Foreign-Made Goods Labeled as Vietnamese Detected in Lâm Đồng Province Crackdown

Authorities in Vietnam’s Lâm Đồng Province have uncovered a number of cases where foreign-manufactured goods were falsely labeled as “Made in Vietnam”, as part of a month-long crackdown on smuggling, counterfeit products, commercial fraud, and intellectual property violations.

The findings were released on June 22 in a report by Lâm Đồng’s 389 Steering Committee, summarizing the results of a high-intensity inspection campaign conducted between May 15 and June 15.

Focus on High-Risk Consumer Goods

Provincial agencies carried out coordinated inspections and enforcement operations, targeting products most vulnerable to counterfeiting, poor quality, or unclear origin. Key categories included: Frozen foods and dairy products, Prescription and traditional medicines, Nutritional supplements, Cosmetics and personal care items, Fuel and tobacco, Fertilizers and other essential goods with high market demand

Significant Spike in Violations and Fines

During the campaign, authorities inspected 173 cases and discovered 95 violations, a 137.5% increase compared to the previous month. Total fines issued exceeded VND 789 million (approximately USD 31,000), marking a 77.6% risemonth-over-month.

Officials also ordered the destruction of 1,850 kilograms of substandard or illegally distributed food products.

The provincial police alone handled 9 cases involving 11 individuals, including one criminal prosecution involving two defendants for selling illegally imported cigarettes.

Mislabeling Foreign Goods as “Made in Vietnam”

According to the report, one particularly concerning trend was the discovery of foreign-made products falsely labeled as Vietnamese-origin goods—a tactic used to evade detection by enforcement agencies and deceive consumers.

The illicit practice was primarily observed among footwear, clothing, cosmetics, fresh food, and motorcycle parts. Authorities note that many of these operations are small in scale, but the methods employed are increasingly sophisticated and difficult to detect.

Ongoing Risks to Consumer Safety and Market Integrity

The 389 Steering Committee emphasized that the storage and sale of smuggled goods, products of unknown origin, and unsafe food items remain widespread issues across the province. Continued monitoring and enforcement are essential to protect consumer rights, public health, and Vietnam’s brand reputation.

Vietnam Insider will continue to follow developments on this issue as authorities expand their investigations and enforcement measures.

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Source: Vietnam Insider