Vietnam Education Publishing House faces challenges in curbing fake textbooks

The Vietnam Education Publishing House (VEPH) is encountering a range of difficulties in fighting counterfeit textbooks as the situation is becoming increasingly sophisticated and complex.

This poses a direct threat to the quality of education, students' well-being, and public trust in the official publishing system, said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Tung, the publishing house's deputy editor-in-chief.

What makes the fight against fake textbooks so difficult

According to Tung, tracing the origin and ensuring the quality of textbooks on the market is one of the most difficult missions facing VEPH.

As a publisher, it can only defend its own products, verify contracts with printing partners, and monitor those within its official network. But the organization is not a regulatory body, so it lacks authority to inspect the full chain of illegal printing, production, and distribution.

Identifying fake textbooks is not easy. Many counterfeit versions are engineered to look nearly identical. In many cases, only experts or specialized tools can distinguish real and fake ones.

Counterfeit textbooks are becoming increasingly sophisticated, making it difficult for parents and students to recognize them. Another major challenge lies in the local distribution process.

"Not all publishing companies take the issue of fighting book piracy seriously or decisively. Some sales staff still lack the skills to distinguish genuine from fake books, allowing counterfeit products to infiltrate distribution systems," emphasized Tung.

In response, VEPH has implemented numerous activities to raise awareness among parents, teachers, and students of how to identify and choose genuine textbooks.

It has partnered with the Department of Domestic Market Management and Development and local market management sub-departments to organize exhibitions, enabling the public to directly compare and recognize fake books.

In addition, staff are regularly sent to attend training conferences and anti-counterfeiting seminars to enhance their capacity to combat illegal printing and publishing.

Through its official website, social media channels, and mass media, VEPH advises parents and teachers to purchase textbooks through official distribution channels and avoid floating or unverified sources to reduce the risk of buying counterfeits.

The official said the publishing house sees this awareness-raising campaign not only as a way to protect its brand but more importantly, to safeguard students' knowledge and future.

It actively coordinates with market surveillance authorities, police, and publishing inspectors during inspection campaigns and enforcement actions against illegal printing operations.

According to Tung, only a comprehensive combination of technological, legal, and public awareness measures, along with strong involvement from authorities and the community, can effectively prevent and combat the counterfeit and pirated book crisis.

Counterfeit textbook ring disguised as legal enterprise

In connection with the production of counterfeit textbooks, ahead of the new school year, the Security Investigation Agency (SIA) of the Bac Ninh provincial Department of Public Security initiated criminal proceedings against and temporarily detained three individuals involved in a large-scale inter-provincial counterfeit textbook production and distribution ring.

Authorities seized over 185,000 counterfeit books worth more than VND8 billion ($303,270), along with printing materials and transportation equipment, with a total estimated asset value of around VND15 billion ($568,666).

The individuals charged with "producing and trading counterfeit goods" include Ngo Thi Phuong Lan (born in 1976, residing in Thanh Xuan district, Hanoi), director of Northern Print Technology Investment Co., Ltd. She was identified as the ringleader who organized the large-scale printing of counterfeit textbooks.

The two others are Nguyen Thi Tuyen (born in1989), owner of Hang Thang Bookstore; and Ta Ngoc Long (born in 1998), owner of Phu Thinh Bookstore. Both bookstore owners reside in Bac Giang ward, Bac Ninh province.

Police held that the fake textbook trade was particularly active ahead of the new school year. In response, the SIA’s internal political security division, in coordination with relevant agencies, launched an operation to investigate and dismantle the ring.

Investigations revealed that the network extended beyond Bac Ninh to Hanoi. Multiple security agencies, including the Ministry of Public Security’s internal political security department, quickly conducted information gathering in the service of the investigation.

From July 29 to August 3, law enforcement forces carried out emergency searches at eight locations and summoned 12 individuals in Bac Ninh and Hanoi for questioning.

Searches of printing workshops, warehouses, and bookstores led to the seizure of 2,300 cartons containing more than 185,000 fake English-language textbooks, valued at over VND8 billion ($303,270) based on cover prices.

Authorities also confiscated 27 printing plates, one color printer, two trucks, and various materials and equipment used in the production and transportation of fake books. The total value of seized evidence is estimated at around VND15 billion ($568,666).

Initial findings indicate that Ngo Thi Phuong Lan was the mastermind who printed fake textbooks in bulk and distributed them to Nguyen Thi Tuyen and Ta Ngoc Long. These books were further supplied to various dealers and schools in Bac Ninh and Hanoi.

The ring operated under the guise of legal businesses and used sophisticated tactics. The production sites were located in remote areas with limited traffic and visibility. Distribution was carried out via social media platforms and unofficial sales channels, with fake textbooks sold at 20-30% lower prices than genuine ones.

Following the incident, Bac Ninh police urged the public, especially parents, not to purchase textbooks of unknown origin from sidewalk vendors, temporary markets, or online sources offering suspiciously low prices.

Fake textbooks are often poorly printed, contain errors or missing pages, and can negatively impact students' learning.

Consumers are encouraged to buy from official bookstores, authorized dealers, or the Vietnam Education Publishing House’s distribution channels. When detecting any signs of suspected counterfeit books, they should report them to authorities for prompt prevention, helping ensure a safe and healthy educational environment.

Counterfeit textbooks are often printed and circulated quickly right after the school year ends and just before the next begins. These fake products pose a serious threat to reading culture, undermine public trust in publishing, and create broader cultural, economic, and social consequences.

In 2024 alone, the publishing house collaborated with authorities to uncover 15 counterfeit book cases across eight provinces and cities, involving millions of fake books with a total listed value of nearly VND60 billion ($2.27 million).