At a press conference on the socio-economic situation of Ho Chi Minh City on May 21, the Market Management Sub-Department (Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade) said that from the beginning of 2026 to date, the Ho Chi Minh City Market Management Sub-Department has inspected and handled 882 violations related to counterfeit trademarks, intellectual property rights infringement; temporarily seized more than 77,100 products of various types such as shoes, cosmetics, clothes, motorbike parts, phone parts... with a total estimated value of more than 10.1 billion VND. The total amount of fines is more than 5.1 billion VND, and 2 cases with signs of crime have been transferred to the investigating agency.
In the Ben Thanh market and Saigon Square areas alone, functional forces inspected and handled 71 violations; temporarily seized 1,574 counterfeit branded products worth more than 431 million VND; fined more than 307 million VND and forced the destruction of all violating goods.
In the peak period from May 7 to May 2026 alone, the Sub-Department inspected and handled 138 violations related to counterfeit goods and intellectual property rights infringement; temporarily seized 7,287 products with a total estimated value of more than 4.6 billion VND. In which, 86 cases were fined with a total amount of 831 million VND, forced to destroy all violating goods and transferred 1 case with signs of crime to the investigating agency.
In the Ben Thanh market and Saigon Square areas, functional forces also inspected and handled 8 violations; temporarily seized 213 counterfeit branded products worth more than 42 million VND; fined more than 56 million VND and forced the destruction of all violating goods.
To thoroughly handle the situation of counterfeit goods and goods infringing intellectual property rights throughout Ho Chi Minh City, the Ho Chi Minh City Market Management Sub-Department said that it will continue to implement many strong solutions in the coming time.
In which, functional forces will strengthen overtime inspections, holidays; arrange sufficient rapid response forces to receive and verify information and handle unexpected violations, associated with rectifying inspection and administrative violation handling activities.
The unit also coordinates with the police, market management boards, commercial centers and local authorities to organize simultaneous and regular inspections in hot areas such as Ben Thanh market, Saigon Square; at the same time, propagate and sign commitments with 100% of organizations and individuals not to store or trade in counterfeit branded goods.
Market surveillance will be carried out both publicly and secretly, focusing on essential goods on retail channels, unofficial agents, especially e-commerce platforms and social networks - places with many potential risks of intellectual property rights infringement.
In addition, the Sub-Department will strengthen coordination with the Ho Chi Minh City Police, establish a mechanism for regular information exchange; promptly transfer files to the investigating agency for criminal handling for acts with signs of crime.
The unit also requested major brands that are frequently counterfeited to assign representatives to coordinate and provide quick identification signs to support functional forces in handling exhibits right at the scene.
According to the viewpoint of the Ho Chi Minh City Market Management Sub-Department, violations will be strictly handled, "no forbidden zones, no exceptions". For organizations and individuals who re-offend many times or trade in counterfeit branded goods worth 200 million VND or more, the entire file will be transferred to the investigating agency for criminal prosecution.
In addition, functional forces will coordinate with the police to consider handling acts of using loudspeakers and walkie-talkies to warn and assist in evading inspections and obstructing law enforcement officers according to legal regulations.
