A number of shops have been selling unofficial copies of police and military uniforms, allowing for crimes ranging from police impersonation to extortion.

Seized fake military and police uniforms

Several recent cases have revealed a problem with clothing shops creating official looking uniforms that are often used to commit crimes.

Last year the Hanoi Criminal Police Division uncovered the case of Bui Thi Hanh, 33, from the northern province of Hoa Binh. She was accused of posing as a a military officer in order to conduct various cons. She allegedly claimed to be a senior lieutenant working under the Ministry of National Defense and offered her services to those who wished to complete application procedures to military schools or secure contracts with the ministry, for a price.

One man from Hanoi claimed to be cheated out of VND200 million (USD9,539) while a man from Dong Da District said Hanh took VND400 million (USD19.079) from him under false pretenses.

Hanh later confessed to 18 other counts of fraud in Hanoi, Son La and Phu Tho provinces, worth nearly VND5 billion (USD238,492).

Unfortunately this is far from the only case. In another typical example, Hanoi's Ung Hoa District police claim to have caught a man wearing a fake traffic police uniform to check drivers' papers and take their money as fines for violations of traffic safety rules.

Criminal tailors

This type of illegal activity does not stop with those who impersonate officials for monetary gain. There is a large underground market for replicated uniforms of all types, with military and police lookalike costumes being at the top of the list. Many such 'uniforms' are sold around the People's Security Academy on Tran Phu Street, the People's Police Academy in Tu Liem District’s Co Nhue Road, as well as along several streets such as Nguyen Xien and Khuat Duy Tien in Thanh Xuan District and Le Duan Street in Dong Da District.

Hanoi police inspect tailors on Le Duan Street

Military or police uniforms are typically sold at prices ranging from VND100,000 to VND300,000 (USD4.77-USD14.3), with several options for higher rankings.

Senior Lieutenant Ta Ngoc Khanh, deputy head of Traffic Police Team 7, said they have recently conducted an inspection of several tailoring shops. One woman from Hung Yen Province was allegedly caught in the act of transporting 50 fake military uniforms by motorbike. She said that she traded in military clothes in HCM City for two years and has had no run-ins with the authorities. She added that the HCM City producer had a business license, but failed to provide proof of the origins of the clothes.

The Hanoi Economic Police Department inspected 11 clothes and footwear shops along Nguyen Thiep and Le Duan Streets, seizing hundreds of imitation uniforms.

In a statement, the department said that military clothes, weapons, equipment and accessories are banned from unofficial trade under current regulations. Violators will face administrative or criminal prosecution, depending on the severity of their violations.