In a bid to curb the sale of counterfeit and illicit goods, as well as protect intellectual property rights, the Market Management Department of the Ministry of Industry and Trade has been conducting frequent inspections at one of Ho Chi Minh City’s premier shopping centers over the past two weeks.
These inspections are part of the government’s intensified efforts to combat smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeit goods nationwide, as outlined in Prime Ministerial Dispatch No. 65/CĐ-TTg dated May 15, 2025, and Directive No. 13/CT-TTg dated May 17, 2025.
On June 13, the task force discovered two businesses, located at Kiot 47T-49T and Kiot 3B+9D, selling products suspected of bearing counterfeit trademarks of renowned brands registered for protection in Vietnam.
At Kiot 47T-49T, owned by Ms. Ngo Thi Hang Nga, a Hermes leather wallet of French origin was priced at just VND 150,000, while Chanel, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton bags were offered at significantly lower prices compared to the brand’s official website, ranging from VND 280,000 to VND 380,000.
Similarly, at Kiot 3B+9D, operated by Ms. Vo Thi Kieu Oanh, t-shirts bearing the labels of well-known brands such as Lacoste, Boss, and Polo were priced between VND 100,000 and VND 150,000, raising suspicions of counterfeiting.
During the inspection, the task force seized nearly 400 suspected counterfeit items from these two businesses and initiated legal proceedings.
Earlier, on May 29, six task forces from the Department of Market Management and Development conducted a large-scale inspection at Saigon Square Trade Center, seizing thousands of counterfeit items, including watches, bags, wallets, and sunglasses, despite the merchants’ attempts to evade detection by closing their shops.
The frequent inspections by market management forces have prompted many merchants to close their shops or remove their goods from the premises to avoid scrutiny.
According to the Department of Market Management and Development, inspections of locations notorious for selling counterfeit and illicit goods, as well as those infringing on intellectual property rights, will continue as a long-term and pervasive campaign.
In conjunction with these inspections, the task forces are also engaging in outreach and education, encouraging merchants to transition to legitimate businesses that comply with regulations, thereby fostering a robust domestic market and enhancing the city’s appeal to shoppers and tourists alike.
Back in July 2019, Ben Thanh Market and Saigon Square Trade Center were targeted in a similar crackdown on illicit goods, resulting in the seizure of 1,834 counterfeit items, including bags, wallets, belts, watches, pens, shoes, clothing, and hats bearing the trademarks of renowned brands.
However, the trade in counterfeit goods bearing famous trademarks persists, underscoring the need for continued vigilance and enforcement efforts.
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