Under Decree 72/2013, a “social network” is broadly defined as an information system that provides its users with such services as storage, provision, use, search, sharing and exchange of information, including the services of creating private websites, forums, online chat, audio and video sharing, and other similar services. The definition of a social network under Vietnamese law may include not only standard social networks such as Facebook or Google+ but also any other internet based service which allows exchange of information among its users  (e.g. online messaging or file sharing).

Under Decree 72/2013, a social network is subject to an establishment licence issued by the Ministry of Information and Communication (MIC). In order to obtain an establishment licence for a social network, an organisation may have to establish a subsidiary in Vietnam and maintain at least one server system in Vietnam for the purpose of inspection, supervision, storage and provision of information pursuant to MIC’s regulations.