Phan Thi Mai and Hoang Kim Khanh, the couple behind the scandal
According to the Ministry of Public Security’s official portal, on November 21, 2025, the Investigation Police Agency for Corruption, Economic, and Smuggling Crimes initiated legal proceedings against the “Smuggling” case involving MK Skincare Company and related entities. Phan Thi Mai, Director of Mailisa Beauty Clinic LLC, and seven accomplices were charged and detained for “Smuggling.”
Initial investigations revealed that from 2020 to 2024, Phan Thi Mai and her husband, Hoang Kim Khanh, aimed to profit by importing cosmetics into Vietnam through the Mailisa beauty clinic chain. They sourced low-cost, substandard products from Guangzhou, China, which lacked proper certification and did not meet CFS (Certificate of Free Sale) requirements in China.
The couple then colluded with Chinese partners to forge contracts, altering the product origin from Guangzhou, China, to Hong Kong. This allowed them to obtain a CFS in Hong Kong, facilitating illegal imports into Vietnam. They marketed these products as Hong Kong-made, exploiting consumer trust and selling them at significantly higher prices, illegally profiting thousands of billions of VND (based on just 3 out of 100 flagship products).
Based on the evidence, the Investigation Police Agency initiated the “Smuggling” case on November 21, 2025, involving MK Skincare and related entities.
Eight individuals were charged and detained under Article 188 of the Penal Code for “Smuggling”: Phan Thi Mai, Director of Mailisa Beauty Clinic LLC; Hoang Kim Khanh, CEO; Tran Dan Phuong, Chief Accountant; Nguyen Thi Ngoc Truc, Accountant at MK Skincare; Vuong Phuong Nghi, Director; Vo Hoai Son, employee at Khai Hoan Import-Export LLC; Lu XueYi, employee at Khai Hoan Import-Export LLC; and Do Bich Thuy, a money transfer service provider in Hanoi.
Founded by Phan Thi Mai in 1998, Mailisa has operated for 26 years, boasting over 17 beauty clinics nationwide offering services like cosmetic tattooing, skincare, plastic surgery, and training. However, Dan Tri reports only 9 clinics remain active.
Tien Phong notes that Mai Li Sa LLC, a key entity, reported 307.6 billion VND in revenue in 2023, a 19% increase from 2022, with cumulative revenue exceeding 1 trillion VND from 2019–2023. Beyond beauty services, Mailisa markets Doctor Magic cosmetics, claiming Vietnamese certification.
By Phan Trang
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