Hi all,

I just joined this site as I did a web search trying to find info on knockoff designer purses and saw one on here about Thailand and Singapore.

I'm headed to Vietnam with my 2 sisters next month and we're interested in finding some fake/replica bags on our visit. We'll be in Saigon and Hanoi. Per US regulations, we're allowed to bring in one per person, so it doesn't matter which city we purchase them in, as it won't add too much to our baggage. (We will have more time in Saigon however...)

Could you all point us in the right direction? Which markets are best?

I'm sure you will find knock-offs in both cities. China makes knock-offs of everything, and much of the merchandise in VN was made in China.

But consider whether you want to bring home fake western goods from VN. I'd suggest you look in both cities for local designers and lovely hand-crafted items.

I'm interested as well!

I'm curious about that "US regulation" that allows you go bring in one bag. I think that's probably sensible advice as you don't want to draw attention but in fact copies of trademarked goods -- whether handbags or shoes or DVDs -- are still illegal in the US.

Fake stuff be it watches, bags or whatever is usually junk that falls apart after a short period.

I bought a small backpack and another bag and they were stuffed after a week.

Best to buy proper stuff and forget fakes.

One thing that is cheap and good in Bangkok are leather belts. I bought 3 from the same shop in mbk. Soft leather and good buckles. Forget what I paid but it was about 1/3 of the cost of a good belt in the west.

Thanks all.

Prachaup, that would be helpful, but I am not going to be in Thailand/Bangkok. I'll be in Vietnam.

Sisters bought some great fakes in Istanbul a few years ago, they've all held up great, so I'm interested to see if I can pick some up this year!

Any locations in Saigon/Hanoi y'all could recommend?

Asia fakes are usually poorly made. A $180 bag that lasts 10 yrs is much better than a $10 bag that lasts 2 weeks.

Ah, well they purchased bags for $300-400, that 'real' would've been $2-8k. So I think we're talking about two separate things Thank you for your input tho!

So $7600 for a label? lol

Any bag for $300 should be well made.

Asia fakes are like $10 or $20.

Yes!
I'm guessing you are not a girl, because then you would understand

Fakes impress teenagers but grown women? Really?

Im suprised.

What perhaps is missed here is that women tend to have many bags- perhaps as many as their shoes and as such they do not wear out because they don't get used very often!

Very true BillT!

Sadly, at a size 11 (US) I highly doubt any shoes in Asia will fit me. More $ to spend on purses!

<<<I'm guessing you are not a girl, because then you would understand >>>

No, even many young women don't understand that sort of thing.

$7,600 is the cost of a trip in Antarctica. Or the cost of an international plane ticket, plus food and lodging in nice places for a couple weeks.

Fake goods are illegal in the U.S. (and Europe). End of. There is no "buy one and get out of jail free" clause. Anyone who hasn't had their head stuck in the sand knows that these makers of these fake bags -- and other fake items -- is supporting criminal activities, usually organized crime.

If you can't afford new bags in the labels you covet, buy second-hand. Or buy from a young, up and coming designer. Or buy something that you like, even if the maker isn't (yet) a name you can show off.

Asking for places to buy fakes should not be allowed on Fodors. Might as well ask for places where you can score heroin or cocaine. (a lot of the same guys who sell counterfeit bags are also involved in other illegal and nefarious activities up to and including the drug trade, human trafficking, and terrorism)

No girl -- or any human being -- with any moral fiber should knowingly want to be a part of that, even if their involvement is no more than buying a crappy counterfeit bag from some sleazy shop in a foreign country.

All valid points but the demand for these bags isn't going away. The long term solution is for the designers to lower their prices so more could afford them and then the fakes will go away in part. These designer bags are absurdly priced to begin with!

Selling fakes in the west is illegal. Owning one isnt.

Millions of tourists buy fakes and take them home.

The comparison with harsh drugs is absurd. No one dies from a fake label and a poor market vendor feeds their family.

"No one dies from a fake label and a poor market vendor feeds their family."

Actually, there is plenty of evidence that the makers of fakes are heavily involved in organized crime. And that DOES hurt people. http://www.unodc.org/documents/count...t_EN_HIRES.pdf