Akash Kumar is a salon owner turned software founder. After years of running a hair and beauty business in the UK — and getting caught out by PPL/PRS licensing letters — he built Sonosfera to solve the problem he lived through firsthand.
Music Licence Business Vietnam: Costs & VCPMC Rules
Getting a music licence for your business in Vietnam means dealing with VCPMC — and most owners don't know it exists until an inspector turns up. Small cafes and salons typically pay 1,000,000 to 3,000,000 VND per year (~£30–90 / $38–113 USD). Enforcement has historically been weak, but the 2022 Intellectual Property Law amendments signal a crackdown on unauthorised public performance. Here is the exact legal rule, what it costs, and how premium venues sort their audio licensing for good.
Information notice: This article is general information based on publicly available sources, including the Vietnam Law on Intellectual Property. It is not legal advice. If you're unsure, contact the relevant licensing body or a local legal adviser.
Accuracy: Last reviewed on 7 April 2026. If you spot an error, email corrections@sonosfera.app.
Fast facts: Vietnam music licensing
Who needs it: Any public business playing recorded music (cafes, salons, hotels, retail).
Who collects fees:VCPMC handles compositions; RIAV handles recordings.
Average cost: 1m–3m VND/year (~£30–90 / ~$38–113 USD) for standard venues.
Fines: 5,000,000 to 25,000,000 VND (~£150–750 / ~$190–940 USD) for administrative violations.
Music licence business Vietnam: do you actually need one?
Yes, you need a licence. VCPMC (Vietnam Center for Protection of Music Copyright) is the primary body that collects royalties for songwriters. If customers or staff can hear recorded music in your venue, Vietnamese law requires you to pay for public performance rights.
Vietnam operates a two-body licensing system. VCPMC represents the composers and songwriters. A second organisation, RIAV (Recording Industry Association of Vietnam), represents the record labels.
In practice, VCPMC is the dominant force. They are the organisation that actively sends invoices, conducts inspections, and enforces compliance. Most independent businesses only ever deal with VCPMC. There is no single, unified licence covering both bodies, which leaves a frustrating administrative gap for venue owners trying to follow the rules.
Music licence business Vietnam: VCPMC cost breakdown
A VCPMC music licence costs between 1,000,000 and 3,000,000 VND per year for a standard cafe or salon. Very small shops pay as little as 500,000 VND (~£15 / $19 USD), while large hotels pay upwards of 15,000,000 VND annually (£450 / ~$566 USD).
Pricing is generally calculated based on the venue's square meterage, seating capacity, and business type.
Venue Type
Est. Annual Cost (VND)
Est. Annual Cost (GBP)
Est. Annual Cost (USD)
Small retail shop
500,000
~£15
~$19
Standard cafe
1,500,000
~£45
~$57
Large salon
3,000,000
~£90
~$113
Mid-sized restaurant
6,000,000
~£180
~$226
Karaoke venue
10,000,000
~£300
~$377
Large hotel
15,000,000+
~£450+
~$566+
If you compare this globally, Vietnam's licensing fees are exceptionally low. In the UK, the equivalent licence costs upwards of £335 per year (over 10,000,000 VND) for even the smallest high street salon. But low cost does not mean optional. The legal requirement applies regardless of the fee size.
The enforcement reality: will you actually get fined?
Most small cafes and salons are rarely targeted by inspectors today. VCPMC focuses its limited manpower on large hotels, karaoke chains, and high-profile event companies. However, this leniency is ending.
Vietnam has over 300,000 cafes. The cultural perception that background music is simply "free" is widespread. You can walk through District 1 in Ho Chi Minh City or the Old Quarter in Hanoi and hear unlicensed chart music spilling onto the pavement from almost every doorway.
Here is the blunt version: the law changed in 2022. Amendments to the Law on Intellectual Property (effective January 2023) significantly strengthened copyright protection. Administrative fines for unauthorised public performance now range from 5,000,000 to 25,000,000 VND (~$190–$940 USD). For registered organisations and companies, these fines double. VCPMC is actively expanding its collection efforts, and premium venues are the next logical target.
Key takeaway: Relying on weak enforcement is not a business strategy. The 2022 IP Law amendments give VCPMC sharper teeth, and inspections are increasing in major urban centres.
Why Spotify and Zing MP3 are illegal for commercial use
Consumer apps like Spotify, Zing MP3, and YouTube are strictly for personal use. Their terms of service prohibit commercial broadcast in a business, even if you pay for a premium subscription.
Many Vietnamese business owners assume that paying 59,000 VND a month for Spotify Premium makes them legal. It does not. That fee buys you an ad-free app for your headphones. It does not buy you the public performance rights required by Vietnamese law.
When a VCPMC inspector visits, showing them your Spotify Premium receipt will not stop a fine. In fact, it acts as a written admission that you are broadcasting consumer media to the public. If you want to use background music in a cafe in Vietnam, you need a commercial solution.
The modern alternative for premium Vietnamese venues
Sonosfera provides a direct-licensed music platform that entirely replaces the need for VCPMC and RIAV. At £19.99 per month (~640,000 VND / ~$25 USD), it includes all legal rights for commercial playback.
We know the local market reality. A 640,000 VND monthly subscription sits above the typical price sensitivity threshold for a basic street-side coffee shop. Local owners are used to paying 59,000 VND for Spotify and hoping the inspector never arrives.
But Sonosfera is built for premium venues. If you run a high-end salon in Thao Dien, a boutique hotel in Hoi An, or a specialty coffee roaster in Tay Ho, the atmosphere is your product. You need curated, ad-free music that fits your brand perfectly, without the lingering threat of a 25,000,000 VND fine (~$940 USD).
Q: Do I need a music licence for my cafe in Vietnam?
A: Yes. If you play recorded music where customers can hear it, Vietnamese law requires you to hold a public performance licence, usually obtained through VCPMC.
Q: What is the difference between VCPMC and RIAV?
A: VCPMC collects royalties on behalf of composers and songwriters. RIAV collects on behalf of record labels and producers. VCPMC is significantly more active in enforcing collections from local businesses.
Q: Can I play YouTube in my salon legally?
A: No. YouTube's terms of service explicitly state the platform is for personal, non-commercial use only. Playing it in a business violates those terms and infringes on local copyright laws.
Q: How much is the fine for playing unlicensed music in Vietnam?
A: Administrative fines for copyright infringement regarding public performance range from 5,000,000 to 25,000,000 VND (~$190–$940 USD) for individuals. For registered companies, the fine amounts double.
Q: Does royalty-free music require a VCPMC licence?
A: No. If you use a fully direct-licensed or royalty-free platform like Sonosfera, you do not need a VCPMC licence because the necessary rights have already been cleared directly with the creators.
Stop risking a fine. Start saving time.Try Sonosfera free for 14 days.From £19.99/month (~640,000 VND). All licensing included.
About the author
Sonosfera is founded by a UK salon owner who handles day-to-day compliance decisions around customer experience, in-store audio, and licensing. This article is written from an operational perspective and cross-checked against the official sources linked throughout. It is not legal advice.
