Immediately after the Prime Minister launched a peak action month to prevent smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeiting, and intellectual property rights violations (from May 15 to June 15, 2025), the Department of Domestic Market Management and Development directed market management forces across the country to deploy inspection and enforcement plans. The goal was to uphold market discipline, protect legitimate businesses, and safeguard consumer rights.

According to statistics, after one month of the intensive campaign, as mandated by Official Telegram No. 65/CD-TTg dated May 15, 2025, the national market management force inspected 3,891 cases and detected 3,114 violations. The total enforcement value exceeded VND 63 billion (over USD 2.5 million).

Of this amount, administrative fines surpassed VND 32 billion (approximately USD 1.28 million), and confiscated goods were valued at nearly VND 31 billion (around USD 1.24 million). Nearly VND 36 billion (roughly USD 1.44 million) was collected into the state budget. Notably, 26 cases showing criminal signs were transferred to investigative authorities - an increase of 50% compared to the same period last year.

A breakdown of violations revealed that counterfeit goods and intellectual property infringements accounted for the highest proportion, with 1,580 cases - or 52% of the total - leading to over VND 16 billion (more than USD 640,000) in fines. Smuggling followed with 648 cases, or more than 21%, amounting to over VND 6 billion (about USD 240,000) in penalties.

Several high-profile cases were swiftly uncovered and handled, such as the seizure of over 500 counterfeit luxury products in downtown Da Nang on May 20; a fake sock manufacturing site in La Phu (Hanoi) on May 26; and a raid on Saigon Square (Ho Chi Minh City) on May 29, where thousands of counterfeit branded items were confiscated. Particularly on June 9, a raid on four cosmetic facilities in Hanoi discovered 3,500 smuggled products of unknown origin, highlighting the complex tactics of mixing fake and legitimate goods.

Cross-sector coordination, digital tools, and public awareness

In many provinces, inter-agency collaboration played a vital role in boosting enforcement outcomes. In Kien Giang, the market management force and police seized over 700 smuggled fashion items suspected of being counterfeit, worth over USD 8,000. In Ninh Binh, thousands of untraceable children’s shoes and clothing items were confiscated with the help of cybercrime units.

Special categories like pharmaceuticals and dietary supplements were also closely monitored. Since 2021, market management forces nationwide have handled nearly 1,000 related cases, 783 of which involved violations concerning milk products.

In the coming period, the DMD will continue to guide the national market management system to intensify monitoring using digital technologies, interlinked data systems, and legal mechanisms tailored to modern commerce - especially e-commerce. Specialized campaigns targeting counterfeit goods and IP violations will persist, alongside public awareness and compliance commitments with digital business operators.

Tran Huu Linh, Director General of the Department of Domestic Market Management and Development, emphasized: “We are committed to taking bold, synchronized, and flexible actions to protect consumers’ legitimate interests, foster a transparent and healthy business environment, and contribute positively to socio-economic development.”

Thu Loan