Vietnam Customs Amplify Efforts to Combat Counterfeit Goods and Trade Fraud Across Borders and Online

Counterfeit, substandard, and intellectual property-infringing goods continue to pose significant challenges to Vietnam’s business environment and consumer protection efforts. Smuggling networks have increasingly exploited e-commerce platforms, social media, and express delivery services, employing sophisticated methods to evade detection.

In response, Vietnam’s customs sector has prioritized combating smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeit goods, and intellectual property violations as a critical task. Customs units nationwide have enhanced inspections and supervision of import-export activities along major routes and at key checkpoints.

According to the Customs Department, current hotspots for counterfeit goods and smuggling are concentrated along Vietnam’s land borders with China, Laos, and Cambodia. Additionally, counterfeit and imitation products have been intercepted entering the country through seaports, international airports, and express delivery channels disguised as parcels.

Authorities have also highlighted the open operation of counterfeit production and distribution networks within the domestic market, particularly on social media and e-commerce platforms. The violating products primarily include cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, health supplements, fashion items, electronics, tobacco, and industrial materials—many of which pose direct risks to public health and undermine consumer confidence.

On May 7, marking the launch of a nationwide peak campaign against smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeit goods, and intellectual property violations, customs officers at the Huu Nghi International Border Gate in Lang Son province seized nearly 15,000 cosmetic and fashion items suspected of infringing major trademarks.

Specifically, the northern anti-smuggling control team, in coordination with Huu Nghi Border Gate Customs, inspected suspicious transit shipments and confiscated 10,508 cosmetic products allegedly violating intellectual property rights of several South Korean brands.

In addition, authorities seized 4,350 fashion items—including belts, shoes, and handbags—bearing counterfeit marks of well-known brands such as Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Nike, and Charles & Keith.

The crackdown has also extended to imported food products. On February 2, customs officers at Sai Gon Port Customs Sub-department Region I detected trademark infringement involving the “Dates Sanwan” brand during import procedures for a shipment of dried dates by Hat va Gia Vi JSC. The trademark is protected under Vietnam’s Intellectual Property Law.

The infringing shipment was valued at nearly 2.3 billion VND (approximately 88,000 USD). Following the detection, customs authorities transferred the case to the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee for regulatory handling. The company was fined 490 million VND, suspended from business operations for two months, and ordered to destroy all infringing products.

Customs officials report that violators are increasingly using sophisticated tactics such as false declarations of goods’ legal status, trademark counterfeiting, origin fraud, and misuse of transit procedures to evade inspections.

The implementation of specialized enforcement plans, early warning systems, and tighter controls has enabled customs authorities to promptly identify new smuggling methods and key transportation routes.

In the first four months of 2026, the customs sector detected and handled 23 cases related to intellectual property violations, including 11 cases recorded in January alone. The violating goods ranged from luxury fashion products and electronic devices to industrial goods, automobile components, and food products.

Notably, a case involving counterfeit bearings uncovered by Customs Sub-department Region II has been recommended for criminal prosecution, underscoring the authorities’ strengthened resolve to combat counterfeit goods and intellectual property violations.

With counterfeit goods increasingly infiltrating supply chains and domestic markets, Vietnamese authorities emphasize that enhanced controls from border gates to inland distribution channels are essential to protect legitimate businesses, public health, and the country’s investment and business environment.