A campaign conducted earlier this month by the city market surveillance and economic police found one of them had more than 1,000 shoes and socks bearing the Nike, Adidas, and Converse brand names at a warehouse in Long Truong Ward.
Worth an estimated VND2.85 billion (US$108,000), they lacked invoices or documents to prove their origin. The brands confirmed they were fakes.
Authorities said the business had sourced the items from other online vendors and been operating illegally since mid-2023.
It had generated more than VND3.5 billion worth of profits by selling the knock-offs through Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok and on the Shopee e-commerce platform, they said.
Counterfeit products found at a warehouse in Ho Chi Minh City’s Long Truong Ward. Photo by HCMC’s market surveillance authorities |
Authorities also seized 1,913 fake garments, footwear, watches, and handbags carrying luxury names like Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Dior, Hermès, and Rolex, from another seller in Cho Lon Ward.
Again, the business owner could not produce any documents to prove the legality of the items.
Electronic data, bank records, and accounting documents showed the items were sold through Facebook, Zalo, and TikTok and the business had made over VND4.5 billion since early 2024.
Both owners told authorities they knew the goods were fake but sold them anyway because of the high profits. They mainly sold online and delivered goods via shippers to limit direct contact with buyers.
All the fake items were seized as evidence and turned over to investigators.
Under a plan recently unveiled by the city People’s Committee, authorities are ramping up inspections to detect violations, especially in the consumer goods, pharmaceuticals and dietary supplements, and cosmetics sectors.
It is also cracking down on sales of fake goods and intellectual property infringement on e-commerce and social media.
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Fake Rolex watches confiscated during an inspection at Saigon Square and Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh City in May 2025. Photo by HCMC’s market surveillance authorities |
The city’s Market Surveillance Department said it would continue to monitor key locations to prevent fakes.
It has busted 882 cases of fakes this year, seizing more than 77,100 items and imposing fines of VND5.1 billion. Some 71 cases pertained to Ben Thanh Market and Saigon Square shopping mall.
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