What’s behind Vietnam’s counterfeit crackdown?

The worldwide counterfeit and pirated goods industry is estimated to be worth almost half-a-trillion US dollars, and Vietnam is one of the most significant players in the illicit trade.

But now the country’s government is seeking to change that.

In May 2026, Vietnam was named by the US government as one of the worst offenders for Intellectual Property right violations.

Combined with fresh threats of renewed tariffs from the Trump administration, Vietnam’s government has launched a crackdown, targeting local vendors selling counterfeit goods.

On this episode of Asia Specific, host Mariko Oi delves into the counterfeit crackdown in Vietnam with two journalists: Duc Ha from the BBC World Service and Lindsey Tramuta, a freelance journalist based in Paris.

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