On the afternoon of June 17, 2025, a critical discussion unfolded in Vietnam's National Assembly, focusing on the persistent and complex issue of counterfeit and low-quality goods flooding the market. Delegates voiced deep concerns over the sophisticated methods employed by counterfeiters, the widespread impact on consumer safety, and the urgent need to elevate the fight against these illicit activities to a national strategic level.
Delegate To Van Tam from Kon Tum painted a stark picture of the consequences wrought by fake products. He highlighted that counterfeit goods not only inflict severe economic losses but also pose direct threats to consumers’ health and lives. Moreover, these fraudulent goods erode the reputation of legitimate businesses, diminish public trust in domestic products, hamper economic growth, and result in significant state budget shortfalls. According to To Van Tam, counterfeit food, medicine, cosmetics, and other items have been circulating for many years, employing increasingly sophisticated tactics. The rise of social media has exacerbated the problem, with influencers and celebrities promoting fake products, often with extravagant claims that mislead even savvy consumers. He lamented, “The landscape of counterfeit goods has become so varied and nuanced that even the most discerning consumers find it hard to distinguish genuine products from fakes.”
Echoing these concerns, Delegate Pham Van Hoa from Dong Thap pointed out a troubling pattern: each time a scandal involving counterfeit goods arises and gains media attention, government agencies respond decisively and responsibly. Yet, the problem inevitably resurfaces, indicating systemic weaknesses in state management, particularly within the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Health. Pham Van Hoa urged these ministries to ramp up continuous inspections and oversight to deter illegal operators and restore consumer confidence in everyday products.
Delegate Mai Van Hai from Thanh Hoa also underscored deficiencies in state management, market regulation, and accountability mechanisms. He noted that current penalties lack sufficient deterrence, allowing counterfeiters to persist. Mai Van Hai called for a thorough review and enhancement of legal frameworks governing the production and sale of goods, with a focus on health-sensitive products like medicines and food. He advocated for stricter criminal liabilities for those producing and selling counterfeit or substandard products that cause serious harm. Furthermore, he recommended clear, individualized accountability for agencies and officials at both central and local levels when serious counterfeit-related incidents occur.
The gravity of the counterfeit goods problem was described by delegates as a "national plague," given its extensive social and ethical repercussions, the scale of operations, the cunning methods employed, and the troubling involvement of corrupt officials who facilitate these illegal activities. In this light, To Van Tam stressed the need to elevate anti-counterfeiting efforts to a national strategic priority to formulate more effective policies and responses.
Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien addressed the National Assembly during this session, acknowledging the severity and complexity of the counterfeit goods challenge. He identified five key factors fueling the problem: the high profitability of counterfeit goods attracting a broad base of participants; increasingly sophisticated violations exploiting advanced technology, especially in e-commerce; limited human and material resources among enforcement agencies; occasional lapses in inter-agency coordination; and insufficiently deterrent legal penalties. Notably, Minister Dien candidly revealed that "a part of officials in some sectors entrusted with responsibility have degenerated, become corrupt, and abetted violations," highlighting a critical internal challenge.
To tackle these issues, Minister Dien outlined a multi-pronged strategy. The Ministry of Industry and Trade will continue to advise on refining policies and laws, clearly delineating the authority and responsibilities of ministries, sectors, and localities. Enhancing the effectiveness of supervision and inspection will be a priority, including mandatory and post-inspection measures. The Ministry plans to strengthen support for local market management forces to ensure they can fulfill their duties effectively.
Crucially, the Ministry will propose applying sufficiently stringent sanctions to deter violators. Public awareness campaigns will be amplified to educate businesses and consumers about legal compliance and encourage informed purchasing decisions. Recognizing the growing challenges posed by e-commerce, Minister Dien emphasized the urgency of completing the draft Law on E-commerce. This legislation aims to clarify responsibilities across government levels and agencies for various e-commerce models, including the rapidly expanding livestream sales sector.
The Minister disclosed plans to decentralize regulatory authority to local governments for managing e-commerce transactions. This move aims to enhance responsiveness and enforcement at the local level. The Ministry will also collaborate closely with specialized units to inspect and handle violations proactively, focusing on curbing the misuse of livestreams and e-commerce platforms to peddle counterfeit and substandard goods. Coordinated efforts with the National Steering Committee 389 and the Ministry of Public Security will further bolster these initiatives.
Beyond combating counterfeit goods, Minister Dien also highlighted positive developments in Vietnam’s agricultural export sector. In the first four months of 2025, exports of agricultural and aquatic products reached $13.72 billion, marking a 14.8% increase over the previous year. The Ministry is actively pursuing strategies to expand market access, improve forecasting of global market trends, and negotiate the removal of non-tariff barriers. Target markets include the United States, European Union, Japan, Canada, South Korea, Australia, and emerging regions such as the UK, France, the Netherlands, and West Asia.
Efforts to boost exports to China via official channels and to accelerate free trade agreement negotiations are also underway. These agreements aim to secure tariff reductions and open new avenues for Vietnamese goods. The Ministry is enhancing trade promotion activities, both direct and online, and facilitating supply-demand connections to stimulate consumption domestically and abroad. Support mechanisms are in place to help businesses leverage free trade agreements effectively.
Minister Dien stressed the importance of brand building as a critical factor in enhancing competitiveness and market development. The Ministry plans to continue programs focused on raising awareness about brand management’s significance in production and investment. Training, consulting, and technical support will be offered to businesses to improve product design and innovation, aligning with market demands both within Vietnam and internationally.
Addressing logistics, a key component of export competitiveness, the Ministry has collaborated with relevant agencies to submit a comprehensive logistics development strategy for 2025-2035, with a vision extending to 2050. Prime Ministerial directives in June 2025 called for immediate revisions to this strategy, emphasizing six main solutions: upgrading transport infrastructure and building major logistics centers to reduce transit and storage costs; improving institutional frameworks and business environments, particularly customs procedures; fostering regional linkages to enhance goods flow; supporting logistics enterprises to boost competitiveness and service quality; enhancing logistics workforce skills and promoting digital technologies like artificial intelligence for port and warehouse management, multimodal transport, and last-mile delivery; and strengthening industry associations and pioneering businesses in the logistics sector.
The National Assembly’s discussion and Minister Nguyen Hong Dien’s detailed remarks underscore the Vietnamese government’s recognition of counterfeit goods as a multifaceted threat requiring robust, coordinated action. By elevating anti-counterfeiting efforts to a national strategy, refining legal frameworks, enhancing enforcement capabilities, and promoting public awareness, Vietnam aims to protect consumers, support legitimate businesses, and foster sustainable economic growth in an increasingly digital and interconnected marketplace.
