Chinese goods disguised as Vietnamese products are rampant.

Not only are goods imported from China and then relabeled "Made in China" with Vietnamese origin for sale, but many products that are 100% Chinese are also manufactured by factories commissioned by buyers and then labeled "Made in Vietnam" before being shipped to Vietnam.

From textiles and ceramic tiles to fruits and vegetables...

According to information from the Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department, from June 2017 to the present, they have discovered and seized more than 13 shipments of clothing, shoes, accessories, printers, etc., imported by 5 businesses that were labeled "Made in Vietnam".

In particular, many fashion items bearing famous brands or those intended for export are labeled "Made in Vietnam" but are actually imported from China.

According to authorities, these shipments are usually imported into Vietnam under the temporary import/re-export scheme via Cambodia or Laos, or "mixed in" with other goods before being smuggled in for domestic consumption.

It's easy to find many Chinese clothing products disguised as Vietnamese goods in markets.

It's not just the garment industry; many other sectors are facing a similar situation. According to a warning from the General Department of Customs, some cases involve bringing goods of Chinese origin into Vietnamese industrial zones for assembly, or simply attaching "Made in Vietnam" labels and packaging to export to third countries where Vietnam enjoys preferential tariffs.

Typical examples include gas stoves, ovens, microwaves, and Rang Dong light bulbs imported from China and rebranded as Vietnamese products for sale. Regarding agricultural products, in addition to Chinese fruits and vegetables being labeled as originating from developed countries like Australia, the US, and Japan, there are also many Chinese fruits disguised as Vietnamese fruits: oranges, tangerines, apples, etc.

Many businesses "died out".

Ms. Vu Kim Hanh, Director of the Center for Business Research and Enterprise Support, affirmed that the practice of Chinese goods being disguised as Vietnamese goods is a disaster for domestic businesses.

"I once went to Thổ Tang, a hub for Chinese goods, and stayed there for a few nights to observe how the goods were transported and distributed to Vietnam. I was truly shocked. The reality is that many high-quality Vietnamese businesses that enthusiastically 'expanded north' a few years ago have now given up because they can't tolerate Chinese goods."

"Not only are Chinese goods labeled as Vietnamese, but they are also disguised as Thai goods, mixed in with Thai products at Thai trade fairs held in Vietnam, and smuggled into Vietnam's high-tech agricultural zones, enjoying preferential tax rates. They import their agricultural products, give them a quick clean, and then affix Vietnamese labels claiming high-tech origin. Or many paper products are labeled as Vietnamese but the entire contents are imported from China…," Ms. Hanh informed, bitterly remarking, "Many Vietnamese manufacturers and traditional craft villages have quietly 'died' because of the disaster of Chinese goods disguised as Vietnamese goods."

Trade expert Vu Vinh Phu, Chairman of the Hanoi Supermarket Association, analyzed that Chinese goods disguised as Vietnamese products are appearing more frequently because Chinese goods are of poor quality, toxic, and are being viewed with suspicion, or even boycotted, by consumers.

Another factor is that Thai goods have been imported into Vietnam at low prices for many years, considered a "substitute" for Chinese goods in the domestic market. Therefore, manufacturers in China have had to change their tactics, and disguising their products as Vietnamese is one of the tricks.

"However, the more important issue is that we ourselves are too enthusiastically aiding this trade fraud. Vietnamese businesses go directly to China to place orders, even agreeing to label the goods as originating from Vietnam before purchasing them," Mr. Phu diagnosed the problem and asserted that the responsibility for allowing Chinese goods disguised as Vietnamese products to proliferate in the domestic market lies with the market management authorities.

“Where was the market management when Mr. Khaisilk sold Chinese silk labeled as Vietnamese for 30 years without detection? Where was the market management when shopping malls and wholesale markets in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City were flooded with Chinese goods labeled as Vietnamese? These goods even infiltrated Vietnamese and Thai trade fairs… I think there must have been complicity or negligence on the part of the authorities. Therefore, I completely agree with the Minister of Industry and Trade's opinion that the responsibility of managers in this matter must be reviewed,” Mr. Phu said.

According to TNO