Vietnam threatens to block Chinese retailers Shein and Temu over licences

Vietnam said Chinese online retailers Shein and Temu need to register with the government before the end of November or it will block their internet domains and apps from being used in the country.

Vietnam’s government and local businesses have expressed concern about the impact of Chinese online platforms on local markets due to deep discounting. The trade ministry has also said it is worried about the potential for the sale of counterfeit items.

Nguyen Hoang Long, Vietnam’s deputy trade minister, told a government meeting at the weekend that the ministry had worked with both Shein and Temu on the licensing matter.

“After the ministry’s notification, if these platforms do not comply, the Ministry of Industry and Trade will coordinate with relevant agencies to implement technical measures such as blocking applications and domains,” Long said in a government statement.

Shein and Temu did not respond immediately to a request for comment. Fast-fashion retailer Shein has been selling into Vietnam for at least two years, while Temu, owned by Chinese e-commerce giant PDD Holdings, started allowing users in Vietnam to shop last month.