In mid-2025, Vietnam’s Competition Commission (“VCC”) issued several administrative penalties penalties for shipping companies who have committed unfair competition activities by breaching Article 45.5(a) of the 2018 Law on Competition. Each company was fined VND 200 million and forced to provide a correction statement. Below are the summaries of the companies and their violation.

1. Thuan Phong Express

On 17 June 2025, the VCC issued Decision no. 132/QD-CT, levying a fine on Thuan Phong Express Co., Ltd. (J&T Express Vietnam) VND 200 million for violating the Law on Competition by providing misleading information about its business, products, and services to attract customers from competitors. The company must publicly correct the misleading information on its official website. During the investigation, it cooperated with authorities and took steps to mitigate the violation’s consequences.

2. Giao Hang Nhanh (Express Delivery Service Corporation)

On 17 June 2025, the VCC issued Decision no. 131/QD-CT, levying a fine on Giao Hang Nhanh JSC worth VND 200 million for violating the Law on Competition by providing misleading information about its business, products, and services to attract customers from competitors. The company must correct the information on its website. During the investigation, it cooperated with authorities and took steps to mitigate the violation’s consequences.

3. Shopee Express (SPX Express)

On 12 June 2025, the VCC issued Decision no. 123/QD-CT, levying a fine on SPX Express Co., Ltd. worth VND 200 million for violating the Law on Competition by providing misleading information about its products and services to attract customers from competitors. The company cooperated during the investigation and took steps to mitigate the violation’s consequences.

4. TikiNow Smart Logistics

On 13 June 2025, the VCC issued Decision no. 126/QD-CT, levying a fine on TikiNow Smart Logistics Co., Ltd. with VND 200 million for violating the Law on Competition by providing misleading information about its business, products, and services to attract customers from competitors. The company publicly corrected the misleading information on its official website, cooperated during the investigation, and took steps to mitigate the violation’s consequences.

Penalties for illegally inducing customers by providing false or misleading information to customers about an enterprise or goods, services, promotion or transaction conditions for goods or services provided by such enterprise in order to attract the customers of another enterprise, as set out in Article 20 of Decree No.: 75/2019/ND-CP, may include the following:

• a fine ranging from VND 100,000,000 to VND 200,000,000, which can be doubled if the violation involves two provinces or central-affiliated cities or more;
• having a license, practicing certificate or operations suspended for a fixed period;
• confiscation of the exhibits and instrumentalities used for committing the violation;
• confiscation of profits illegally obtained from the violation;
• being forced to make public correction;
• being forced to remove violating elements on its goods, goods labels, and means of trading or articles.

Implications:

• Vietnam’s regulators (including the VCC) may be stepping up scrutiny of marketing practices in logistics and e-commerce as these are growing and important sectors in Vietnam.
• In its releases, the VCC has advised businesses operating in the postal sector to proactively review the content used to introduce their company, products, and services to partners and customers. This includes the process for approving information posted on websites, media channels, and sales materials to ensure that such information has a clear legal and scientific basis.
• Marketing claims, such as delivery coverage, volume, and speed, must be backed up by data.

The information provided here is for information purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal advice. Legal advice should be obtained from qualified legal counsel for all specific situations.

Key Contacts

Jerome Buzenet, Partner, Vietnam

David Fruitman, Regional Competition Counsel, Cambodia