Vietnam launches Lunar New Year crackdown on smuggling and counterfeit goods
Vietnam is conducting a campaign from November 12, 2026, to February 28, 2027, targeting smuggling, commercial fraud, counterfeit goods and intellectual property violations. Inspections will cover border crossings, domestic markets and e-commerce platforms, with customs, tax and market surveillance authorities stepping up oversight.
Vietnam’s Standing Deputy Prime Minister Phạm Gia Túc signed Decision No. 186/QĐ-BCĐ on November 12, 2026, launching a campaign against smuggling, commercial fraud, counterfeit goods and intellectual property violations around the 2027 Lunar New Year. The campaign runs from November 12, 2026, to February 28, 2027, and ministries and local authorities must draw up their implementation plans before November 20, 2026.
Market surveillance officers in Tây Ninh Province inspect a warehouse suspected of storing goods with counterfeit trademarks and goods of unclear origin.（VietVance）
The plan calls for tighter inspections at borders, various border crossings, cargo collection points, domestic markets and online. Priority goods include prohibited items, counterfeit medicines and food, goods that infringe intellectual property rights, and products needed for production and consumption, including fuel, gold, electronics, clothing, food and fertilizer. Goods in high demand at year end and during the Lunar New Year, as well as warehouses, logistics facilities, industrial parks, wholesale markets and shopping centers, will also face closer scrutiny.
The Ministry of Finance will direct customs authorities to strengthen oversight of imported, exported and transit goods, while tax authorities will focus on risks involving e-commerce, business on digital platforms, tax refunds, transfer pricing and illegal invoices. The Ministry of Industry and Trade will step up checks on the origin, provenance and quality of goods sold domestically, investigate unlawful business activities on e-commerce platforms, websites and social media apps, and monitor the supply, demand and prices of essential goods.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade will direct market surveillance authorities to step up checks on the origin and quality of goods sold domestically.（VietVance）
The plan also calls on border guards, the coast guard and police to crack down on cross-border smuggling rings and groups producing or selling counterfeit goods. Cases showing signs of criminal activity during inspections must be referred to the competent authorities for investigation; agencies must not handle suspected criminal cases solely as administrative violations. Agencies must report progress on the 15th of each month, and data from the campaign will be compiled, assessed and submitted before March 10, 2027.
Source: VietVance
