Take the case of Trần Phương Hạnh, a resident of Residential Group 23 in Điện Biên Phủ ward, who frequently browses e-commerce sites to find household essentials, drawn in by prices that are often lower than those in physical stores. Despite her experience, she has faced numerous “laughable yet frustrating” situations where the received products bore little resemblance to the advertised images or failed to meet basic quality standards. She admits that while she continues to shop online for its sheer utility, she has occasionally received sub-par promotional items that were essentially unusable. Often, the hassle of the return process leads her to simply accept the loss, a sentiment shared by many who find themselves stuck with digital “lemons.”

This issue extends far beyond mere household goods. The digital marketplace is currently flooded with “miracle” cures and functional foods promoted with grand, often “divine” claims. This trend poses a severe health risk, especially since buyers have almost no way to verify the origins or safety of these substances.

In March 2026, the Điện Biên provincial Police took decisive action by prosecuting Phàng Thị S., a resident of Pu Nhi commune, for the illegal production and sale of prohibited goods. Without any formal training or expertise in traditional medicine, the individual processed 17 types of forest plants into “herbal remedies” for stomach issues and gynecological support, selling them through accounts on Facebook, TikTok, and Zalo. Between June 2024 and June 2025, she successfully shipped over 1,400 orders to customers nationwide at prices ranging from VND 150,000 to VND 200,000 per package.

Similarly, Giàng A C. from Na Son commune was prosecuted for nearly identical behavior, having sold over 500 orders to buyers across Điện Biên and 23 other provinces via various social media aliases. These are not isolated incidents. According to the provincial Market Management Department, authorities have verified 30 cases and handled 12 administrative violations since 2021, resulting in fines totaling hundreds of millions of VND. These crackdowns have led to the seizure of countless unverified items, including clothing and cosmetics, and the destruction of smuggled goods worth tens of millions of VND.

The complexity of the situation continues to evolve as bad actors leverage digital platforms to their fullest. Nguyễn Minh Cường, Head of the provincial Market Management Department, noted that offenders frequently use virtual accounts and constantly shift their names and addresses across multiple channels to evade detection. This “digital shell game” makes inspection and control significantly more difficult for law enforcement.

To combat this, the provincial market management forces have intensified their professional measures, working closely with other agencies to share information and intercept fraud at the source. There is also a push to educate both businesses and individuals on the legal requirements of online commerce.

However, as Nguyễn Minh Cường emphasized, the fight against counterfeit goods in a globalized, digital era requires more than just government intervention. It demands a sense of responsibility from the e-commerce platforms themselves to vet their sellers and a proactive, discerning mindset from consumers to ensure a safe and healthy business environment.