Many Saigon Square stalls in Ho Chi Minh City remain shuttered following major counterfeit goods inspection

On Sunday afternoon, while tourists and local shoppers continued to flock to the area, the inside of Saigon Square presented a stark contrast.

Dozens of clothing, eyewear, and watch stalls remained closed. 

In particular, stalls that previously displayed products labeled with major international brands such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Dior, YSL, and others were shut down.

Only stalls selling local specialties, souvenirs, and non-luxury branded goods continued operating normally.

Many vendors who did not open their stalls were seen quietly lingering inside, scattered around as if observing the situation.

When asked why so many stalls were closed, most vendors avoided giving specific answers.

Only G., a souvenir vendor, revealed that many had temporarily suspended their business to avoid inspections.

She noted that some stall owners were worried about authorities’ unannounced checks.

According to market surveillance officials, on May 29, six task forces from the market management division simultaneously inspected retail points across various areas inside Saigon Square.

Initial results showed that a large number of products being sold were labeled with world-famous brands, including Rolex, Longines, and Patek Philippe watches; LV, Gucci, Dior, YSL, Chanel, and Celine handbags and wallets; and a variety of eyewear tagged with the Gucci brand.

However, most of these goods were suspected to be counterfeit. The number of such products reached into the thousands.

This is not the first time Saigon Square has been subject to inspections, but violations continue to persist.

During a previous inspection at the end of 2024, thousands of counterfeit items mimicking well-known brands were also discovered and confiscated at Saigon Square.

According to market regulators, if the value of counterfeit goods is under VND200 million (US$7,685), the violator is only subject to administrative fines.

Many businesses choose to pay the fines and continue operating, leading to prolonged counterfeit trading.

Inspections at Saigon Square will continue in the future, as it is a central location that attracts large numbers of both domestic and international tourists visiting Ho Chi Minh City, a local market management official said.

Counterfeit goods still openly sold in central Ho Chi Minh City

In contrast to the quiet atmosphere at Saigon Square following the inspections, Ben Thanh Market—just a few hundred meters away—remained bustling at midday on Sunday.

The liveliest section was the fashion area, with many stalls openly displaying a wide range of items such as handbags, wallets, shoes, and watches bearing luxury brand names like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Dior, Chanel, YSL, Hermès, Goyard, and Celine.

These were sold openly at prices that are tens of times lower than the official retail prices of authentic products.

“I asked about a Prada handbag, and the seller initially quoted VND1.2 million [$46.1], then immediately dropped it to VND400,000 [$15.4] when I started to walk away," said Nguyen Thi Trang, a tourist from Hanoi.

“I bought it just for fun, not expecting much."