researching: You have invested emotions into that name, making it hard to backtrack when issues arise. The cost of renaming after printing and communication is much higher than choosing a different name from the start. Additionally, others may file before you while you wait.

Pre-check before finalizing (two layers): Each name on the shortlist comes with a risk range, and you choose with information. The final name is thoroughly checked before printing. After finalizing, submit the application immediately to secure rights based on the first-to-file principle.

Common errors when researching trademarks

Only research exact name matches: Names that are similar in sound or meaning can also cause conflicts. For example, two names that sound alike even if spelled differently may be considered confusing.
Only research one industry: Conflicts may arise from related industries, not just your main industry. The research scope needs to cover all relevant groups.
Confusing preliminary searches with legal guarantees: A quick scan alerts to risks but does not confirm that the name is safe for registration. These are two entirely different matters.
Creating packaging before submitting the application: The gap between finalizing the name and submitting the application is a risk. Someone could submit that name before you during that time.

How Sinh Vũ integrates research into the process

In the S3 process at Sinh Vũ, research is not the final step after selections are made. Sinh Vũ filters a long list of 30 to 50 names down to 5 to 7 names by evaluating them in parallel: language criteria, preliminary trademark checks, domain availability, and names on major social media platforms. Each name presented to you includes a risk range so you can make an informed choice, rather than selecting and then discovering where the issues lie.

Trademark checks should be done early in the naming process, before making significant investments, to understand the rights of others regarding that mark.
INTA, Considerations in Selecting a Trademark

The boundary needs to be clear: Sinh Vũ conducts preliminary searches to provide early warnings in the naming process. A full search and application submission is the responsibility of a legal expert in industrial property. You should not use Sinh Vũ's preliminary report as a substitute for that step.

The tool brings back.

Decision checklist

Topic: Should you check trademarks before or after finalizing a name? Sinh Vũ guide, sinhvu.com

0 more than 7 items

Select each item you find appropriate, then print or save as PDF to take with you.

Sign indicating that you should take action

quick scan when there is a short list of 5 to 7 names
thorough research before finalizing the name and before any printing
submit registration early as Vietnam follows the first-to-file principle

Questions to answer before deciding

What stage are you at in the naming process, and do you have a shortlist yet?
Does a preliminary search mean that the name is legally safe?
If the name has not been registered, can I use it immediately?
Do you need to search across multiple industries or just the one you operate in?

If you have marked most of the signs above, this is the time to discuss in more detail. Sinh Vũ can help you review and propose a direction.

References

INTA, Considerations in Selecting a Trademark. Vietnam Intellectual Property Office (IP Vietnam), trademark registration guidelines. Harris Sliwoski, Registering Trademarks in Vietnam (principle of filing first). Practical experience in the S3 process, Sinh Vũ Studio.

Frequently asked questions

Does a preliminary search mean that the name is legally safe?

No. Preliminary searches only alert you to obvious risks, helping to eliminate names with clear conflicts early on. To conclude legal safety, you need a comprehensive search and the opinion of an industrial property representative with expertise. Sinh Vũ conducts preliminary steps to provide early warnings in the naming process, not to replace that in-depth legal step.

If the name has not been registered, can I use it immediately?

Not registering does not mean you can use it freely. You still need to check for similar names phonetically or in meaning within related industries, as well as unregistered trademarks that are widely used in the market. After thorough research and deciding to use it, you should file for registration as soon as possible because Vietnam follows the first-to-file principle.

Do you need to search across multiple industries or just the one you operate in?

Need to research multiple groups. A brand can cause conflicts if the industry group is related to the field you operate in, even if not identical. This is why thorough research conducted by experts is more important than self-research, as they will accurately determine the scope of groups that need to be checked.