Every March 15, the United Nations marks the annual World Consumer Rights Day to recognise the role of consumers in the economy and to raise global awareness about consumer protection. In Viet Nam, on 10 July 2015, the prime minister issued Decision No. 1035/QD-TTg toofficially designate March 15 as Viet Nam Consumer Rights Day. The occasion not only reaffirms the state’s commitment to protecting consumers but also contributes to promoting a safe, transparent, and sustainable consumption environment.
Viet Nam Consumer Rights Day goes beyond awareness campaigns and the dissemination of legal knowledge, becoming an important driver for building a transparent and healthy business environment. Through response activities, public awareness of the rights and responsibilities of consumers as well as businesses has continued to improve, thereby ensuring the fundamental rights of consumers, particularly the right to access complete, accurate, and safe information when participating in market transactions.
As the economy becomes increasingly integrated into the global marketplace and business models continue to evolve,particularly with the rapid growth of e-commerce and the digital economy, protecting consumer rights has become an increasingly important requirement in state management of trade. In its role of advising on, managing and organising the implementation of policies related to the domestic market, the Agency for Domestic Market Management and Development has undertaken numerous key tasks to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of consumers while contributing to the sustainable development of the market.
In recent years, the agency has implemented a wide range of measures to protect the legitimate interests of consumers, thereby supporting the stable and transparent development of the domestic market.
One of its key responsibilities is to advise on the development and improvement of mechanisms and policies related to domestic market management and development. With the rapid expansion of new business models, particularly e-commerce and the digital economy, institutional improvement plays a crucial role in establishing a clear and transparent legal framework for production and business activities while enhancing consumer protection.
The agency has also actively studied, reviewed, and proposed improvements to various regulations concerning the circulation of goods, the management of essential commodities and greater transparency of market information. These efforts help improve the effectiveness of state management while enabling businesses to develop in a healthy and fair competitive environment. The agency is also researching and advising on the establishment of an institutional framework for modern commodity trading models, including the development of commodity exchanges within the framework of Viet Nam’s international financial centre. The establishment of modern commodity exchanges will help standardise trading activities, enhance transparency in pricing and supply, and provide more effective tools for market management.
In addition, efforts are being accelerated to develop a circular on product traceability to improve the transparency of information regarding goods circulating in the market. Once the traceability system is implemented in a synchronised manner, regulators, businesses, and consumers will be able to clearly track the production and distribution processes of products, thereby helping to curb counterfeit goods, substandard products, and trade fraud.
Beyond institutional improvements, the Agency for Domestic Market Surveillance and Development also plays an important role in monitoring, analysing, and advising on market management for essential commodities, particularly petrol and oil, which directly affect production and business costs as well as people’s daily lives.
Amid fluctuations in the global energy market, the agency has worked closely with relevant units to closely monitor supply, demand, and price developments in order to propose appropriate management measures. Petrol and oil prices are adjusted in accordance with market mechanisms under state management, while regulatory tools are used flexibly to limit adverse impacts on consumers and businesses. Thanks to timely and flexible management measures, fuel supply in the market has largely been ensured, helping to stabilise market sentiment and support production and business activities.
At the same time, the agency has actively implemented initiatives to promote the development of the market for Vietnamese goods through supply–demand connection programmes, promotional activities, and the honouring of Vietnamese products. Among these initiatives, the “Vitality of Vietnamese Goods” programme has become a meaningful platform for introducing and promoting high-quality Vietnamese products with strong market reputations. Through exhibitions, consumption linkages,and communication campaigns, consumers have gained greater opportunities to access high-quality Vietnamese products while enterprises are encouraged to improve production standards and build their brands.
Promoting the value of Vietnamese goods not only contributes to stimulating domestic consumption but also creates momentum for enterprises to enhance their competitiveness, thereby forming a solid foundation for the sustainable development of the domestic market.
Alongside these efforts, the agency has strengthened coordination with functional forces in monitoring, supervising, and managing the market in order to prevent trade fraud and the trading of counterfeit and substandard goods that directly harm consumer interests.
As e-commerce continues to develop rapidly, stronger coordination among state management agencies and enforcement forces has become even more crucial to ensuring that the market operates transparently and fairly. These efforts not only protect consumers but also create a fair competitive environment that encourages legitimate businesses to develop sustainably.
The reviewing of activities of the Agency for Domestic Market Management and Development on the occasion of Viet Nam Consumer Rights Day shows that protecting consumer rights remains a consistent objective throughout the process of market management and development. As the market continues to expand and integrate more deeply into the global economy, further improving institutions, enhancing regulatory efficiency, and strengthening transparency of market information will remain key factors in protecting consumers, reinforcing market confidence and promoting the sustainable development of the economy.
