VietNamNet Bridge – Buyers do not need to go to Guangzhou, China, the heaven for fake products, but only need to visit a village in Hanoi to purchase handbags labeled with world famous brands as Chanel, Hermes and Gucci, for VND50,000-VND80,000 ($2.5-$4).

Handbag shops along the road of Thao Noi village.

Located 40 km to the south of Hanoi, the craft village of Thao Noi in Son Ha commune, Phu Xuyen district produces imitation leather handbags of famous brands as Chanel, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Michael Kors, Phillip Lim, Prada, and Marc Jacobs.

Along the village road are many enterprises and showrooms displaying and selling fake handbags. Mr. Sang, an employee of Chin Na Enterprise, said the village is very sensitive to customer tastes and market demand.

Local producers supply the market with the latest designs by world famous brands, at dirt-cheap retail prices of VND35,000 to VND80,000/product ($1.5-$4). The wholesale prices are lower.

A local producer named Trung Van said these products are mainly sold to handbag and fashion shops in Hanoi and neighboring provinces. For consumers, the prices are at least three times higher.

Pointing to a Michael Kors handbag with a heart-shaped lock, Van said the wholesale price for this bag is VND60,000 ($3) but at retail stores in Hanoi, it is sold for VND180,000 ($9) to VND200,000 ($10) and even VND250,000 ($12). These fake handbags sell well due to affordable prices.

According to the first enterprises producing handbags in Thao Noi Village, such as Chin Na, Ngoc Linh, and Thanh Hue, after initial difficulty in catching up with the trend, and learning about consumer tastes and finding sales outlets, they can produce the latest designs of world famous handbag brands.

Ms. Linh from Ngoc Linh enterprise said her establishment used to produce garments but then changed to imitation leather handbags. Her unit currently has six workers and its number of clients is on the rise. Linh said she woud expand the enterprise next year.

The production of "fake" fashion products is a violation of the Law on Intellectual Property but the local authorities in Thao Nao appear to turn a blind eye to the business.

Kieu Dinh