Chinese contraband flood city markets

Cheaper smuggled goods from China are widely available in Binh Tay Market and An Dong Markets and An Dong Plaza in Ho Chi Minh City.

Tran Quoc Bao, an  executive of Binh Tay Market in District 6 , said goods legally imported from China make up only 30-35 of those displayed.

Though smuggled items are not openly displayed, “it’s very easy to buy them,” he said.

“Just make a phone call to the seller and the goods will be delivered home immediately.”

But he said it would be hard to estimate the value of the contraband sold at the market.

Chinese goods are usually 10-15 percent cheaper than local goods.

The Market Management Team of District 5 also reported widespread selling of smuggled Chinese goods at An Dong Market and An Dong Plaza, adding it discovered 133 cases of trading in smuggled goods in the district this year, 38 of them involving garments, clothes, and toys.

District 5 and 6 are home to the city’s so-called Chinatown

Sai gon giai phong

>   PM orders waiting frozen cargo to be dealt with (11/06/2009)

>   Foreigners allowed to own homes (11/06/2009)

>   Nestlé opens new bouillon cube plant (10/06/2009)

>   Media poorly prepared consumers for economic crisis: Poll (10/06/2009)

>   Van Phong Oil & Gas to borrow $125 mil. for new warehouse (10/06/2009)

>   Vietnam’s widening budget deficit may spook investors   (10/06/2009)

>   Clear frozen food containers by month’s end: PM (10/06/2009)

>   Donors upbeat about nation’s recovery (10/06/2009)

>   Domestic petrol prices must follow world’s prices: MoF (11/06/2009)

>   Vietnam to slow inflation to 6 percent this year, PM says (10/06/2009)