Promoting products geographical indications

However, Vietnam has not paid enough attention to GIs, so there have been counterfeit products from other countries falsely claiming a Vietnamese product origin. The Ministry of Industry and Trade has discussed measures on promoting brands, especially those with geographical indications.

Vietnam has 43 geographical indications for products sponsored in the country, however, only one of them is protected in the EU market: Phu Quoc fish sauce. Brands such as Tay Con Linh tea, Thai Nguyen tea, Ben Tre Coconut or Binh Dinh Coconut are not yet well known by international consumers.

When the Vietnam-EAEU free trade agreement officially takes effect, the EU will protect 39 Vietnamese products with geographical indications. However, this will not prove useful if localities and enterprises fail to build their brands and improve product quality.

EU Ambassador to VietnamThe signing of a memorandum between the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Netherlands' agency for the promotion of exports from developing countries with the European Trade Policy and Investment Support Project is expected to be a strategic move in promoting Vietnamese food brands. This is key to resolving Vietnam's limitations in exporting food to other countries in recent years.