Authorities in Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday raided stores at two popular shopping places, including the iconic Ben Thanh Market, in downtown District 1 on Thursday, seizing thousands of fake luxury fashion items.
The surprise inspection was carried out at 20 stores operating at Saigon Square and Ben Thanh Market following the direction of the General Department for Market Management and its Ho Chi Minh City unit. Vietnamese Newspaper the Tuoi Tre reports.
Related: Take a peek at what Saigon’s iconic Ben Thanh Market looked like 90 years ago
During the inspection, functional forces confiscated 1,500 items including watches, bags, purses and wallets copying various foreign brands including Valentino, Calvin Klein, Prada, Montblanc, Gucci, Cartier, Rolex, and Seiko.
The total value of these counterfeit items is estimated at nearly US$6,282 (VND146.2 million).
Market watchdog officers examine a store at Ben Thanh Market in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, March 12, 2020. Photo: Nguyen Tri / Tuoi Tre
Located in downtown Ho Chi Minh City, Saigon Square and Ben Thanh Market are considered two ‘hotspots’ for fashion copycats in the southern metropolis where the sale of luxury counterfeits remains rampant despite the local market watchdog’s efforts to bring about its end through regular inspections, confiscations, and punishment.
“In the coming time, the unit will continue to promote the fight against counterfeit goods, pirated goods and those infringing upon intellectual property rights, with focus on business hotspots that offer these items,” said a representative of the General Department for Market Management.
Reporting by Tuoi Tre News
Discover more from Vietnam Insider
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.