Vietnam Education Publishing House pledges continued collaboration with authorities in fight against counterfeit textbooks

Vietnam Education Publishing House said it will continue working closely with authorities and the education sector to combat counterfeit textbooks, following a recent court ruling in a major fake book case.

A regional court in Can Tho city has sentenced a defendant to seven years in prison for trading nearly 80,000 counterfeit textbooks in the former Hau Giang province, now part of Can Tho.

The case was the result of close coordination between Vietnam Education Publishing House and police, aimed at eliminating illegal publications, protecting the legitimate rights of students and parents, and upholding integrity in the publishing market.

During the investigation, the publishing house cooperated with police in Hau Giang to verify and clarify suspected violations, providing documents and evidence to support the probe.

Large-scale counterfeit textbook operation uncovered

On July 16, 2024, market surveillance officers and economic police inspected a warehouse and business location in the Tay Do EcoPark residential area, now part of Can Tho city.

Authorities discovered 1,210 cartons containing 79,303 publications, including textbooks and workbooks labeled as Vietnam Education Publishing House products.

The owner failed to provide documentation proving the legality of the business. The entire shipment was seized for investigation.

Expert examination later concluded that 78,754 of the seized books were counterfeit, while only 549 were genuine. The value of the counterfeit goods, calculated based on the listed prices of authentic books, exceeded VND1.37 billion ($52,010). This is one of the largest counterfeit textbook cases uncovered in recent years.

Deliberate profiteering from fake textbooks

Investigators said Nguyen Phong Lai, the business operator, purchased large quantities of books bearing Vietnam Education Publishing House labels from unidentified suppliers, despite knowing they were counterfeit, in order to resell them at higher margins.

He spent nearly VND1 billion ($37,960) acquiring the fake books, mixing them with genuine products for distribution in the market, in a deliberate attempt to generate illegal profits.

At trial, the defendant admitted to the charges. Based on case files and evidence, the court sentenced him to seven years in prison for trading counterfeit goods under Article 192 of Vietnam’s Penal Code.

All counterfeit books were confiscated and destroyed, while related tools and equipment were handled in accordance with the law.

Risks posed by counterfeit textbooks

Vietnam Education Publishing House said textbooks are a critical component of the education system, containing carefully developed and verified content to ensure scientific and pedagogical standards.

Counterfeit textbooks not only infringe intellectual property rights but also pose serious risks. They are often poorly printed, contain errors, missing pages or low-quality materials, which can directly affect students’ learning outcomes.

The circulation of fake books also disrupts the publishing market, harms legitimate producers and distributors, and creates unfair competition. In addition, it undermines trust among parents and educators and damages the reputation of the education sector.

At a time when Vietnam is implementing new curricula and textbooks as part of broader education reforms, the presence of counterfeit materials in the market is unacceptable, the publisher said.

Commitment to protecting educational publications

Vietnam Education Publishing House reaffirmed its commitment to working with police, market surveillance forces and other authorities to detect, prevent and strictly handle illegal printing and counterfeit book trading.

In recent years, the publisher has stepped up copyright protection measures, including anti-counterfeit labels, improved identification technologies and public awareness campaigns to help consumers distinguish genuine products.

However, it said broader public participation is essential to effectively combat counterfeit books.

The publisher urged parents and teachers to purchase textbooks through official distribution channels and authorized dealers, carefully check anti-counterfeit labels and product information, and avoid buying or distributing publications of unclear origin. Suspected violations should be reported to authorities or Vietnam Education Publishing House.

The seven-year prison sentence serves as a strong warning to individuals and organizations seeking to profit from counterfeit textbooks, a product closely tied to the future of millions of students.

“Protecting textbooks is not just about safeguarding a brand or economic interests,” Vietnam Education Publishing House said. “It is about protecting the integrity of knowledge, ensuring a transparent education environment, and upholding students’ right to quality learning.”

The publisher said it will continue to support authorities in combating counterfeit books while improving the quality of its publications to meet the demands of ongoing education reforms.