Discovering many violations
On June 22, information from the Market Management Department (QLTT) - Dien Bien Department of Industry and Trade said that after nearly a month of implementing a peak plan against smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeit goods, and intellectual property infringement (from May 21 to June 15, 2025), the Interdisciplinary Inspection Team discovered many violations of counterfeit goods and goods of unknown origin.
Through inspections of 24 business establishments, warehouses, and yards in the whole province, the authorities have discovered and sanctioned 13 administrative violations, collecting 133 million VND to the state budget.
On-site destruction of 310 units of food products of unknown origin and 744 units of food and cosmetics of all kinds that have expired, with a total value of more than 34 million VND.
At the same time, 1,330 boxes of smuggled hair dye (worth more than 25 million VND) and 39 sports pants counterfeiting the ADIDAS brand (worth nearly 10 million VND) were confiscated.
According to the leader of the Market Management Department, the violations mainly focused on trading in goods of unknown origin, expired goods and counterfeit goods...
Closing due to "crowd effect"
One situation pointed out by the Market Management Department is that most of the stores have closed, temporarily suspended business according to the movement and effect ( seeing other stores closed, I also closed).
According to the authorities, this is an intentional act to avoid, obstruct, and cause difficulties for inspection work. This not only makes it difficult for authorities to access goods to check their origin and quality, but also creates opportunities for subjects to scatter violating goods or conceal non-transparent business practices.
Explaining this phenomenon, the leader of the Market Management Department said that the underlying cause comes from the fact that goods of many establishments have been stagnant for a long time, most of which have no invoices or documents proving their legal origin... so they are afraid that the authorities will check and handle them.
The Market Management Department added that through inspection and handling of violations, the Inspection Team directly disseminated and disseminated legal policies to organizations and individuals participating in the production and trading of goods and services.
According to Mr. Tran Ngoc Diep - Deputy Chief Inspector of the Department of Health of Dien Bien province: "Currently, there is a phenomenon of many false information about tax policies. This leads to traders and many people not understanding correctly and insufficiently the provisions of the tax law. Currently, there are traders and people who have not reacted appropriately, even closing down and stopping business, making it difficult for inspection work".
Previously, speaking with Lao Dong Newspaper, an officer of the Tax Department of Region IX (in Dien Bien) said that there are currently no official regulations on collecting 1.5% tax on total transactions for personal accounts.
The State's change of some tax policy regulations is to strengthen control of cash flow and transactions through personal accounts, especially in the business field, to prevent tax losses. Therefore, this does not affect the business activities of individuals or businesses.
"Regarding the issue of some small business households worrying about importing goods without invoices and documents, when checked and discovered, they will be instructed by the tax authority to make a statement - importantly, it is not counterfeit goods, counterfeit goods or goods with signs of commercial fraud" - this person added.
As Lao Dong has published an article reflecting "Many stores and kiosks in Dien Bien have been unusually closed". At places where people shop such as Noong Bua market, Center 1 market or along the main road of Vo Nguyen Giap, it is not difficult to see the scene of "closed doors and bolts" occurring at many stores.
