‘Notorious’ Vietnam market defies raids, US tariff threats to sell luxury knock-offs

At a sprawling bazaar ⁠on the outskirts of Vietnam’s capital, the trade in counterfeit goods is bustling despite government crackdowns and the threat of US tariffs over the issue, two visits by Reuters journalists to the market found.“Police come once a year with a TV crew. They film the seizure of a shop, and then it’s business as usual,” said a seller at her stall displaying fake Ralph Lauren polos at Hanoi’s Ninh Hiep ‌wholesale market.Ninh Hiep is among about 30 “notorious markets” worldwide identified by the US Trade Representative (USTR) in its latest annual report on counterfeiting and piracy. The USTR also flagged streaming websites, such as MyFlixerz, which it said are believed to operate from Vietnam and draw hundreds of millions of monthly visitors worldwide by offering pirated films and TV series. Despite an announced crackdown, they remained accessible as of Wednesday.