Vietnamese authorities have confiscated thousands of counterfeit luxury products, including fake Rolex watches and Prada handbags, during a raid at Saigon Square Shopping Mall in Ho Chi Minh City, state media reported Friday.
The operation marks a high-profile step in Vietnam’s intensifying crackdown on counterfeit goods and digital piracy, a campaign spurred by mounting pressure from the United States, which has threatened punitive tariffs and labeled Vietnam a major hub for counterfeit trade.
According to state radio broadcaster VOV, the seizure also included alleged fake products mimicking several other luxury brands, such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Hermès, and Longines.
“All of these products show signs of counterfeiting genuine goods, seriously affecting the interests of consumers as well as the reputation of protected brands in Vietnam,” the country’s market surveillance department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade said in a statement.
High-Profile Target
Saigon Square, a prominent shopping venue popular with tourists and locals, had already been identified in January by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) as one of the world’s "notorious markets for counterfeiting". Earlier this month, Reuters reported that fake luxury goods were openly displayed at the mall.
An employee at the mall, speaking anonymously, confirmed the raid to Reuters, but distanced management from the vendors' activities.
“We lease the space to the sellers and are not aware of the origins and authenticity of the products they sell,” the employee said.
International Pressure and Trade Risks
The seizure underscores Vietnam’s response to growing international scrutiny. Washington has previously warned that Vietnam’s failure to curb counterfeit trade and digital piracy could trigger trade penalties, including tariffs on key exports.
With Vietnam playing an increasingly vital role in global supply chains, particularly in electronics, textiles, and consumer goods, compliance with intellectual property protections is becoming a strategic trade issue for Hanoi.
Further inspections and enforcement actions are expected as authorities signal a broader effort to clean up the country’s image and improve compliance with international trade norms.
Kazakhstan has elected its first unicameral Kurultai, bringing into force a sweeping political overhaul launched less than a year ago. The vote mar...
Syrian and Israeli officials held U.S.-brokered talks in Jordan on Sunday to ease tensions after an Israeli strike on a Syrian airbase near Tü...
Uzbekistan is looking to Singapore as it builds a fintech ecosystem designed to attract global investment, technology companies and talent....
Iran on Saturday denounced U.S. plans to announce new sanctions that could put further strain on the Islamic Republic's economy and have an impact on its most important trading partners including China.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday that Kyiv wants peace but will not surrender to Russia, as foreign leaders joined Independence Day events marking 35 years since Ukraine’s independence.
A newly created pro-government political party has secured a commanding victory in Kazakhstan's snap parliamentary election, according to exit polls, strengthening President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's influence at a pivotal moment in the country's political transition.
Only four commodity vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, following 13 transits a day earlier, as disruptions continue to restrict traffic through the key energy chokepoint.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected calls for a wartime election, arguing that holding a vote while Russia's full-scale invasion continues would divide the country and undermine national unity.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday that Kyiv wants peace but will not surrender to Russia, as foreign leaders joined Independence Day events marking 35 years since Ukraine’s independence.
Online fast-fashion retailer Shein is seeking to raise up to $1.77 billion in a Hong Kong IPO after its valuation fell around 70 per cent from its private-market peak four years ago.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 24th of August, covering the latest developments.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said on Monday that his party will introduce a bill to ban children under 16 from using social media. The proposal would allow fines of up to 10 per cent of a platform’s global revenue for non-compliance.
Icelanders will vote on Saturday, 29 August, on whether to resume negotiations with the European Union, in a referendum that could reopen the country’s long-debated membership question.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment