Asianfin -- Vietnam has informed Chinese online retailers Shein and Temu that they must register with the government by the end of November or face the blocking of their websites and apps within the country.

Concerns have been raised by both the government and local businesses over the impact of Chinese online platforms on domestic markets, particularly due to aggressive discounting. The Ministry of Trade has also expressed worries about the potential sale of counterfeit goods.

Nguyen Hoang Long, Vietnam’s Deputy Trade Minister, stated during a government meeting over the weekend that the ministry had been in discussions with both Shein and Temu regarding the registration requirement.

"After the ministry’s notification, if these platforms fail to comply, the Ministry of Industry and Trade will work with relevant agencies to take technical actions, such as blocking apps and domains," Long said in a statement.

Neither Shein nor Temu immediately responded to requests for comment. Shein has been operating in Vietnam for at least two years, while Temu, owned by Chinese e-commerce giant PDD Holdings, only began offering its services to Vietnamese consumers last month.

Vietnam currently exempts imported goods valued up to 1 million dong ($40) from value-added tax, and the Ministry of Finance is considering ending this tax break, as many of these items are imported through e-commerce platforms.