Fake luxury watches sold for up to $1,330 each busted in Vietnam

In northern Vietnam's Quang Ninh Province, Bui Bich Thuan, 40, has been arrested on charges of infringing industrial property rights for selling counterfeit luxury watches, including brands like Rolex and Patek Philippe. The provincial police investigation agency solidified the charges on July 17. Officers caught Thuan on May 30 selling watches branded Rolex, Hublot, and Patek Philippe to a customer in the lobby of the S2 tower at the Sapphire apartment complex in Hong Gai Ward. The 18 watches she offered at the time had no invoices or paperwork proving their origin. A search of an apartment on the same floor, used for storage, turned up 78 more watches. Police impounded a total of 96 watches, including brands such as Bvlgari, Richard Mille, and Gucci. An assessment by the Vietnam Intellectual Property Research Institute identified 87 of them, across 18 brands, as counterfeit, with a combined value of VND310.58 million (approximately $11,800). Thuan began selling in 2020 from a storefront called "Thai Trinh Luxury Watch" in Bai Chay Ward. However, she closed the store in early 2025 and shifted her sales activities to her personal Facebook account and a fan page under the same name. The fakes, of uncertain origin, were sold for VND300,000 ($11) to VND35 million ($1,330) each. This case highlights the growing issue of counterfeit goods in Vietnam, fueled by increasing consumer demand for luxury items and the expansion of the middle class. Such illicit trade not only damages the reputation of legitimate brands but also poses economic risks to consumers. The Vietnamese government continues to strengthen its efforts in intellectual property protection.