Customers buy products at a leather shop in Da Nang. A survey showed 56 per cent of consumers had bought or used poor products or service. — VNS Photo Cong Thanh

DA NANG (Biz Hub) —

Phan The Thang, an official with the Viet Nam Competition Authority under the Ministry of Trade and Industry, said a recent survey found 56 per cent of consumers saying they had bought or used poor quality products and experienced poor service in the medical, healthcare, fashion and hospitality industries.

Of these, 44 per cent said they chose to remain silent, and 22 per cent were wary of complicated procedures while petitioning authorities.

The survey, done in March and April this year, covered 3,000 consumers in 12 provinces and cities across the country.

Thirty-nine per cent of the respondents said they contacted the media for help when their consumer rights were violated, and just 20 per cent approached courts or other arbitrators.

"While 75 per cent of the respondents said they were aware of consumer rights and laws on consumer protection, 43 per cent said State agencies or local agencies tasked with consumer protection provided poor responses to their complaints," Thang said.

Despite improvements over the last several years, 48 per cent still complained of complicated procedures.

Thang said many people complained that the consumer rights protection offices were usually located in cities and people in rural or remote areas had no access to their services.

Dr. Le Khoi, chief of Research and Market Forecast Department with the Viet Nam Institute of Trade, said enforcement mechanisms for the Law on Protection of Consumer Rights were inadequate.

"There are different challenges in supporting and protecting consumers from violations. Most Vietnamese consumers do not take invoices or bills from sellers, and they do not complain to the Consumers Right Protection Office even in risky situations," Khoi told Viet Nam News.

He said unclear address of businesses, unknown brands and the purchase of products without Certificate of Origin (CO) were factors that increased the risk for consumers.

"We can only raise awareness for consumers via media, informing them about legitimate and reliable businesses. All businesses are required to register their brands and products, and to ensure their quality. Consumers are at risk if they buy from open free markets or remote areas…," Khoi said.

He said the Viet Nam Competition Authority (VCA) had handled more than 6,000 complaints in 2010-15, in comparison to an average of 26 complaints before 2010. About 51 per cent of the complaints were dealt with, he added.

The VCA has launched a hotline at 1800 6838 to receive consumer complaint, and plans to establish switchboard services in 15 provinces and cities.

In 2012, the Viet Nam Standards and Consumers' Association (VINASTAS) honoured the Viet Nam Diary Products Company (Vinamilk) as the first company recognised as a "reliable business for consumers."

VINASTAS is also considering recognising other brands like food processor Vissan, Ha Noi Beer, taxi group Mai Linh and consumer goods producer Unilever Viet Nam. — VNS