According to experts, meat products imported from abroad are all cheaper than those in Vietnam, with the price of Indian buffalo meat specifically equaling only the live-weight buffalo price in Vietnam. This represents an inevitable outcome of supply-and-demand laws; furthermore, Vietnam has participated in numerous Free Trade Agreements, making the market highly open. In such a context, it is impossible to "close the door" because doing so would push domestic prices excessively high and adversely affect consumers.

Recently, police authorities have continuously initiated legal proceedings and indicted multiple individuals for "deceiving customers" in trading and doing business in food and agricultural products. Most recently, Vu Hoang Hai (commonly known as Hai Sapa TV), residing in Lao Cai, was indicted and temporarily detained for using frozen buffalo meat imported from India and falsely advertising it as "Northwest specialty buffalo meat" for market sale.

This case is typical among numerous cases related to "deceiving customers" prosecuted recently. In the case of falsely advertising imported Indian frozen buffalo meat as "Northwest specialty buffalo meat", Vu Hoang Hai used sophisticated tactics to advertise with the aim of selling large volumes.

In reality, Vietnam imports substantial volumes of meat and meat products each year from India, the US, Brazil, Australia, and Spain. For instance, in 2025, Vietnam imported 978,300 tons of meat and meat products with a total value exceeding 2 billion USD, within which frozen pork reached 418.54 million USD.

According to preliminary statistics from the Customs Department, Vietnam's imports of meat and meat products in Q2/2026 reached 271,100 tons, valued at an estimated nearly 810.1 million USD, up 21.5% in volume and up 24.1% in value compared to the preceding first quarter.

Cumulatively for the first 6 months of 2026, Vietnam's imports of meat and meat products reached 494,300 tons, valued at approximately 1.46 billion USD, up 9.6% in volume and up 36.4% in value compared to the same period in 2025.

Currently, the control of meat and meat products imported into Vietnam involves inspection and supervision by the exporting country's competent authority alongside strict import controls conducted domestically by the Department of Livestock Production and Animal Health (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment).

According to the Department of Livestock Production and Animal Health, the review and import quarantine of meat products from other countries are strictly conducted based on provisions under the Law on Veterinary Medicine, the Law on Food Safety, and guiding sub-law documents.

Beside this, Vietnam is a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and is deeply integrated into the global economy; hence, international trade in animals and animal products in general must comply with the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS/WTO Agreement).

The list published on the portal of the Department of Livestock Production and Animal Health indicates that, up to this point, 31 countries are eligible to export pork to Vietnam.

For frozen meat importing enterprises, they must be on the licensed list and operate from countries approved to export meat to Vietnam. Next, they proceed to apply for an import license for frozen meat.

Subsequently, they register for quarantine with the Department of Livestock Production and Animal Health and register for physical sampling and quarantine at border checkpoints. Simultaneously, they open customs declarations for clearance.

Only after fully satisfying food safety regulations are the goods cleared through customs.

Speaking with Dan Viet, Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Son, Vice President of the Animal Husbandry Association of Vietnam, stated that in recent years, Vietnam's total cattle and buffalo herds have declined. The cause stems from our substantial importation of meat and meat products, which renders domestic production uncompetitive.

Prior to formal importation, we must strictly control veterinary quarantine, disease safety, and food safety so that consumers can have peace of mind.

For informal border trade and smuggling, control and prevention must be intensified; otherwise, there is a very high risk of disease outbreak, spread, and public health impact.

"A more concerning reality is the blurring of lines between cheap imported goods and regional specialties, which has seriously undermined consumer trust and local brand prestige," Mr. Son said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Nguyen Van Trong, former Deputy Director General of the Department of Livestock Production and Vice President of the Vietnam Association of Farms and Agricultural Enterprises, shared that over the last 5 years, the development of herbivorous livestock herds has been very sluggish, showing a declining trend, especially for buffalo herds.

From approximately 2.33 million head in 2020, the buffalo herd scale decreased gradually over the years to around 1.95 million head by 2025, with an average reduction rate of about 3.63%/year.

Currently, buffalo herds are primarily raised for meat, as draft work needs have diminished due to mechanization. However, this satisfies only half of Vietnam's buffalo meat consumption demand, compelling us to import more from other countries, including India.

Along with that, meat products imported from abroad are all cheaper than those in Vietnam, with the price of Indian buffalo meat specifically equaling only the live-weight buffalo price in Vietnam.

This represents an inevitable outcome of supply-and-demand laws; furthermore, Vietnam has participated in numerous Free Trade Agreements, making the market highly open. In such a context, it is impossible to "close the door" because doing so would push domestic prices excessively high and adversely affect consumers.

If imported goods are well-controlled regarding disease safety and food safety, we should maintain an open market so consumers can access meat at reasonable prices, balancing the three pillars of production, distribution, and consumption.

Source: Bao dien tu Dan Viet